The Detroit Red Wings’ ongoing rebuild could be reaching a new phase. Last season, the emergence of Marco Kasper highlighted how the years of high draft picks and player development have yielded encouraging results.
This season, another Red Wings prospect could graduate to the NHL and make a dent in the league. We’re talking about Nate Danielson.
Like Kasper, Danielson isn’t about to score 100 points or sweep the awards. Maybe down the line, but certainly not in the near future. Still, Danielson’s intriguing upside could push incumbent veterans out of a job.
Most notably, J.T. Compher and Andrew Copp could face intense competition from the former first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Danielson drew significant praise from The Athletic’s Max Bultman following this past weekend’s NHL Prospect Games. Bultman wrote:
“Danielson is such a smart player. He’s constantly in the right spots defensively, where he has a strong defensive stick, and is an easy-to-notice puck transporter and distributor as well.”
The comments underscore the potential lurking within Danielson’s 6’2”, 187-pound frame. He’s got the size and the skill to become a solid NHL center. At his best, he could become another version of Dylan Larkin. That upside has to be tantalizing for the Red Wings as they look to build a sustainable contender from within.
Red Wings fans could see Danielson in lineup this season
Danielson’s arrival in the Red Wings’ lineup could largely depend on how this season goes. A strong start could delay Danielson’s arrival. Supposing that Compher and Copp play reasonably well, there may be no need to bring up the 20-year-old.
If anything, another year of seasoning in Grand Rapids would do Danielson well. However, a slow start or injuries could accelerate Danielson’s path to the NHL. Even if Copp or Compher play well, there would be no sense in pushing Danielson’s move to the big club.
The Red Wings need to get as many of their rising stars into the NHL. If they’re too good for the AHL, why delay their arrival any further? One of the biggest issues plaguing the Wings in previous seasons has been the inconsistency from a largely veteran supporting cast.
So, why not do away with such limitations and bring in someone like Nate Danielson, who could breathe new life into Detroit’s lineup?
The evident upside, along with learning pains, justifies the move. It would be silly to push back up-and-coming stars at this point. This is the time when Steve Yzerman must reveal his hand and show the NHL what he’s got in the pipeline.