Detroit Red Wings: Priority Waste - Our Sponsor and Our Defense Core

Is he any good?

 

FUCK

He will be in Detroit within 3 weeks, just watch

 

can’t win em all.

 

Slight improvement that period.

 

It's been nearly 5 minutes and I'm just still stunned at the awfulness of that Leddy outlet pass for the 7th goal. Just staggering stuff.

 

Gagner gets a breakaway and decides to take a clapper from the dots, smh.

 

Larkin playing like a 1C

 

We should 100% trade Leddy at the TDL.

 

Who wants him?

 

There’s no less than a dozen terrible GMs in this league.

 

Touché

 

Wheeler’s 2022 NHL prospect pool rankings: No. 7 Detroit Red Wings


By Scott Wheeler 3h ago 21
Welcome to Scott Wheeler’s 2022 rankings of every NHL organization’s prospects. You can find the complete ranking and more information on the criteria here, as we count down daily from No. 32 to No. 1. The series, which includes in-depth evaluations and commentary from sources on more than 500 prospects, runs from Jan. 10 to Feb. 9.

That the Red Wings pool still ranks this high, after graduating their two best prospects to the NHL, speaks volumes of two things.

The first, is the job they did with their 2021 draft class. Seven of their eight 2021 picks made it into my top 20 here and the other is included as an honourable mention. There are only a handful of teams I can say that about, with the vast majority having picked multiple players that I didn’t include in my rankings as part of this series. And it’s not just about Simon Edvinsson or Sebastian Cossa. Certainly, those are the two guys who kept them in this range (I debated ranking the Red Wings as low as ninth but no lower). But it’s about the value they appear to have found in their other six picks too, led by the breakout success of Carter Mazur.

The second is the precasting depth they’d already built up to insulate around Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. Their 2021 draft class looks great but they also found a couple of Swedish defencemen of real promise in other recent second rounds, a 6-foot-8 forward who looks like he might beat the odds and become an NHLer in the sixth round, and they’ve got one of the most dynamic forwards playing outside the NHL in Jonatan Berggren. The Red Wings wouldn’t rank this high without those guys either.

2021 prospect pool rank: No. 4 (change: -3)

1. Simon Edvinsson, LHD, 18 (Frolunda HC)

This has been a very positive development year for Edvinsson. He’s averaging 20 minutes a game (and has often pushed 23-24) in his first full season at the SHL level, he looked like a force in the short-lived world juniors, and the areas of his game that needed (and need) some cleaning up are getting it. His ceiling is extremely high and backed by a unique set of traits and skills for a 6-foot-5 player (let alone defenceman), including his exceptional hands and control of the puck, his fearlessness with and without, and his strong foundational knowledge of how to use his towering frame to defend in a variety of ways (with an active stick, with step-up physicality when opportunities present themselves, on box-outs, etc.). If he can develop his shot (one of those areas that still needs work), continue to smooth out his game, and make better choices (which he’s doing), the potential is there in spades. This season he has shown more inside the offensive zone, making play-ending passes and creating a ton of chance (he should actually have a couple more goals under his belt) to add to his already-dominant transition game as a confident carrier and transporter. I hate the cliche but you really can’t teach hands like his at that size. He tries things, he usually pulls them off, and he’s more comfortable handling the puck under pressure than just about any teenage defenceman I’ve scouted (regardless of size). I think he’s also found greater control of his gangly frame (he’s a good skater and always has been but his stride can splay from the knees). He’s going to be a lot of fun to watch with his take-charge mentality and if he can continue to put it all together the sky’s the limit.

