The Grand Rapids Griffins begin their 2026-27 season on Friday in Cleveland.
And with a new season comes a new crop of Detroit Red Wings prospects who will begin their professional hockey careers in the AHL.
This summer brought significant turnover in Grand Rapids, as several prospects made the Red Wings' opening-night roster.
Here are four prospects to watch for the Griffins this season.
It's Trey Augustine's time to shine
Position: Goalie
Age: 21
Height: 6-1
Weight: 190
NHL Draft: 2023 Round 2 (No. 41)
Previous Team: Michigan State University (NCAA)
One of the Griffins' more intriguing prospects, Trey Augustine could be the Red Wings' goalie of the future.
In fact, you could say the Red Wings are banking on it, as they traded Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for a first-round pick this summer.
Last season with Michigan State, he sported a 24-9-1 record with a 2.11 GAA and a .929 save percentage.
Augustine began his pro career last season, getting two games with Grand Rapids in April after the Spartans lost in the Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament. One game was in relief of the aforementioned Cossa, and the other was a 4-1 loss to the Chicago Wolves.
Certainly not the best start for a possible cornerstone of the franchise, but two AHL games in April won't define his career.
Standing just over 6 feet, he's not nearly as tall as Cossa (6-6), but he's much more technically sound.
Corey Pronman of The Athletic called him "one of the best players in college hockey."
"He rarely seems out of position and tracks pucks like a pro. His side-to-side quickness isn’t incredible for a goalie his size, but it’s good enough. He can make difficult stops and use his lower half to get to tough pucks. He checks a lot of boxes with his quickness, technique, brain, efficiency and consistency."Corey Pronman
Pronman did note his lack of size could be a liability and prohibit him from being a true No. 1 goalie in the NHL.
However, don't expect Augustine to be the automatic No. 1 goalie in Grand Rapids. Michal Postava, who took over for Cossa as the starter at the end of last season and played every playoff game, begins his second year with the Griffins.
Griffins coach Dan Watson doesn't hand out starting jobs based on draft pedigree alone. I imagine he'll split the starts pretty evenly to begin the season, then lean on the hot hand if one starts to pull away.
Carter Bear makes his pro debut
Position: Left Wing
Age: 19
Height: 6-0
Weight: 186
NHL Draft: 2025 Round 1 (No.13)
Previous Team: Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Red Wings fans certainly would hope Carter Bear would dazzle the front office at training camp and make Detroit's opening night roster.
However, he ultimately did not make the 23-man roster and is dealing with an upper-body injury to boot.
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan labeled it as day-to-day or possibly a week, which could put him in line to play Friday in Cleveland. But the Griffins could play it cautiously and give him his first career AHL game on Oct. 9, the Griffins' home opener.
In 56 games last season, Bear led the Everett Silvertips in goals with 36 and was second on the team in points with 77. He added another 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 18 playoff games, as Everett won its first WHL Championship.
Pronman projects him as a bottom-six winger, acknowledging his talent while questioning his "elite touch."
"He’s a skilled forward who makes a lot of plays through defenders and to his teammates. He has a lot of offense, but he creates through effort more than playmaking. Bear is highly physical, gets to the net and wins a lot of battles. "Corey Pronman
A Steve Yzmerman staple, for sure: high compete level with a high floor but lower ceiling.
I expect Bear to start in the middle of the lineup for the Griffins when he returns and likely get ample power-play time.
Noah Dower Nilsson hits North American ice
Position: Left Wing
Age: 21
Height: 6-1
Weight: 197
NHL Draft: 2023 Round 3 (No. 73)
Previous Team: Frölunda HC (SHL)
Red Wings fans may recognize the Dower Nilsson last name, as Detroit drafted his brother, Liam, in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL draft (134th overall).
The brothers dreamed of playing for the Red Wings together, but Liam was not offered a contract and has been playing in Sweden.
Noah signed a PTO with the Griffins after his season with Frölunda ended in May but did not appear in any games. He later signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings.
Dower Nilsson scored six goals and added 10 assists in 48 SHL games last season. In six playoff games, he added two goals and two assists.
Elite Prospects said he's got a great blend of playmaking, raw skill and offensive sense.
"Whether he is manipulating defenders off the rush to create space or turning forechecking steals into ridiculous spin passes to the slot from behind the net, he's always using his offensive instincts and sense to generate opportunities for himself and teammates."Elite Prospects
However, Sebastian High from Dobber Prospects suggested that he will most likely be a career SHL player unless he improves his skills.
Dower Nilsson most likely will start in the bottom half of the lineup for the Griffins but could earn more playing time with call-ups and injuries.
Kienan Draper brings leadership to Grand Rapids
Position: Center
Age: 24
Height: 6-2
Weight: 210
NHL Draft: 2020 Round 7 (No. 187)
Previous Team: University of Michigan (NCAA)
Another familiar last name, Kienan Draper, son of Red Wings Grind Line staple Kris, has followed in his father's footsteps as part of the Red Wings organization.
However, Kienan will have some work cut out for him to make the NHL. Like Emmitt Finnie, Draper was a seventh-round pick. Finnie overcame the odds to make the NHL, but there's no guarantee Draper will do the same.
According to Quant Hockey, just 38 active NHL players in the 2025-26 season were drafted in the seventh round.
As alternate captain, Draper scored five goals and added 13 assists in 40 games, helping the Wolverines claim the Big Ten title last season. Michigan reached the NCAA Tournament semifinals, falling to eventual champion Denver.
Draper played in two games for the Griffins late last season after his senior campaign with Michigan ended, but he didn't register a point.
Tony Ferrari of Dobber Prospects said Draper has skills on both sides of the ice but is ultimately a long-term project.
Draper will probably see bottom-line minutes and get some penalty kill time with the Griffins.
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