Did the Detroit Red Wings really have one of the best prospect pools in hockey? It was only one game, but their 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars prospects drove the obvious point home. The Wings, for the most part, looked outstanding, and we all expected it.
Emmitt Finnie may've impressed me more than anyone else, and he constantly looked like a future NHLer. The 2023 seventh-round pick showed off speed in the offensive zone and a knack for finding the net.
The man advantage, overall, looks like it's got some future stars. Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard jumped out at me, and it won't be long until we see more of the same in Grand Rapids. And who knows? This time next season, and they could make a few NHL cameos, if not more.
Amadeus Lombardi wasn't supposed to join the team in this showcase, but the Wings were glad to have him on for the ride. He may've been the best of the bunch in that big win.
Detroit Red Wings prospects beat a team they were supposed to beat
Some say games like games like these don't matter. And they'll never appear in the history books. But when you're part of what's supposed to be one of the league's best prospects pools, everyone's expecting you to bring your A-game and lay the smackdown on a weaker opponent.
And other than a few mishaps that led to late goals from the Stars, that's what we saw from the Wings. Go in there, jump on 'em early, snag the W, and build momentum for tomorrow's contest. It's also the best way to catch a scout's eye and get a longer look when camp begins.
If I'm Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, and Nate Danielson, I'm looking to set myself apart even more, assuming I'm ready to roll for tomorrow's contest. While I don't see any of them heading to the big leagues anywhere near full time this year, if they can last for the duration of preseason or at least most of it, that'll be a major confidence booster before the season kicks off in Grand Rapids.
But there shouldn't be a single player in that locker room tonight who didn't build some momentum. The Wings couldn't have shined brighter and couldn't have made more of a statement. And while nobody will remember this contest three years from today, more than a few of these prospects will create some memories when they're wearing the Winged Wheel full time.