More: What is the allure of prospect Simon Edvinsson in the NHL Draft: ‘Just imagine how good he can be’

2. Sebastian Cossa, G, 18 (Edmonton Oil Kings)

It has been a bit of a mixed bag for Cossa since the draft (at least relative to what we’re used to/expect out of him). I’ve watched him play live more than double-digit times this season (first in Traverse City and Calgary in the summer, then again in Calgary in December) and I’ve seen him play games where he looked unflappable and others where he looked rattled as shots snuck through holes they shouldn’t be finding. The same has been true in the WHL. He was tremendous early on in the year but his consistency has waned of late behind a loaded Oil Kings team that now has eight drafted NHL prospects (the most in the league) and acquired stars Kaiden Guhle and Justin Sourdif at the deadline. He’s a huge (6-foot-6), powerful, athletic goalie and those last two things don’t always come with the first. He’s a fiery, confident, talkative competitor who doesn’t like to get beat (which contrasts from the stoic demeanour we see in many goalies) and wants to command the net and the room. Bigger goalies often struggle with their movements and their recoveries but neither are an issue for Cossa. His positioning (he does a really good job holding his outside edges to be patient on shots) and reflexes (he’s got great hands up high) help him block and grab a lot of pucks, but it’s his ability to bounce back into his stance or change directions with passes that separates him. His power through his pushes give him rare side-to-side ability for a goalie as big as he is. But there are also some question marks. Some of them are contextual, like how good the Oil Kings have been in front of him these last three years. But others are about the tools, including some of the trouble he faces closing his five-hole because of his size and the way he can occasionally lose himself in his net on scramble plays (those strong pushes to get to tough lateral saves can pull him off his lines). His natural gifts give him undeniable upside though.

3. Jonatan Berggren, LW/RW, 21 (Grand Rapids Griffins)

After a tremendous 20-year-old season in the SHL, Berggren’s 21-year-old season in the AHL has met the same standard, reaffirming his position as the highest-ceiling forward prospect in the Red Wings system now that Raymond has graduated. Berggren can torment teams with his east-west skill on the perimeter, hanging onto pucks, playing with unique poise under pressure, and using his hands and footwork to draw defenders to him so his linemates can get open in the space those defenders leave behind. He has also, in the last two seasons, gotten to the inside more proficiently. Berggren has clear line-driving upside and an ingenuity to his game that helps him create plays out of nothing, surprise defenders and goalies, and spend a lot of time dictating with the puck on his stick, layering stop-ups and low-to-high players into carrying sequences. He’s not going to be a big goal-scorer at the NHL level but I like him as a playmaking top-nine winger with clear power-play value.

4. William Wallinder, LHD, 19 (Rogle BK)

Wallinder’s game has always screamed “upside” and “potential” and this year we’re beginning to see it all come together for him in the SHL. His raw tools all get high grades. He’s tall (6-foot-4) and long. He’s athletic. He’s got impressive four-way mobility for that size. And he’s still early in his development curve thanks t a late-July birthday. It’s the finer details and skills that have needed tweaking. I like the confidence he plays with for his size, regularly leading rushes or sliding off the line to the backdoor. He keeps his head up to find seams when he walks the line. He’s always going to have major transition value (both ways) because of his ability to swallow carriers in neutral ice and use his feet to activate into the rush. But now his shot has started to balance out (it used to look off balance and uncoordinated), his decision-making has polished, and he’s getting himself into less trouble on gaps and reads because he’s starting to figure out his timing. After starting the season playing less than 10 minutes a night in the early going, he played 23:38 in my last viewing and has moved from depth defender to important roster piece there. If he keeps it up, he may do the same in Detroit eventually. There are several D after Edvinsson in the Red Wings pool who project as No. 5-7 guys. Wallinder’s got the tools to be a second-pairing guy if he stays on this trajectory.

5. Joe Veleno, C, 22 (Detroit Red Wings/Grand Rapids Griffins)

Veleno’s starting to reach the what-you-see-is-what-you-get chapter of his development where he moves from prospect to play and the progression of his game slows down. I thought about ranking him lower here as a result because it looks like that ceiling will plateau as a bottom-six forward. Veleno plays on the interior, pushes tempo, drives through coverage, finishes his checks and gallops around the ice with as a skater trying to cut through lanes or play through of give-and-gos going north-south. He plays a fast (he builds speed quickly in straight lines), driven game and boasts good but not great overall skill as a stickhandler, shooter and passer. Though no one area of his offensive game is dynamic, and while he does lack a flashy east-west element, Veleno can handle the puck to create opportunities for himself or out of forechecks. Defensively, he also supports the play effectively, tracks low and wins his fair share of battles.

