The future of the Detroit Red Wings was on full display in Tuesday night’s 3–2 preseason victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Here is a closer look at the standouts who left the strongest impression.
Carter Mazur
Mazur is an excellent two-way forward, known for infusing a physical edge into virtually every shift. His injury history, however, remains a concern, and in recent weeks it has been suggested that he may eventually need to recalibrate his style of play to preserve his health.
The 2024–25 campaign was at once impressive and punishing for him: after suffering a severe concussion early in the year, he rebounded to post 15 points in 20 AHL games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, earning a call-up to the NHL. Yet his debut proved to be among the unluckiest in recent memory, as a dislocated elbow ended his season prematurely.
On Tuesday, though, Mazur played with the urgency of a man intent on reclaiming lost ground—skating with an edge that suggested both hunger and defiance. Much of that intensity stems from his offseason transformation.
Frustrated by repeated setbacks, he committed the summer to building strength and arrived at training camp in formidable condition. The work was evident. In the opening period, Emmitt Finnie—Detroit’s seventh-round pick in 2023—threaded a dazzling between-the-legs pass to set up Mazur for a power-play goal. He continued to generate chances, including a shorthanded breakaway that narrowly missed the mark.
Emmitt Finnie
Since Mazur warranted mention, it is only fitting that Finnie receives his due as well. His setup on the Mazur goal was elegant, but his impact extended well beyond a single play. He forechecked with purpose throughout the game, most notably creating the sequence that led to Nate Danielson’s goal and later springing Danielson for another chance off the rush. And, to complete his night, Finnie delivered the decisive blow: the game-winning goal at 12:38 of the third period, breaking a 2–2 tie.
Nate Danielson
And this brings us to Danielson, who in this game looked every bit the top prospect his billing suggests. He found the back of the net, sliced through the defense with ease, and carried the puck through the neutral zone with a command reminiscent of a young Nathan MacKinnon.
His goal, the product of a deft deflection on a William Wallinder point shot in the slot, underscored not only his skill but also the edge with which he played throughout. Danielson is, by every indication, a rising star in the NHL.
For months, it has been said that the Red Wings possess one of the deepest prospect pools in the league. Performances like this only reinforce the claim.