Red Wings Prospects on the Rise

Filip Zadina: Left Wing/Right Wing

Zadina will be classified as a prospect still, despite his brief stint in the NHL last season. Detroit has big hopes for their 6^thoverall pick in 2018. Zadina is already being projected to start off the season on the second, or at the worst, the third line for Detroit. If the young winger is able to show he is the star the Red Wings want him to be, you could see the 19-year-old advancing to Detroit’s 1^stpower play line later in the season. If Detroit wishes to have any remote success this season, Zadina will have to be an instrumental part of that. 

Joe Veleno: Center

Veleno is my personal favorite prospect on the Detroit Red Wings. He is an aggressive two way forward that can play great defense and also get the puck in the net. Veleno tore up the recent NHL prospect tournament with a whopping 7 goals. The young Canadian dropped all the way to the 30^thpick in the 2018 NHL draft, after some experts had him projected as a lottery pick. GMs may already be question passing up on him after he was one of the top scorers playing in juniors. Because the Red Wings are loaded with forwards on bad contracts, Veleno may see more time in Grand Rapids than fans would like, but don’t dare forget about him. 

Givani Smith: Right Wing

Smith is not as high on the talent list as Veleno or Zadina, but he is capable of being a 4^thor 3^rdline grinder in the future. Smith played well in the prospect tournament, and was tied for second in points. The 21-year-old winger still has a lot to learn, and many ways to improve as far as stick handling and decision making goes. After a full season in the AHL, expect Smith to be near the top of the list for a call up if injuries plague the Red Wings this season.

Moritz Seider: Defenseman

Seider was the Red Wings most recent top pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Seider has good size for a defenseman at 6’4”, and is certainly a team need for Detroit. With Kronwall retired, The Red Wings are looking for a young stud to fill a defensive role. Whether Seider will be that guy is still up for questioning as he is just 18 years old. Don’t let the fact that Seider is from Germany deter you from the immense potential he possesses. Seider will be a solid Red Wings defenseman in the future, whether that is this season or the next.

Jared McIsaac: Defensemen

McIsaac was a second-round pick in 2018, who has shown steady progression since playing in juniors. He was able to increase his point totals by 15 points each year since entering the OMJHL. Jared is a true offensive defenseman, which is something the Detroit Red Wings have lacked over recent years. However, the Canadian could miss some time after undergoing shoulder surgery this summer. Once McIsaac makes a full recovery, he should look like a stand out for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Featured Image – NHL.com.