6. Albert Johansson, LHD, 21 (Färjestad BK)

Johansson just keeps playing well and pushing his career in the right direction. There’s nothing particularly dynamic about his game but he has established himself as an impactful, play-driving SHL defenceman for the roundedness of his game at both ends (lacking dynamic quality doesn’t necessarily equate to lacking offence!). His game is subtly effective, relying on smart reads, smooth skating and edgework, decent poise with the puck across the line and calculated choices with and without the puck. He’s efficient, quietly making the small plays that drive results. He can struggle with his gaps when he doesn’t keep his feet moving, forcing him into tough challenges against quick players, but his overall timing and anticipation is a strength. He’s also able to play with a variety of partners, playing a complementary style that should serve him well and allow him to be more active with a lesser player or reserved with a busy partner. I’m not convinced he’ll have a ton of special teams upside, but he should have value at five-on-five.

7. Theodor Niederbach, C/RW, 19 (Frölunda HC)

Niederbach is a slick playmaker who thrives in possession and really pops as an east-west passer and power-play distributor. He has great handles and edges when he attacks off the wall, weaving his way into the middle and maneuvering around opponents. And he’s capable of playing quickly, making plays under pressure or slowing things down. He layers fakes and deception into his game, sliding under defenders with his hands or a quick cut. But while he’s got a nifty little curl and drag release that he adjusts around sticks and feet to change angles on goalies, he’s more of a playmaker than a scorer. I also like the way that he supports the play within a structure, staying in good position to help defensively. It has been nice to see him become a full-time SHL player this year. He’s one of the league’s youngest regulars at forward and I expect him to take a step next season.

Here’s Frolunda general manager Freddie Sjostrom on Niederbach from a recent conversation: “I think he’s doing very good. He’s a regular on our team. Perhaps he has struggled a little bit production-wise but I think he’s playing really well, he has been a steady part of our team the whole season, and I think he’s just waiting for the points to go in as well. He’s playing really well. He’s a very, very smart player who is highly skilled and he’s getting stronger, he’s getting faster, and for me it’s just a matter of time until he gets it all together and then he’s going to be a producing player.”

8. Elmer Soderblom, C/LW, 20 (Frölunda HC)

Soderblom is one of the sport’s most fascinating prospects because of his combination of size (6-foot-8, 238 pounds) and rare soft skill. Soderblom has A-level hands in tight to his body for his size, helping him control the puck on a string on curls, drags and spins. There are still some things about his game that need to be sorted out, too (he can rely a little too much on his reach at times, killing plays by slowing down his feet to try to reach around defenders, for example). But he was a July birthday in his draft year, he has made fast progress to become one of the more productive young players in the SHL, I like his power-play utility as a giant net-front guy with skill (those guys are hard to find) and he just has unbelievable dexterity and feel out there for his size, regularly controlling bouncing pucks and corralling bad passes. It’s starting to feel like he might be the rare exception to the rule (one that says that almost no forwards his size ever make it as more than fourth-liners).

Plays like this give you a real sense for his comfort level with the puck. Most guys his size are shooting that as soon as it lands on their stick.

9. Carter Mazur, LW/RW, 19 (University of Denver)

The best story in the Red Wings pool this season, Mazur is a kid who would have ranked near the bottom of this list had I done it in the summer. His play at Denver has become a real talking point in college hockey circles. As I write this, he’s seventh in under-20 scoring in college hockey and in a tight race for the freshman scoring lead with Josh Doan (Coyotes/Arizona State) and Matthew Knies (Leafs/University of Minnesota), playing above a point per game. Mazur’s a hard-working, honest 200-foot winger with enough skill to make plays all over the ice and finish around the net. Every team wants the three-zone, competitive winger who can play up and down the lineup and that’s what he’s now starting to project as.

