Top 15 Ranked Red Wings Prospects at the Christmas Break

As many teams pause for the Christmas Break or a need to cancel games due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s fun to rank the Detroit Red Wings prospects based on current statistics.

The Detroit Red Wings have several prospects signed to entry-level contracts.  The Red Wings still have time to figure out if recently drafted players are anything more than prospects.

Here is my list of the Top 15 prospects in the Detroit system, based on the difficulty of the leagues and the corresponding statistics for the 2021 season.

#1- Jonatan Berggren-W/C

Age: 21

Draft: 2018 round 2 #33 overall

Current Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)

Status: Signed (2022 CAP HIT, $925,000/MINORS SALARY $70,000)

Jonatan Berggren has had a tremendous start to professional hockey in North America.  Berggren started this year in the AHL and Detroit General Manager Steve Yzerman recently stated that Berggren will remain in Grand Rapids so that he can play important minutes and thrive with Grand Rapids.  In 22 games, Berggren has scored seven goals and 16 points with a -2 rating.  By 2022, Berggren will be pushing for a full-time spot in the Detroit lineup.

#2- Simon Edvinsson-LD

Age: 18

Draft: 2021 round 1 #6 overall

Current Team: Frolunda HC (SHL)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2025)

Simon Edvinsson has had a breakout year playing in his first full season in the SHL.  The unsigned Edvinsson, has played 24 games and has recorded one goal, 12 points and a +4 rating.  Edvinsson was selected to play for Sweden at the WJC-20 next week.  Sweden will start the tournament playing Russia on December 26.  Edvinsson should sign his entry-level contract with Detroit in 2022 and will push for one of the open spots on the blueline next season with either Detroit or Grand Rapids.

#3- Albert Johansson-LD

Age: 20

Draft: 2019 round 2 #60 overal

Current Team: Farjestad BK (SHL)

Status: Signed (2022 CAP HIT, $820,000/MINORS SALARY $70,000)

Albert Johansson is currently on loan to Farjestad (SHL).  Johansson has played 27 games this season and has recorded three goals and 13 points with a -3 rating.  Johansson has now played over 100 games in the SHL and appears to be ready for a move to North America.  Johansson will also push for an open spot on the Detroit blueline in 2022.

#4- Donovan Sebrango-LD

Age: 19

Draft: 2020 round 3 #63 overall 

Current Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)

Status: Signed (2022 CAP HIT, $850,833/MINORS SALARY $72,500)

Donovan Sebrango is currently in his second year playing for Grand Rapids (AHL).  Despite only being 19, Sebrango has now played 51 regular season games in the AHL.  This season, Sebrango has played 20 games and has three assists and a +6 rating.  Sebrango has been loaned to the Canadian Junior National team for the WJC-20 tournament.  Canada will start the tournament playing Czech Republic on December 26.  Sebrango will play the remainder of this season in the AHL, and should push for one of the open spots on the blueline next season in Detroit.

#5- Sebastian Cossa-G

Age: 19

Draft: 2021 round 1 #15 overall

Current Team: Edmonton (WHL)

Status: Signed (2022 CAP HIT, $925,000/MINORS SALARY $80,000)

Sebastian Cossa is currently in his 3rd year playing for Edmonton (WHL).  Over the last three years, Cossa has played 73 games in the WHL.  This season, Cossa has played 21 games and has recorded a 15-3-3 record, a 2.26 GAA, and a .924 SV%.  Cossa was selected to represent Canada at the WJC-20 tournament being held in Cossa’s hometown of Edmonton, starting next week.  Canada will start the tournament playing Czech Republic on December 26, and Cossa will likely get the start in the first game.  Cossa will play the remainder of this season in the WHL and should turn professional and challenge for a backup spot in either Detroit or Grand Rapids next year.

#6- William Wallinder-LD

Age: 19

Draft: 2020 round 2 #32 overall

Current Team: Rogle BK (SHL)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2024)

William Wallinder is having an excellent season playing in the SHL.  I still find it surprising that Wallinder was not selected to play for Sweden in the WJC-20 tournament.  Although he has split his season between the SHL and the J20 Nationell, Wallinder has played the majority of his season in the professional league.  In 23 games, Wallinder has scored four goals and 10 points with a +6 rating.  Wallinder should sign his entry-level contract with Detroit in 2022 and will push for one of the open spots on the blueline next season with either Detroit or Grand Rapids.  Detroit could also loan Wallinder back to Rogle for one season, similar to what they did with Albert Johansson this year.

#7- Jared McIsaac-LD

Age: 21

Draft: 2018 round 2 #36 overall

Current Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)

Status: Signed (2022 CAP HIT, $764,167/MINORS SALARY $70,000)

Jared McIsaac is playing his first full season in the AHL.  After three shoulder surgeries, McIsaac seems healthy and is playing important minutes on the blueline in Grand Rapids.  In 21 games this year, McIsaac has scored one goal and six points with a -8 rating.  Although McIsaac probably needs more game action in the AHL, he should challenge for one of the defense openings in Detroit next year.

