2021 Detroit Red Wings Prospect Tournament Preview

Sep 23, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins forward sam Lafferty (37) moves the puck against Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno (90) during the third period at PPG PAINTS Arena. Detroit won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2018; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins forward sam Lafferty (37) moves the puck against Detroit Red Wings forward Joe Veleno (90) during the third period at PPG PAINTS Arena. Detroit won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL prospects tournament returns to Traverse City after a one year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The tournament runs from Thursday September 16th until Monday September 20th.  This year’s tournament will feature some of the best prospects from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and Detroit Red Wings.

The Detroit Red Wings have invited 23 players to the 22nd season of the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City.  The list includes three goaltenders, seven defensemen, and 13 forwards.

Included in the list are former 1st round draftees Sebastian Cossa, Joe Veleno, and Lucas Raymond.  Also invited are former 2nd round draftees Jared McIsaac, Jonatan Berggren, and Cross Hanas.

There are also six free agent invitees playing for the Red Wings prospects team.

Here is the schedule for the tournament and Red Wings games are bolded:

NHL Prospect Tournament Schedule September 16 – 20, 2021
Thursday September 16 3:00 PM  Columbus vs. Toronto

Thursday September 16 7:00 PM  Detroit vs. Dallas

Friday September 17 3:00 PM  St. Louis vs. Toronto

Friday September 17 7:00 PM  Dallas vs. Columbus

Saturday September 18 7:00 PM  St. Louis vs. Detroit

Sunday September 19 2:00 PM  Toronto vs. Dallas

Sunday September 19 6:00 PM  Columbus vs. Detroit

Monday September 20 12:00 PM  Dallas vs. St. Louis

Monday September 20 1:00 PM  Toronto vs. Columbus

More importantly, here are the players who are set to play for Detroit in the prospects tournament.

Goaltenders

Goaltending in the Detroit system now seems like a strength after General Manager Steve Yzerman moved up in the 2021 draft to select Sebastian Cossa 15th overall.  Cossa and Victor Brattstrom are signed to entry-level contracts.  Jan Bednar is the third goalie in the group.  He remains un-signed.

Sebastian Cossa

Acquired: 2021 1st round (15th overall)

2020-21 Team: Edmonton (WHL)

GP: 19

Record: 17-1-1

GAA: 1.57

SV%: .941

Victor Brattstrom

Acquired: 2018 6th round (160th overall)

2020-21 Team: KooKoo (SM-Liiga)

GP: 38

Record: 18-12-7

GAA: 2.20

SV%: .903

Jan Bednar

Acquired: 2020 4th round (107th overall)

2020-21 Team: Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)

GP: 12

Record: 6-5-0

GAA: 3.62

SV%: .894

Defensemen

Seven defense prospects have been invited to this tournament.  Jared McIsaac, Donovan Sebrango, and Wyatt Newpower are signed to entry-level contracts with Detroit.  Mason Ward and Adam Brubacher are undrafted prospect camp invitees.  Alex Cotton is an un-signed overage drafted prospect.  Detroit will get their first look at recently drafted Oscar Plandowski.

Jared McIsaac

Acquired:  2018 2nd round (36th overall)

2020-21 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)

GP: 10

G: 0

A: 2

PTS: 2

Donovan Sebrango

Acquired: 2020 3rd round (63rd overall)

2020-21 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)

GP: 31

G: 0

A: 4

PTS: 4

Wyatt Newpower

Acquired: Signed by Detroit, 5/31/21

2020-21 Team: Cleveland (AHL)

GP: 24

G: 3

A: 7

PTS: 10

Mason Ward

Acquired: Free Agent Invitee

2020-21 Team: Red Deer (WHL)

GP: 22

G: 2

A: 4

PTS: 6

Alex Cotton

Acquired: 2020 5th round (132nd overall)

2020-21 Team: Lethbridge (WHL)

GP: 24

G: 7

A: 19

PTS: 26

Adam Brubacher

Acquired: Free Agent Invitee

2020-21 Team: Manitoba (AHL)

GP: 7

G: 2

A: 0

PTS: 2

Oscar Plandowski

Acquired: 2021 5th round (155th overall)

2020-21 Team: Charlottetown (QMJHL)

GP: 39

G: 5

A: 12

PTS: 17

Center

Joe Veleno and Chase Pearson lead the Detroit prospects at center and both are playing on entry-level contracts.  Patrick Curry and Hayden Verbeek are signed to AHL deals.  Pasquale Zito is unsigned and recently drafted by the Red Wings.  Cooper Walker is an undrafted camp invitee.

Chase Pearson

Acquired: 2015 5th round (140th overall)

2020-21 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)

GP: 28

G: 8

A: 14

PTS: 22

Hayden Verbeek

Acquired: Signed by Grand Rapids, 7/29/21

2020-21 Team: Laval/Grand Rapids (AHL)

GP: 15

G: 1

A: 4

PTS: 5

Pasquale Zito

Acquired: 2021 6th round (166th overall)

2019-20 Team: Windsor (OHL)

GP: 46

G: 3

A: 10

PTS: 13

Cooper Walker

Acquired: Free Agent Invitee

2019-20 Team: Guelph (OHL)

GP: 45

G: 2

A: 6

PTS: 8

Patrick Curry

Acquired: Signed by Grand Rapids, 3/26/20

2020-21 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)

GP: 24

G: 4

A: 1

PTS: 5

Joe Veleno

Acquired: 2018 1st round (30th overall)

2020-21 Team: Malmo (SHL)

GP: 46

G: 11

A: 9

PTS: 20

Left Wing

Jonatan Berggren will enter camp after recently signing his entry-level contract with Detroit.  Kirill Tyutyayev will be playing on an AHL contract this year.  Cross Hanas is un-signed and will return to the WHL this year.  Luke Toporowski is an undrafted camp invitee.

Jonatan Berggren

Acquired: 2018 2nd round (33rd overall)

2020-21 Team: Skelleftea (SHL)

GP: 49

G: 12

A: 33

PTS: 45

Luke Toporowski

Acquired: Free Agent Invitee

2020-21 Team: Spokane (WHL)

GP: 6

G: 1

A: 3

PTS: 4

Cross Hanas

Acquired: 2020 2nd round (55th overall)

2020-21 Team: Portland (WHL)

GP: 6

G: 2

A: 2

PTS: 4

Kirill Tyutyayev

Acquired: 2019 7th round (190th overall)

2020-21 Team: Yunost Minsk (Belarus)

GP: 43

G: 11

A: 21

PTS: 32

Right Wing

Lucas Raymond is signed to his entry-level contract and will play in his first prospects tournament.  Cameron Butler and David Codd are undrafted camp invitees.

Lucas Raymond

Acquired: 2020 1st round (4th overall)

2020-21 Team: Frolunda (SHL)

GP: 34

G: 6

A: 12

PTS: 18

Cameron Butler

Acquired: Free Agent Invitee

2019-20 Team: Niagara (OHL)

GP: 66

G: 18

A: 14

PTS: 32

Davis “T-Bone” Codd

Acquired: Free Agent Invitee

2019-20 Team: Saginaw (OHL)

GP: 53

G: 5

A: 9

PTS: 14