I was not expecting to see him make plays like this as a freshman:

10. Donovan Sebrango, LHD, 20 (Grand Rapids Griffins)

I’ve watched a lot of Sebrango this year between three different Hockey Canada events (two in Calgary, one in Edmonton) and Traverse City. And I would say that in those games, he has played poorly just once. Increasingly, that’s becoming what he’s about. He’s the no-nights-off, physically engaged blend between a modern defenceman and a throwback. There are times when his first touch isn’t the smoothest and I’d like him to make the long play instead of the rushed one under pressure, but I don’t think he needs to change his game to be effective and I get the sense he doesn’t care to (he trusts in who he is out there). He plays a step-up style, he has begun to build out his confidence at the pro level so that he feels comfortably involving himself off the line and in transition, I’ve found his skating to be improved this season (it was never an issue but he’s covering more ground these days). He makes consistently smart choices with the puck, he’s capable of stretching the ice as an outlet passer, he blocks every shot he can, I like the routes he takes, and there’s a maturity to his game that might push him into No. 5-6 upside.

11. Jared McIsaac, LHD, 21 (Grand Rapids Griffins)

It has been nice to see McIsaac playing consistently this season! And after everything he’s been through with his shoulder and the scare in Traverse City, it’s impressive that he still has a realistic path to the NHL. He has always been an excellent defender. He rarely misreads odd-man rushes or coverage. He’s a strong skater with a sturdy build who sticks with opposing carriers off the rush and rarely bites on fakes, maintaining a steady gap and playing physically when he needs to. There are times when he caves under pressure or looks like he’s processing the game a little too slowly, but he moves the puck clean and flat, his wrister is hard and, above all else, he’s reliable. He’ll be good organizational depth if he can stay healthy and he’s still got one more year on his ELC after this one so the clock isn’t yet ticking on any kind of decision on his NHL future or waiver wire status.

12. Antti Tuomisto, RHD, 21 (University of Denver)

I remain a big fan of the idea of Tuomisto up levels and the reality of who he is in college, which is a much better player than a glance at his stats would suggest. He has become a highly impactful player defensively at Denver and the counting stats are kept low because the Pioneers have two of the best young power-play quarterbacks in college hockey in Sean Behrens (Avalanche) and Michael Benning (Panthers), which has kept him from getting the power-play time he always had (an excelled in) in Finland’s junior ranks. Tuomisto is a low-floor, high-ceiling defender with all of the physical tools needed to become an NHL player. He processes the game at pace. His point shot is heavy (that includes his long-range wrister, his one-timer and his windup slap shot, the last of which is becoming rare among young defencemen). He’s big (6-foot-5, over 200 pounds) and physical and understands how to leverage that advantage to push opponents off of pucks. But he’s also got some skills you might not expect, with an ability to lead forwards with long outlets, to find and hit seams inside the offensive zone, to not rush a play under pressure and to adjust with a pivot across the point. His skating is a little sluggish but he’s got a legit package. I think he’s got another level to find offensively in college and he has the rest. If he can continue to tidy up his skating, he’ll make a case for himself.

13. Shai Buium, LHD, 18 (University of Denver)

Buium has stepped into college and been effective at both ends as a true freshman. He plays a reliable, well-rounded three-zone game that is built upon a strong foundation of tools, an understanding of the game, and a strong 6-foot-3 frame. He’s got work to do to improve his shot, develop his quickness, and add a bit more of a physical element, but he’s a strong outlet passer who plays a calculating game on both sides of the puck. I think there will be more defensive value to his game long-term than offensive value (he swallows up the neutral zone and breaks up a lot of plays inside his own zone) but there’s enough skill to his game to contribute on offence as well defence.

Here’s Buium on himself: “I think the strengths of my game are my hockey IQ and my ability to play with the puck and away from the puck. I feel like I have a good first pass and I play pretty good in the D zone. I like playing against the top players. I think I’m going to work on my skating more and just keep getting faster and stronger and also my shot needs to be better. I like to watch Nate Schmidt. He does everything and I feel like I play similarly to him.”

