Consolidated Red Wings Prospect Rankings Entering 2025-26

While many like to bash the Detroit Red Wings’ rebuild, its effectiveness should really be judged by Detroit’s prospect pool, plus those who have graduated. Steve Yzerman draft picks Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, and Simon Edvinsson are all bonafide NHLers, team leaders, and can accurately be depicted as top line/pair players relative to the whole league.

Beyond that group, we’ve seen Marco Kasper, Elmer Soderblom, and Albert Johansson step into NHL roles. These three will likely be key contributors in 2025-26.

Outside of the NHL, the Red Wings are loaded with talent. Their prospect pipeline continues to be highly rated and among the best in the league.

Related: Red Wings News & Rumors: Edvinsson, Bear, Trade Target & More

Ranking Detroit’s Prospects

Devin Little, Evan Sabourin, and I—hosts of The Flying Octopus podcast—put together our top 25 prospect rankings ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. We all have different viewpoints and favor traits and skills in our own unique way. Here’s how we individually ranked Detroit’s top 25 prospects:

Devin Little	Evan Sabourin	Tony Wolak
Axel Sandin Pellikka	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Axel Sandin Pellikka
Nate Danielson	Nate Danielson	Carter Bear
Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	Dmitry Buchelnikov	Nate Danielson
Carter Bear	Trey Augustine	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
Dmitry Buchelnikov	Carter Bear	Sebastian Cossa
Sebastian Cossa	Sebastian Cossa	Trey Augustine
Carter Mazur	Michael Brandsegg-Nygard	Dmitry Buchelnikov
Trey Augustine	Jesse Kiiskinen	Carter Mazur
Amadeus Lombardi	Carter Mazur	Max Plante
Jesse Kiiskinen	Anton Johansson	Amadeus Lombardi
William Wallinder	Amadeus Lombardi	William Wallinder
Max Plante	Shai Buium	Anton Johansson
Shai Buium	William Wallinder	Emmitt Finnie
Anton Johansson	Max Plante	Shai Buium
Emmitt Finnie	Emmitt Finnie	Jesse Kiiskinen
Michal Postava	Eddie Genborg	Eddie Genborg
Dylan James	Dylan James	Antti Tuomisto
Eddie Genborg	Alexandre Doucet	Ondrej Becher
Antti Tuomisto	Jakub Rychlovsky	Dylan James
Ondrej Becher	Ondrej Becher	Larry Keenan
Rudy Guimond	Michal Svrcek	Michal Svrcek
Noah Dower Nilsson	Larry Keenan	Rudy Guimond
Michal Svrcek	Michal Pradel	Brady Cleveland
Michal Pradel	Rudy Guimond	Noah Dower Nilsson
Charlie Forslund	Charlie Forslund	Michal Postava

A deeper dive on Devin’s rankings can be found here.

Consolidated Red Wings Prospect Ranking

Based on the rankings above, we determined a consolidated ranking favoring each opinion equally. Below are Detroit’s top 25 prospects:

1. RD Axel Sandin Pellikka
2. C Nate Danielson
3. LW Carter Bear
4. RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygard
5. LW Dmitry Buchelnikov
6. G Sebastian Cossa
7. G Trey Augustine
8. RW Carter Mazur
9. LW/C Amadeus Lombardi
10. RW Jesse Kiiskinen
11. RW/C Max Plante
12. LD William Wallinder
13. RD Anton Johansson
14. LD Shai Buium
15. C/LW Emmitt Finnie
16. RW Eddie Genborg
17. LW Dylan James
18. C Ondrej Becher
19. RD Antti Tuomisto
20. LW/C Michal Svrcek
21. G Michal Postava
22. G Rudy Guimond
23. LD Larry Keenan
24. LW/C Alexandre Doucet
25. RW Jakub Rychlovsky

Final Word

Suffice to say, Sandin Pellikka is Detroit’s top prospect. But beyond him, the opinions differ. Danielson, Brandsegg-Nygard, Bear, and Buchelnikov all have futures in the NHL – with all potentially developing into top-six forwards.

It’s worth noting, though, that after Sandin Pellikka, the Red Wings don’t have another top-tier defenseman. Sure, Seider and Edvinsson are already in the NHL, but a well-rounded prospect pool should have another blueliner in the top 10, at least. Wallinder, Buium, and Johansson profile more as bottom-pairing defensemen. Expect this to be a focus when the 2026 NHL Draft rolls around next summer.

Otherwise, the Red Wings are well-stocked at forward and in net. Another difference-maker up front would be the cherry on top. That said, the talent in place now is very respectable. It’s just a matter of time before the rebuilt Red Wings prospect pool advances to the NHL.