Some will find it easier. Some individuals could come out of camp unexpectedly.
The prospects must get all the playing time they need if the Detroit Red Wings choose to move in a different way the next season. This indicates giving up the idea of “over-ripening” prospects. The crew must acknowledge that rookies will make errors and, on occasion, ruin one or two important plays.
It also entails giving junior players all they need to prosper in the NHL.
It’s reasonable to conclude that some (if not all) of the players on this list will be full-time Red Wings by the conclusion of the 2026–27 season if everything goes as planned during the preseason:
Focused on the here and now, Carter Bear.
Carter Bear’s mentality is one of his most remarkable off-ice characteristics. Instead of concentrating on joining the Red Wings right immediately, he is putting his efforts into getting stronger, faster, and bigger so that he can join them eventually.
Bear restated his commitment to becoming better in an interview with Red Wings media.
“It’s pro now, and it’s a completely different level of hockey,” Bear commented. “It’s far different from juniors; it’s faster, and you have to be smarter and stronger. As I mentioned previously, I simply need to concentrate on improving my game that Detroit wants me to, trust Detroit to do what’s best for my development, and have faith in them. I believe it will all work out. ”
That kind of thinking alone, together with Bear’s outstanding last few seasons with the Everett Silvertips, makes his development worth keeping an eye on. Bear would be a great fit for the team’s top six, either as a wing or center (according to his Eliteprospects page).
The services of Michael Brandsegg-Nygard are required.
The Red Wings will require all the goal scoring they can muster. The team is 65 goals short with the departures of James van Riemsdyk, Patrick Kane, and maybe Dylan Larkin. Obviously, this is really awful for a team that has already had trouble producing offense.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard comes in here.
With 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 60 games last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the previous first-round choice performed admirably. It’s definitely encouraging, even if it’s clear that level of output won’t transfer directly to the NHL.
Brandsegg-Nygard’s ability to score goals and his physicality ought to at the very least compensate for James van Riemsdyk’s 15 goals. If he can add anything else, it ought to be seen as a huge benefit to the club. He simply needs a chance to succeed.
Nate Danielson must be successful this year.
Nate Danielson may not be the Red Wings’ most vital player to have a good season. If the ex-first-round pick, who will be 22 this season, is unable to make the squad, the group will have to decide what to do without him.
Thankfully, they seem to be giving him every chance to succeed. It is still up in the air whether that entails pairing him with Alex DeBrincat or letting him earn his spot on his own. However, he did show promise during his short tryout with the Red Wings last season, scoring seven points in 28 games.
Danielson would have probably had a significantly superior AHL season if not for injuries. He concluded the Griffins’ 2025–2026 season with 15 points in 18 games. The Red Wings will require all the help they can get at center this season. This time around, Danielson will need to prove his worth if he wants to become a fixture in the Winged Wheel.
Anton Johansson is a prospective dark horse starter for this season.
There are a couple of defensive prospects for the Red Wings who are on the verge of making the team. From Shai Buium to William Wallinder, who just inked a one-year deal, there is no scarcity of young talent eager to make their mark on the backend.
But Anton Johansson is clearly the best defenseman.
The ex-Leksands IF product immediately established himself as one of the best defenders on the Griffins’ roster after joining the team late last season. He’s a physical, imposing defender that fits the Red Wings’ precise blueliner model.
Johansson received high appreciation from Niklas Kronwall, a former franchise defenseman for the Red Wings, for his appetite and enthusiasm to learn.
“I believe he is still growing, growing, and growing,” Kronwall remarked. “It’s really exciting to see him here during the WC and how he handles it. I don’t believe we’ve seen the full extent of his abilities. He’s still early in his development, and there’s a lot more he can learn.”
Axel Sandin-Pellikka will be a force for years to come
Perhaps Sandin-Pellikka shouldn’t be on this list. After all, he played 68 games last season, pocketing 21 points in the process. Would that still make him a prospect? As of right now, yes. With no clear spot for him on the roster, he’ll need to fight his way into a role this preseason.
Fortunately, Sandin-Pellikka has had all offseason to prepare for this. One of the biggest knocks on his game was that he was often bullied off the puck. With a strong offseason (and plenty of strength training), he’ll enter next season with a renewed mentality and a stronger approach to his game.
Now that he understands the rigor of the NHL, all he has to do is refine certain aspects of his game. If things go according to plan, he’ll be a force in the NHL for years to come. Once Justin Faulk is moved or hits free agency, he’ll have an all but guaranteed spot on that second defensive pairing.
The question isn’t an if so much as it is a when.