14. Liam Dower Nilsson, C, 18 (Frolunda HC)

There are a lot of pro qualities in Dower Nilsson’s game. He’s hard on pucks, he forechecks diligently to apply pressure, force turnovers and jump into gaps to intercept pucks. And then when he has the puck, his ability to quickly identify targets and correctly read the offensive zone is a strength of his game. I do worry because his skill isn’t particularly dynamic that he ends up on a role-player trajectory but he makes a lot of plays against his peers at the J20 level, he’s got good hands, and he’s got B-grade skill all over. And while I’d like him to chase hits a little less, that’s part of his identity and there’s no denying he’s a competitor. There might be a third-line player there in time.

Here’s Sjostrom: “He’s got a high hockey IQ, smartness, good hands, he’s excellent on the power play, which is a little tough to get that time with us here but we can see it in juniors and with the national team that he’s got such a good vision and smartness. I like him a lot.”

15. Eemil Viro, LHD, 19 (TPS)

After a strong age-adjusted season in Liiga last year (one which saw him produce 14 points and outscore his opponents 34-22 at five-on-five, Viro, who is already in his third pro season, has continued to play an important role with TPS this season without taking much of a step forward. He’s playing the same as he did a year ago (just over 17 minutes a night), his production has plateaued, and I’d say, anecdotally, that the impact he’s having on the ice is about the same. That’s fine (for now) given his age, but it’s something to keep an eye on. On the ice, Viro is a smooth-skating 6-foot defender who thrives in transition (skating the puck and gapping up defensively) but lacks a finishing quality inside the offensive zone. By finishing, I mean making plays that result in goals, which doesn’t just include shooting. He’s effortless through his crossovers, heels and into his forward motion. He’s effective when he joins the rush, pushing the pace and creating entries in transition (though he’s not an east-west player, per se). He finishes a lot of whistles standing on top of the opposing crease because he knows when to push. Viro lacks strength and his hands can look stilted but he’s relevant in all three zones and his skating may give him No. 6/7 upside eventually.

16. Robert Mastrosimone, C/LW, 21 (Boston University)

There’s something to be said for versatility, and that’s what Mastrosimone provides. But I have been waiting for him to take a step and make a statement and he’s not there yet. The good news is that Mastrosimone’s game kind of fits anywhere. He’s the kind of player who can be the third-best player on a top line or the best player on a bottom line. And he plays the same way regardless of who he’s playing with or how many touches he gets. His wrister is dangerous from mid-range, he works harder than anyone else on the ice to win battles and races, and he’s got quick hands in traffic. I wouldn’t say he’s a creative player, though, and he’s 5-foot-10, which limits all of that hard work at least a little. But he’s comfortable with the puck, plays fast, and brings value in a variety of ways. I expect him to play all four years at BU and potentially get signed but I do wonder if his Jack-of-all-trades game will translate beyond the AHL (I think he’ll be a good player at that level for sure).

17. Red Savage, C, 18 (Miami University)

Savage’s freshman year has gone about how I expected. He’s a contributing player on a team short on talent and he hasn’t had to sacrifice his hallmark two-way game to become that. Savage is a dominant faceoff man who loves taking tough assignments, staying on top of the opposition’s top players, and driving play through the middle-third of the ice to attack the net and finish off plays. He’s also a natural athlete with a strong, balanced stride that helps him stay on top of the forecheck, and get up and under sticks to take back possession. There’s more to him than the role-playing penalty-killer type. He plays the give-and-go game effectively, he does a good job driving the net off the cycle, and he’s got some quiet skill around the slot. He probably tops out as a fourth-line centre long term but there are a lot of people in the sport who think he’ll get there.

18. Alex Cotton, RHD, 20 (Vancouver Giants)

Cotton’s one of the top defencemen in the WHL and has been for three seasons now. But questions still remain about whether he’ll get signed and his ultimate upside. He’s a 6-foot-2, offensively-inclined righty with a hard shot who has worked hard to fill out his wiry but strong frame. It’s clear that he has worked hard to pick his spots to attack better this season and round out his defensive game in an effort to get signed (likely knowing that his offence, as good as it is, probably isn’t enough to project him to the NHL). His skating still needs some work but WHL folks think he’s early in his development not late in it and I’d be inclined to bring him into the fold in the AHL and go from there.

