Five Red Wings prospects that will make a difference in 2025

As of late, it seems as though the Detroit Red Wings have been making massive headlines around the hockey world. Most of them have been on the negative end of the spectrum, but a shining new hope has emerged, like Luke Skywalker picking up his green lightsaber. That hero is Axel Sandin Pellikka. It may be quite early to think about upcoming prospects that could make the Detroit roster next year and help push Todd Mclellan’s new squad to the postseason, but I argue that this fanbase needs to see the world that could be where the young guns lead the rebellion back into the fight. I present to you the five most likely players who are currently in the Red Wings system, who can make the team next season and ultimately be difference makers. 

Carter Mazur

After this past preseason, it was commonly thought that Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur were the top two forwards in Grand Rapids who could get a shot with the Red Wings. It took a little bit, but we eventually got a full-time Kasper in the lineup. Unfortunately, Mazur sustained a brutal injury that has kept him out for multiple months and has delayed any chance for him to take a spot in the bottom-six role on the Detroit roster.

However, after Steve Yzerman’s presser to address the firing of Derek Lalonde, he took time to mention how highly the organization thinks of Mazur and that they expect him to play in the NHL. Because of his injury and needing to get back to game speed in Grand Rapids, he may have to wait to get that opportunity until next season, but given how the Detroit season is going, he may get a look at the end of a lost season to see what they truly have in his gritty game and to get his feet wet for what will undoubtedly come for the following season. 

Nate Danielson

Possibly the highest-rated forward in the system, Nate Danielson will have a full season of professional hockey under his belt after wowing the organization in the preseason for two straight years. If his development continues the way that it seems, he could be the luxury that Detroit has been searching for over the last decade: a true number-two center. Having the flexibility to play on the wing or center is crucial for a team that will not want to put too much on a future core player’s plate as far as responsibilities in the defensive zone. With a potential 2-3 punch of Danielson and Kasper, the middle six center role can be very difficult to play against. 

Axel Sandin-Pellikka

The mainstream media of the hockey world is starting to take notice. ASP has been at the forefront of Red Wings fans since the day he was drafted. He has been competing against grown men in the Swedish Elite League, dominating the competition and putting up record-setting numbers. Now, the world has seen the elite talent that he has to offer during the IIHF World Junior Championship. His tournament started off with a bang when he scored a natural hat trick as a defenseman in the opening game for Sweden. Known primarily as an offensive defenseman, ASP does not lack defensive ability. The only concern would be that his 5’11” and 176lb frame could be taken advantage of in the NHL. Is he ready to be a top-four defenseman for the Red Wings? I believe so. Could he get another year in Sweden to build muscle and work on his defensive game? Also, yes.

The Detroit Red Wings' success may rest on the shoulders of Sebastian Cossa.

I tend to think Sebastian Cossa is still two years away from joining the Red Wings. We did get to see him come in relief of Ville Husso earlier this season and help lead the team to a comeback win. Although the sample size is less than a full game, his numbers were less than stellar, and he showed a few moments of losing his net while the opposition cycled the puck. Please do not hear what I am not saying; these alone are not the reasons I believe he should stay in Grand Rapids next season. It is strictly because he unfairly has a lot riding on his success. Detroit put a lot of draft capital into Cossa, and they knew it was a risk.

Goalies do not develop like forwards or even defensemen, for that matter. When Yzerman took over the organization, he prioritized finding the goalie of the future and building outwards from there. If Cossa were to falter and not reach his potential before being brought up in a full-time starting role, it could set the team back another three years or even longer. The fans want to see Cossa's work. Sure, Trey Augustine looks to be a promising backup plan, but at 19 years old, he is far from taking the reins in Detroit. Could Cossa make the team in the fall and backup Talbot for the entirety of the season? Possibly, but to give Cossa no more than 15 starts next year could be detrimental to his growth when he could play the majority of the games in Grand Rapids. 

Dmitri Buchelnikov

Now, let's talk about some excitement. Dmitri Buchelnikov is fun. Simple as that.

Detroit hasn't had anyone that they could look to as a legitimate offensive dynamo since, even before the Datsyuk era. This kid can put the puck in the net. North American hockey fans look to someone like Amadeus Lombardi on the Griffins and say, “That’s Detroit’s best hope for a 40-goal scorer”. Let us not forget about this Russian talent. Because he is Russian and in the KHL, there are some obstacles to bringing him to America to play in the NHL. But boy, oh boy, if that were to happen, and he were to hit his potential, this is the kind of player that can turn the fortunes around for any hockey club. Even with the highlight reel goals that he frequently puts up in the KHL, some scouts worry that it may not translate into North American ice, where he will have less time and space to make magic happen.

So, there is a feast or famine outcome for this prospect. Buchelnikov extended his contract in Russia for two more years but publicly said that he wished to play in the NHL and met with Yzerman in Michigan over the summer. He is currently chasing Kirill Kaprizov-type numbers overseas. Detroit fans can only hope that he turns into a similar star.