The Detroit Red Wings top prospects are all over the place if you're basing them strictly on NHL readiness. Some will undoubtedly see NHL ice time this season while others will need to wait a year or two before they make their debuts.
Which forwards will wear the winged wheel at some point in the regular season? Below, I ranked the top six forwards in the system, and made some bold hypotheses of when your favorite prospects will get a chance with the big club.
6 - Carter Bear
The 13th overall pick will be a godsend for the Red Wings when he's ready to go because the Wings need more high-end forwards who can play an aggressive, two-way game. Carter Bear is the only player on this list I can't see playing NHL minutes before the 2026-27 season is up, putting him on pace for a 2027-28 debut.
While prospects vary in fans' minds, if you're going to pay attention to just one, Bear would be a good choice. But there are a few others I'm keeping an eye on once the current season is underway.
5 - Dmitri Buchelnikov
Chances are, Dmitri Buchelnikov would've been a shoo-in to play in North America if he wasn't traded to CSKA Moskva. But the recent trade means he's likely sticking around in Russia for the 2025-26 season until he's free to go elsewhere.
Still, he's one to keep an eye on following a breakout year in Russia, and there's no doubt in my mind he'll see NHL ice time at some point in 2026-27. Look for Buchelnikov to log.a point per game this year.
4 - Max Plante
We know Max Plante will dominate the college hockey scene this season, and it could be his last rodeo in the NCAA. If that occurs, I'll give it an outside chance that he'll see time in the NHL this year toward the tail end of the campaign.
I'll point to a team like the St. Louis Blues to project how Plante's season might go: Team gets eliminated from playoffs, he signs immediately afterward, and plays well in a few games, which may lead to ice time in the postseason should the Wings make it.
3 - Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard already foreshadowed what he's capable of in the AHL Playoffs. Now, he needs to carry that success over into the regular season for Grand Rapids.
He's another prospect on this list who could see NHL ice time. And if it's the case, here's to hoping he'll get the recall for a couple of games and help the Wings make a playoff push. Much like what the St. Louis Blues did with Dalibor Dvorsky.
2 - Nate Danielson
Nate Danielson's surging toward the top spot in these rankings and with a good start to the 2025-26 season, maybe he winds up going the distance. Either way, he's playing NHL games at some point this year, either to fill in if there's an injury or he's making a late-season cameo.
Danielson also has more upside than the No. 1 prospect on this list, which is why some will rank him higher. But I want to see a little more productivity before giving him the top spot in my ranking.
1 - Carter Mazur
I got two words for Carter Mazur: Stay healthy. Do that, and if he's a productive player from the start, expect Mazur to stick around the big club all season.
Should Mazur prove he belongs, and he does, I'll gladly remove the prospect label from his name and insert Danielson at No. 1. But Danielson can also take over if he surges out of the gate and Mazur either flops or sustains an injury.
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