Previewing the Detroit Red Wings NHL Prospect Games 2024 roster

A glow is peaking above the horizon. The breaking dawn glimmers with new hope as the Detroit Red Wings preseason is set to begin September 14 and run through September 15. 

The prospect games, formerly the prospect tournament, have dwindled to two teams. It’s possible that Traverse City, Michigan, prospect games are heading the way of the dinosaurs, but I think there is merit in a two-team event for as long as the Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings participate.

Always, I was excited about these prospect games, even if they were seemingly meaningless. It was the first real hockey after the long offseason (thanks to no playoffs). Even more importantly I enjoyed watching the possible future the Detroit Red Wings organization was heading.  While not all players can participate (due to status, other obligations, contract status, health, etc.), it is a fun time for fans and healthy competition for prospects. 

Although, it seemed like teams attended this tournament for different reasons. The Detroit Red Wings have amassed a plethora of prospects and seemed to bring some non-drafted players whom they are still interested in signing. I’m not sure the same can be said about other teams. 

Often times, I would see players who were fighting for a job, rightfully so, but they went a little too hard for a summer tournament. At times, I’d argue it was counter-productive to what the Detroit Red Wings were trying to accomplish.

The Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars have robust prospect pools that ensure a challenging competition without it getting out of hand. If they continue this rematch in the future, depending on the rosters they bring each year, I’m more for this idea.

For me, quality, in these circumstances, is better than quantity. 

I’ve seen some fan reactions who aren’t too pleased with the Detroit Red Wings roster, but there are plenty of players who should draw your attention.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Nate Danielson top the list of who to watch at the Detroit Red Wings Traverse City NHL Prospect Games 2024

Of course, the entire roster is an interesting one, but I feel like these guys will draw some attention (for hopefully the right reasons):

The headliners:

Michael Brandsegg-Nygaård

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Nate Danielson will attend the games. Compared to previous seasons where the defensemen were the big names on the list, the forward group is expected to carry the team over the course of these two games. 

Prized for their two-way play, both guys should be able to add pops of offense. 

Brandsegg-Nygård is already off to a glorious start in both the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and Olympic qualifying games for Team Norway. For it being just the start of hockey season, Brandsegg-Nygård has quite the schedule already. As @Icehockeygifs illustrates:

However, he looks like he’s close to midseason form. He’s a big, physical presence on the ice, and his shot (his best attribute according to both Brandsegg-Nygaård and Steve Yzerman) is better than advertized.

These games serve as a springboard for his hunt. Seemingly a lock in Skellefteå just a few weeks ago, his future in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) isn’t so certain. The most likely, easiest path is for Brandsegg-Nygård to return to the SHL. There is a world where the Grand Rapids Griffins may get a boost and Brandsegg-Nygård joins the team. It’s the least likely outcome, though, and I suspect it’s the NHL or SHL this season (not necessarily in that order).

Considering his play thus far, I expect to see great things from Brandsegg-Nygård in these two games.

Nate Danielson

The other headliner, Danielson, should be just as intriguing to watch.

In theory, he should be one of the top performers, if not the go-to guy in all situations, for the Detriot Red Wings. 

This opportunity will be a great one to build a foundation with Grand Rapids Griffins head coach, Dan Watson, while also serving as a great warm-up to training camp with the NHL players.

I think he’s destined for the Grand Rapids Griffins, much to the dismay of all Detroit Red Wings fans. To take a spot on the opening night lineup, or even at any point during the 2024-25 season for the Detroit Red Wings, I think Danielson would have to play even better than Lucas Raymond in his rookie camp. 

This possibility isn’t outside of Danielson’s abilities. Still, it’s not a demotion or setback in his development if he spends the full season playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins like Marco Kasper in the 2023-24 season.

Of course, they are different players, it’s a different season, however, general manager, Steve Yzerman, seems set in his ways. There were times that I thought Kasper earned his chance to play for the Detroit Red Wings last season, but Yzerman made it clear. Under no circumstances were certain players getting recalled to the Detroit Red Wings regardless of their play for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Based on the depth pieces the Detroit Red Wings have brought in, not including any player they’re rumored to be chasing after, it’s an almost impossible task for Danielson to make the jump to the NHL this season. In some ways, I think Brandsegg-Nygård may have an easier path to the NHL as a winger. Also, Brandsegg-Nygård weighs just under 210 lbs at 6’1”, whereas Danielson is an inch taller yet is a lean 187 lbs.

