The Detroit Red Wings have one of the best forward prospect pipelines in the NHL at the moment. The years of stocking up on picks, drafting high, smart scouting, and focus on player development have bred one of the most robust groups of players in the league.
As the club puts its best players on display at rookie development camp, it’s worth pointing out that the future looks bright for Red Wings fans. Yes, it’s been tough to go through nearly a decade of no postseason action.
But the Yzerplan promises to finally bear fruit for long-suffering Detroit fans. So, let’s get into why the Red Wings’ forward prospect pipeline promises a bright future in Motown.
Top Red Wings forward prospects in 2025-26
Marco Kasper
The most exciting young player has to be Marco Kasper. He doesn’t quite seem like a prospect anymore as he seems earmarked to become the club’s second-line center this season. While that is the plan, it’s not guaranteed. Kasper is still only 21, but looks far more composed than his age would suggest.
Kasper was the eighth-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Thus far, he looks like it. If he can build on the success he had last season, a 20-goal campaign wouldn’t be an outrageous outcome.
While his defensive game will need to continue evolving, the possibility of seeing Kasper morphy into a solid, two-way center is certainly tantalizing.
Nate Danielson
The ninth-overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft is one the Red Wings are high on. Nate Danielson looks like he could be a solid middle-six center. Although, there’s potential for Danielson to jump into the Wings’ top six.
He’s listed as a center. Currently 6’2” and nearly 190 pounds, he’s got the size to become a mainstay for the Red Wings down the middle. His ceiling could be a second-line center. At worst, he could be a solid third-line pivot.
Fans could see Danielson at some point this season. Unfortunately, if the season goes down the drain, the Wings could call up Danielson and get him some much-needed NHL experience.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
It feels like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard could get a long look at some point. He’s just 19, but could make a move to the big club sooner rather than later. He’s expected to suit up for Grand Rapids this season.
But if injuries and inconsistency play a role for the Wings, Brandsegg-Nygard could get a callup. Coach Todd McLellan will be eager to see what the club has in the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
His ceiling projects as a top-six winger. He’s 6’1” and 207 pounds. So, he has power forward written all over him. Having Brandsegg-Nygard on Kasper’s wing could be a fascinating prospect for Red Wings fans. That’s something that could happen as soon as this season.
Carter Bear
Carter Bear is a high-end prospect who’s likely two to three years away from impacting the big team. But he could arrive just in time to spell veteran Alex DeBrincat in the Wings’ top six.
Bear can play both center and wing. That’s the type of versatility the Wings will need moving forward. Injuries always play a role throughout the season. So, having Bear who can switch around the ice could be a difference-making skill.
At best, the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft could mean a top-six winger who could slide into a 2C or 3C role. At worst, the Wings will have a decent middle-six forward who can chew up minutes.
Of course, nothing is ever guaranteed in the NHL. But the ceiling is too good to ignore in Carter Bear. If and when he cracks the lineup, the Red Wings could have an embarrassment of riches.