#8- Elmer Soderblom-LW/RW

Age: 20

Draft: 2019 round 6 #159 overall

Current Team: Frolunda HC (SHL)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2023)

Elmer Soderblom is currently playing in his first full season in the SHL.  Despite only being 20, Soderblom has played 66 regular season games covering parts of three seasons with Frolunda.  This year, Soderblom has played 28 games and has scored 10 goals and 14 points with a -4 rating.  Soderblom will play the remainder of this season in the SHL, and should sign his entry-level with the Red Wings prior to the start of the 2022 season.  If he signs with Detroit, he could be loaned to Frolunda for one more season or challenge for a spot with either Grand Rapids or Detroit in 2022.

#9- Carter Mazur-LW

Age: 19

Draft: 2021 round 3 #70 overall

Current Team: Univ. of Denver (NCAA)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2025)

Carter Mazur is having an outstanding freshman year in the NCAA.  The right-shooting forward typically plays LW but feels comfortable on either side of the ice.  In 16 games this year, Mazur has scored nine goals and 17 points with a +12 rating.  Mazur was selected to represent USA at the WJC-20 tournament being held in Edmonton, AB starting next week.  USA will start the tournament playing Slovakia on December 26.  Mazur will play the remainder of this season in Denver and will likely remain in college for another two years before turning professional.

#10- Alex Cotton-RD

Age: 20

Draft: 2020 round 5 #132 overall 

Current Team: Vancouver (WHL)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2022)

Alex Cotton has been terrific offensively since his trade to Vancouver (WHL).  For his junior career, the right-shooting defenseman has played 171 games and appears ready to sign his entry-level contract with the Red Wings.  This year, Cotton has played 25 games and has scored 11 goals and 25 points with a -6 rating.  Cotton will play the remainder of this season in the WHL.  He must be signed by the Red Wings by June 2022 or he will be a free agent.

#11- Cross Hanas-W/C

Age: 19

Draft: 2020 round 2 #55 overall 

Current Team: Portland (WHL)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2022)

Cross Hanas has also been excellent in his final season of WHL hockey.  For his career, Hanas has played 161 games in the WHL.  This year, Hanas has appeared in 28 games for Portland, registering eight goals and 27 points with an even +/- rating.  Hanas will play the remainder of this season in the WHL.  Similar to Cotton, Hanas must be signed by the Red Wings by June 2022 or he will be a free agent.

#12- Liam Dower Nilsson-C

Age: 18

Draft: 2021 round 5 #134 overall

Current Team: Frolunda HC (SHL/J20 Nationell)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2025)

Liam Dower Nilsson is having a very good season playing in the J20.  He has also suited up for seven SHL games but, has been used sparingly.  This season, Dower Nilsson has played 17 J20 games and has scored seven goals and 19 points with a +3 rating.  Dower Nilsson will likely continue to play at both levels throughout the remainder of this season with the hope of making a full-time jump to the SHL next year.  Detroit will keep an eye on Dower Nilsson and hopefully he continues to develop into one of Detroit’s top prospects in a year or two.

#13- Robert Mastrosimone- C/LW

Age: 20

Draft: 2019 round 2 #54 overall

Current Team: Boston Univ. (NCAA)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2023)

Robert Mastrosimone continues to be a productive forward in the NCAA.  Now in his 3rd season at Boston, Mastrosimone has played 67 career games.  This year, Mastrosimone has played 18 games and has recorded five goals and 12 points with a +2 rating.  Detroit will probably remain patient with Mastrosimone and let him graduate in 2023 before signing him to an entry-level contract.

#14- Pasquale Zito-W/C

Age: 18

Draft: 2021 round 6 #166 overall

Current Team: Windsor (OHL)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2023)

Paquale Zito was a bit of a wild card selection in the 2021 draft.  Zito did not play in 2020 due to his league sitting out the entire year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This year, Zito has been excellent offensively picking up nine goals and 18 points in 23 games.  If Zito continues to develop, Detroit will likely offer him an entry-level contract before his signing deadline of June 2023.

#15- Shai Buium-LD

Age: 18

Draft: 2021 round 2 #36 overall

Current Team: Univ. of Denver (NCAA)

Status: Unsigned (Must be signed by June 2025)

Shai Buium is currently a freshman and is playing solid minutes on a very good team in Denver.  In 16 games, Buium has scored one goal and nine points with a +10 rating.  Buium will likely play two more years at Denver before signing a contract with Detroit.  Next year, Buium should also receive serious consideration to represent USA at the WJC-20 in Russia.