19. Pasquale Zito, C, 18 (Windsor Spitfires)

After impressing in Traverse City following a year off, Zito has looked good in his return to the OHL this season, establishing himself as an impactful player and producer while serving as an alternate captain in Windsor. Zito plays a hardworking, honest style built around pushing tempo, attacking the net, and looking to shoot out of give-and-go sequences. He’s not a star at the OHL level, he likely won’t become one next year, and he’s on a role player track, but there’s no rush (he just turned 18) and he’s already got the right approach, mindset and work ethic.

20. Otto Kivenmaki, C/LW, 21 (Pelicans)

I’ve always had a soft spot for Kivenmaki, a 5-foot-9 multi-position forward with legitimate skill and playmaking intuition. I have often said that I think his progression beyond the AHL if/when he comes over will likely come down to the groupthink within the Red Wings front office/coaching staff (assuming they sign him, which isn’t even a guarantee). He has outperformed his seventh-round draft selection already. His size is undoubtedly limiting, especially when he’s more of a perimeter passer than an interior scorer, as is, but his skill is obvious. He’s quick on his edges and has excellent puck skills, dashing laterally to carve teams up in traffic and draw attention for his playmaking. He’s also stronger than he looks, with a low base to his stride that helps him win back possession defensively and extend plays offensively so his creativity can shine. He may top out as a top-of-the-lineup mid-level pro, but I really enjoy watching him play and that narrowly kept him here on the list over its four honourable mentions.

The Tiers
Each of my prospect pool rankings will be broken down into team-specific tiers in order to give you a better sense of the talent proximity from one player to the next (a gap which is sometimes minute and in other cases quite pronounced).

The Red Wings pool breaks out into four groups. They are: 1-2, 3, 4-11, 12+. There’s not a ton of upper-half-of-the-lineup upside after the first few names, but I’d bet the rest of the list produces some role players to complement them

 

Frans Nielsen is playing for Denmark in the Olympics. Had a goal today.

 

He has tapered off a bit lately so this should help boost his confidence.

 

racist

 

So are we the best bad team now?

 

When is Vrana back? March?

 

I’d sign up for the Hyman deal all day long even at a bigger number as you suggested.

6/year would be a great bargain for Bert I think. They would have to get an absolute haul for me to accept trading him.

Him moving off Larkin’s line to drive Suter and Fabbri has been impressive.

 

5 years would be perfect.

The last two years of the 7 would probably look bad. That is going to be the case with most 7-8 year deals.

Bert looks like he’s turning into a 80% version of Brad Marchand without the very top end skill and low end bullshit. I want that dude on me team. It’s time for this team to win.

 

He’s complete dipshit for the vaccine stuff. Other than that he’s exactly the player I want on the team. He seems like he would thrive in the playoffs too.

You can probably tell I don’t want to trade him lol

 

I'm ok moving guys like fabbri and leddy at deadline but agree you keep Bertuzzi.

 

Exactly. This is his prime. The way he plays the game, his age, the numbers say it’s all downhill from here. So why pay for his prime when you are going to get 60-80% of it going forward. Sell high.

 

We gonna do the same thing when Larkin signs 8x8?

I agree about not paying past his prime but one could argue he’s just entering his prime which could last another 4 years.

 

Completely agree about center vs winger. That part is apples to oranges. It’s impossible to sign centers. Larkin just came off a year where he had to wear a neck brace for 8 weeks or whatever though. Without knowing specifics the injury history doesn’t scare me with Bert.

Both players are having career years…

I would bet Larkin is outperforming his career shooting percentage more so than Bert this season

 

Also, I’m not trying to be argumentative. I would very much like if he signed for 5 years.

 

GP G A P +/- PIM PPG PPP SHG SHP GWG OTG S S% FO%
DET 44 9 14 23 -14 34 1 6 0 0 0 0 134 6.7 49.45

DET 44 24 25 49 7 33 5 9 0 0 4 3 131 18.3 52.87

Larkin through 44 games last season and this season.

*welp idk why its formatted so fucked.