It might serve Danielson well to spend time developing both on and off the ice in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and steal a spot out of training camp next season.

Surprises to watch:

Shai Buium

At the top of this list is a guy who I think is criminally underrated. 

I know I continue to underestimate the guy, even though I have watched him play for over three years. There shouldn’t be many surprises left, but Shai Buium always finds a way to make me appreciate him even more as a player.

Though he can throw a hit, and even the good old reverse hit, he’s not overly physical. Buium appropriately uses it as a method to separate the puck or to defend himself or his teammates from the opponent.

A flare for the dramatic will not be part of Buium’s repertoire. For a fan casually watching Buium’s team play, many things might be missed, but those qualities are the ones that helped him in his quest for two NCAA Championships.

He pushes the envelope of his game just enough that he’s not a liability on defense and he’s defensively sound enough but isn’t a black hole offensively. He’s a blend, and one might see him as a two-way defender, which I can understand and agree with, however, I have yet to find a suitable label for Buium’s game.

He’s a bit different. In a good way. Possibly in a great way. 

It’s fascinating to watch him play as I can’t quite put my finger on why I enjoy watching him play so much, or what type of player he might be in the NHL. If there’s one thing I’m certain about with Buium, though, it’s that he will play in the NHL for a long time. His NHL career is bound to start sooner rather than later, too. 

I highly recommend keeping an eye on him as much as you can over the two games in Traverse City (and beyond). (Plus he’s the highest Detroit Red Wings rated defenseman on my list, so I expect him to be out there playing more often than not, so he shouldn’t be hard to find.)

Alexandre Doucet

Another name to look out for is Alexandre Docuet. 

Like most players, I think Doucet experienced challenges in his first professional season, but I think the Toledo Walleye were pleased with the performance of the young forward.

He’s always a favorite of mine to watch, regardless of the team he’s playing for, so I can’t wait to see more from him this season. 

These games, like for the other prospects, should give him a nice warm-up for training camp. I expect that he will push for a spot with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Although the competition is steep, the graduation of Jonatan Berggren, and possibly Kasper or Carter Mazur may help with opening a spot for Doucet if he plays his cards right.

Emmitt Finnie

Emmitt Finnie is another household name from his time with the Grand Rapids Griffins at the end of last season.

Finnie’s size at 6’1” and 183 lbs was a bit of a surprise to me. He looked a bit smaller on the ice but was still effective. He played hard but didn’t record his first professional point. For a player drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Entry Level Draft, it wasn’t a bad start to his professional career. I look forward to watching more of Finnie before he heads back to the WHL.

Dark horse:

Carter Gylander

While there are three goalies attending the Traverse City NHL Prospect Games 2024 for the Detroit Red Wings, Carter Gylander is the main guy. 

Drafted in 2019, another seventh-round pick, Gylander has taken the winding road to his professional career. 

He’s got the deck stacked against him as the Detroit Red Wings went and signed another frenzy of goaltenders this summer. Typically, NHL clubs carry two goaltenders on their rosters. The Detroit Red Wings were the exception to this trend last season, boasting three of them throughout much of the season. Injuries allowed for all three to remain with the big club throughout the season. However, it’s not likely that this season will repeat this trend.

It’s more likely that either a goaltender will be traded or an odd guy out will make the trip to Grand Rapids. He might serve as a good competitor for the starting goaltender position for the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate against Sebastian Cossa—thought to be the number-one goaltender for this upcoming season. It’s possible, even likely, that Cossa splits duties with the spillover goaltender.

If this happens, then either Gylander is a third goaltender in Grand Rapids (without playing time), or he’s pushed to the Toledo Walleye for a season (as much playing time as he can handle). 

In the case that the Detroit Red Wings keep all three goaltenders on the NHL roster or one of them is traded/injured, then Gylander could spend time playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

Gylander has to come into camp (and these games) with every bit of firepower he’s got.

A bit different than Cossa, Gylander is a bit more technical in his style of goaltending. He’s improved quite a bit in net over the last few seasons, so I’m excited to see what he will bring to the table. 

He’s always been a favorite dark horse prospect of mine, so I’m hoping he can show off a bit. At the same time, these prospect games can be brutal to even the most seasoned of goaltenders, so I’m not going to read too much into things. I will be looking for how well Gylander tracks the puck, his overall form, and his mental toughness (how well can he rebound if things don’t go according to plan).

It’s your turn:

Who are you most looking forward to in these Traverse City NHL Prospect Games 2024?