2025 NHL Draft: Key players in the Detroit Red Wings prospect pool
The 2025 NHL Draft is approaching, with the Detroit Red Wings looking to add to an already deep pool of prospects.
According to a February breakdown from The Athletic, the Red Wings have the fifth-ranked prospect pool among all NHL teams, behind the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks. The team has benefited from high draft picks in recent years, with the Red Wings making a top-10 selection in every draft from 2017-23. Their highest draft pick in that span was the No. 4 pick in the 2020 draft, which turned into Lucas Raymond.
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This year, the Red Wings have the No. 13 pick in the draft.
Detroit has a prospect pool that has recently graduated young NHL'ers such as Marco Kasper and Simon Edvinsson, with potentially more new players suiting up for the Red Wings for the 2025-26 season.
Here are 10 Red Wings prospects to know ahead of the draft, excluding any players who have already played significant time in the NHL:
D Axel Sandin Pellikka, 20
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Standing with Kris Draper and Steve Yzerman, Axel Sandin Pellikka is selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the 17th overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by) ORG XMIT: 775989686 ORIG FILE ID: 1503569446
The young Swedish defenseman is by many accounts the top prospect in the Red Wings system. He was taken with the No. 17 pick in the 2023 draft and is currently playing in Sweden with Skellefteå.
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Already a decorated international player with his native Sweden, Sandin Pellikka gets praise for his offensive abilities, especially for his accurate shooting.
F Nate Danielson, 20
Detroit Red Wings forward Nate Danielson (29) controls the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period of a preseason hockey game at United Center in Chicago on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
Also from the 2023 draft class, Danielson put up 39 points in his second professional season with the Grand Rapids Griffins and finished second on the team with 27 assists in 2024-25.
Prospect experts have praised the Canadian for his size and intelligence.
G Sebastian Cossa, 22
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Sebastian Cossa (33) looks for the puck during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
Cossa has already made his NHL debut in a Dec. 9 game against the Buffalo Sabres and was brought up again under emergency conditions in March. But considering his debut was also the only NHL action he has so far received, it's safe to still call him a prospect.
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Cossa had a .911 save percentage over 41 games for Grand Rapids of the AHL in the 2024-25 season. He was the team's No. 15 overall selection in the 2021 draft.
F Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, 19
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
Taken with the No. 15 pick in the 2024 draft, Brandsegg-Nygård made history by becoming the first Norwegian player ever selected in the first round of an NHL draft.
The winger is currently on loan with his teammate Sandin Pellikka at Skellefteå, but has already made his stateside debut with two games with Grand Rapids.
F Dmitri Buchelnikov, 21
The Red Wings took the Russian forward in the second round of the 2022 draft, and he has been playing in Russia since.
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Prospect experts highlight the forward's offensive finesse and agility, even though he stands fairly small compared to top NHL wingers.
G Trey Augustine, 20
Michigan State goaltender Trey Augustine (1) warms up before Duel in the D between Michigan and Michigan State at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025.
The goalie from South Lyon has already made a name for himself as an All-American at Michigan State and a five-time medal winner for Team USA's junior squads.
Entering his junior season at MSU, it may be a few years before he becomes a pro, but he's already shining as one of the top college goalies in the country.
F Carter Mazur, 23
Detroit Red Wings left wing Carter Mazur (43) takes a shot in the second period against the Ottawa Senators at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Oct. 4, 2024.
As the 70th pick in the 2021 draft, Mazur is one of the few third-round selections still highly rated in the Red Wings' system. And though he's already made his NHL debut, his season was cut short in his first game, against Utah, with an upper body injury.
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The winger is a Team USA veteran coming out of the vaunted Denver college program, putting up 15 points in 20 games for Grand Rapids in the 2024-25 season.
D William Wallinder, 22
Another Swedish defenseman, Wallinder has played his past two full professional seasons with Grand Rapids, putting up 19 points in 62 games in 2024-25.
The 6-foot-4 defenseman gets praise from NHL prospect experts for his size and athleticism as he has increased his workload from his first professional season.
F Max Plante, 19
Max Plante is selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the 47th overall pick during the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Sphere on Saturday, June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Plante was the Red Wings' second-round pick in 2024 and is entering his sophomore season at Minnesota Duluth.
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He helped Team USA win a silver medal at the 2024 IIHL U-18 World Championship, scoring two goals and adding nine assists in seven games for the Americans.
F Amadeus Lombardi, 22
Detroit Red Wings center Amadeus Lombardi (78) skates in on goal against Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (24) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024.
The only fourth-round pick on this list, Lombardi has shot up the franchise's prospect rankings since being drafted in 2022.
Lombardi was one of five Grand Rapids players to put up at least 40 points in the 2024-25 season, but the other three needed at least 60 games to do so. Lombardi, meanwhile, got it done in 44, netting 19 goals to go along with 21 assists.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2025 NHL Draft: Key players in the Detroit Red Wings prospect pool
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