3 Red Wings prospects stole the show vs. Stars in showcase thrillers

The Detroit Red Wings finally played a couple of games after a long layoff. Yeah, they were just prospect showcase games that mean absolutely nothing in the long run, except for those prospects who stood out.

And who did stand out? Those we expected to, like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Nate Danielson. But I'm not talking about that trio today because if they didn't bring their respective A-Games, something was seriously wrong.

No, I'm talking about three players who showed up and gave fans a reason to pay them a little more attention this season. Will all three of them eventually wear the Winged Wheel for games that matter? I can't tell you that because I haven't sharpened my fortune-telling muscle to that degree.

But I can tell you this: They more than made their case this past weekend. Let's talk about why that was, and what you can expect from them this season.

Amadeus Lombardi

Was there a better play driver on the ice half the time? Amadeus Lombardi put up a goal over those six periods, but with four helpers, he was the best playmaker out there. Every time his stick touched the puck, Lombardi looked like he knew where to pass it, and his heads-up plays helped the Wings score five of those 11 goals.

At 5'10, 165, he's smallish, but versatile, and the former fourth-round pick in 2022 picked up where he left off last season when he put up 40 points and 19 goals in 44 regular season games with the Griffins. Right now, after that performance, I'm giving Lombardi a long look.

Emmitt Finnie

The former 201st overall pick once again outplayed his draft position. Drafted two seasons ago, Finnie showed more energy than perhaps any other forward, Lombardi included, consistently crashing the net when the puck landed on his stick and he had nothing but ice and a couple opponents to deke out ahead.

Hey, a player drafted as late as Finnie was, showing that high-energy game in and game out is required reading that'll get you noticed. If Finnie keeps that up, then he's on his way to more than just Grand Rapids in the coming years.

Last season, Finnie dominated with the Kamloops Blazers, with 84 points and 37 goals in 55 regular season contests. He then came to Grand Rapids, and put up five points and a goal in 10 games with the Griffins. That foreshadowed what he'll do this year.

Shai Buium

Sometimes, i feel like we shunt Shai Buium to one side and give Axel Sandin-Pellikka the nod. And that's fine, because Sandin-Pellikka has more upside. But Buium reminded all of us that he's still someone worth taking with more than a grain of salt, scoring in each contest.

That should be a momentum-booster for Buium, and one that should show Wings fans everywhere that it ain't gonna be just Sandin-Pellikka and William Wallinder fighting for a spot with the big club when they're NHL-ready. Buium's joining the mix, too.

He was respectable last season in Grand Rapids, with 25 points and two goals in 67 regular season contests. If Buium makes the jump in Year 2, he'll be on pace with Sandin-Pellikka and Wallinder.