3 prospects who should be next in line for a contract with the Detroit Red Wings

With the amount of prospects that the Detroit Red Wings have, it's not insane that a lot of them don't have a contract with the team. Most of your prospects outside of the first round of the draft don't generally get contracts for another year or two after they were drafted. Most of those with a contract are already playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins, but there are a few who aren't. Some of those prospects, I believe, deserve a contract sooner rather than later.

In the last two seasons, the Red Wings have made a swath of prospect signings at the end of the season. After the 2022-23 season, they signed Carter Mazur, Amadeus Lombardi, William Wallinder, and Nate Danielson. Then did the same thing again after the 2023-24 season by signing Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Emmitt Finnie, Shai Buium, Carter Gylander, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. Almost like a calling of the guard to start hitting the gas pedal on the final stages of the team's rebuild.

However, there remains a good amount of prospects in the system who are more than good enough to receive an entry-level contract and get their shot at pro hockey. While we all know that not every prospect can or will get a contract.

Here are three players I believe should be the next to receive a contract.

Trey Augustine has been stellar at MSU

Trey Augustine was drafted 41st overall in round two of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and immediately became one of their best goaltending prospects. He quickly became considered the closest rival to Sebastian Cossa and has only proven that to be a fact. Being more technically sound than Cossa was when he was drafted, he is more often than not in the right place at the right time.

Augustine played at Michigan State University last season, boasting an incredible .915SV% in 35 games as well as an even better .936SV% during the U20 World Junior Championship where he won gold, and a .929SV% during the World Championships, where he was chosen to be the backup goaltender to play against bonified NHLers and other players from pro leagues around the world.

He's returning to Michigan State University for this upcoming season, but I have very little doubt that he's on the top of the list to receive an entry level contract and we could see him in the Winged Wheel or at the very least a contract with the franchise very soon.

Red Savage has a cool name and the numbers to back it up

Red Savage was drafted 114th overall in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and quickly became highly touted. Gaining a reputation for having deceptive hands and being very good on the transition off the rush, he has also been known for having "a desire to hunt the high-danger option", combined with his "mechanically-sound wrist shot" which would make him a dangerous guy to allow being set up.

Savage is also currently committed to Michigan State where he plays with fellow Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine. Last season he recorded 10 Goals and 17 assists for 27 points in 38 games putting him at around .75 points per game. This may not be the sexiest record for a prospect, but it's not bad either.

Some people may not consider his counting stats as the stats of a legitimate prospect, it's important to know that the Red Wings don't have very many players who are a fully offensive talent. While he's not a blackhole defensively, you certainly wouldn't be putting him out on the penalty kill. He could however be a threat on the second powerplay unit and also a great middle 6 winger.

Dmitri Buchelnikov is killing it over in Russia's KHL

Dmitri Buchelnikov was drafted 52nd overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has shown that he is an incredible offensive threat. Gaining a reputation for being "a speedy winger with the ability to bounce off his linemates" as well as being very flashy and skilled.

Buchelnikov has been playing in Russia, bouncing around the pro leagues over there until finally settling in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), which is the top league in Russia and one of the top leagues in the world. During his time in the KHL last season, he recorded 13 goals, and 16 assists for 29 points in 55 games.

Buchelnikov may be the best Red Wings prospect in terms of offense, but there is also a greater than 0% chance that he never makes his way over to North America due to Russia being an incredibly difficult country for hockey players to leave and join the NHL. If he does make his way over to the NHL, he has the potential to be a top 6 threat and one who the Red Wings haven't had in at least a decade.