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sggatecl
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I have a subscription to The Athletic. Thought I'd share a recent opinion piece on the Red Wings prospects. Much of their content is behind a paywall, but some of it isn't so I'll share the link in case it's not.
Red Wings? Top 20 prospects: End of 2018 edition
20. Joren Van Pottelberghe, G, EHC Kloten (NLB) (Last ranking: 22) ? Van Pottelberghe landed in the second division Swiss league last month after just a handful of starts in Denmark and nothing with HC Davos in the NLA. It?s not the ideal outcome if you were hoping for him to rise fast against top competition overseas, but developmentally it should afford him good opportunities for reps. He?s still just 21, and his stats with Kloten have been good thus far, so there?s no real reason for panic. But this is a good time for a reminder to not stake too much hope on any one goalie prospect in particular.
2018-19 stats to date: (With Kloten/NLB): 5 GP, 1.80 GAA, .936 SV%. (With Rungsted Seier Capital/Denmark): 4 GP, 2.53 GAA, .885 SV%.
19. Givani Smith, F, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 12) ? Smith?s transition to the AHL has been a tough one. After looking pretty solid in the prospect tournament in Traverse City, he hasn?t done much of anything scoring-wise with the Griffins and was a healthy scratch my last time there. He?s totaled 25 penalty minutes in 23 games, not surprising given his physical style of play, but his production (3 points) just hasn?t been what it will need to be if he?s going to carve out a place for himself with the Red Wings. He won?t turn 21 until February, so he?s got time, but he?ll need to do a lot more if he?s going to make a run at Detroit any time soon.
2018-19 stats to date: 23 GP, 1 G, 2 A
18. Malte Setkov, D, Malmo (SHL) (Last ranking: 20) ? Ice time has been limited for Setkov in his 13 SHL games, but the big defenseman is listed on Denmark?s preliminary roster for the World Juniors in what should be a good test of his progress. A 2014 fourth-rounder, Setkov will turn 20 in January, so him getting any time in the top Swedish league is a decent sign in its own right. The next step will be producing in it. So far, all five of his points this season have instead come in the SuperElit league, in which he has also played seven games.
2018-19 stats to date: (SHL): 13 GP, 0 G, 0 A; (SuperElit): 7 GP, 2 G, 3 A
17. Axel Holmstrom, F, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 24) ? The last game I saw from Holmstrom was the best I?ve seen him, a three-assist outing in which his decision-making with the puck was really strong. My issue with his projection, though, is basically this: I don?t see him getting into Detroit?s top six, but he also doesn?t seem to play a style that would suit the bottom of a lineup. I like him best when he sets up in the offensive zone and makes plays ? and his skating wouldn?t lend ideally to the grinding, dump and chase style usually found on the bottom lines of an NHL team.
2018-19 stats to date: 28 GP, 6 G, 8 A
16. Chase Pearson, F, Maine (NCAA) (Last ranking: 23) ? A point-per-game NCAA skater for Maine, Pearson is having a breakout junior season. The Black Bears are in a weird stretch in which they haven?t played an official game in more than two weeks (though Pearson did log an assist in an exhibition against the loaded U.S. National Team Development Program?s U18s a week ago) and won?t play again until Dec. 28. Regardless, this looks like an important step forward for the 2015 fifth-rounder, who didn?t see much of one last year as a sophomore.
2018-19 stats to date: 14 GP, 8 G, 6 A
15. Alec Regula, D, London (OHL) (Last ranking: 19) ? Regula plays on a stacked blue line for the Knights, with 2018 lottery picks Adam Boqvist and Evan Bouchard both also on the roster and in the spotlight. His counting stats have seen an uptick this year ? he?s right around a half-point per game ? which is good for the young 18 year old. Regula won?t turn 19 until next August, and his 6-foot-4 size brings a different element to the Red Wings? defensive prospect corps from many of the higher-rated players on this list.
2018-19 stats to date: 29 GP, 3 G, 12 A
14. Kasper Kotkansalo, D, Boston University (NCAA) (Last ranking: 17) ? Nobody will confuse Kotkansalo for an offensive dynamo, although it?s still a good sign that his four assists in 16 games have already matched his total from 2017-18. New York Rangers coach David Quinn, who coached Boston University last season, was optimistic when we spoke in the spring that a jump would be in order for the Finnish blueliner ? but that was more in terms of decisiveness and confidence than the offensive numbers explicitly. In general, Detroit?s system has really strengthened in terms of defensive depth, while still missing legit top pair defensemen. Kotkansalo doesn?t figure to be that. He could, however, have a shot at filling one of the penalty kill roles in the future, if he can develop enough at BU.
2018-19 stats to date: 16 GP, 0 G, 4 A
13. Dominic Turgeon, C, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 14) ? I seem to be consistently higher on Turgeon than others, but I think he could handle NHL work right now if needed. That has to count for something. The problem is, especially with the addition of Jacob De La Rose, the Red Wings are already pretty full in the defense-first center department, with Christoffer Ehn currently slotted on the wing out of necessity. Still, having Turgeon in the system is a good thing, especially in a pinch. Last time I saw him, he scored a beautiful shootout winner, too.
2018-19 stats to date: 29 GP, 2 G, 7 A
12. Keith Petruzzelli, G, Quinnipiac (NCAA) (Last ranking: 21) ? Petruzzelli got off to a tough start as a freshman last season, but after rebounding toward the end of the campaign, he?s taken another step forward as a sophomore. He now boasts a .917 save percentage in 11 starts for the Bobcats. He?s still just 19, which is positive from a development standpoint, because it means he has plenty of time to improve on what he?s already doing. On the flip side, the Red Wings don?t really have any young goalie who seems close to competing for a roster spot and are going to need to start making future plans at some point. But you take the potential over the readiness at this stage, and Petruzzelli?s improvement is significant as the Red Wings look for someone to eventually take over their net long-term.
2018-19 stats to date: 11 GP, 2.10 GAA, .917 SV%
11. Filip Larsson, G, Denver (NCAA) (Last ranking: 10) ? Larsson has missed significant time in his freshman season due to a lower-body injury, so there?s not much change in his evaluation from the last time we did one of these. The good news for him, though, is that he already held a relatively strong r?sum?. He?s coming off a season in which he led the USHL in save percentage (.941) and he was sixth in Sweden?s SuperElit in that same category the year prior. He has made just two starts in college, but so far those have gone well, too ? he?s stopped 74 of 79 shots, including allowing just one goal to North Dakota a couple weeks back. Still, injuries have to be the major concern for Larsson at this point after he missed considerable time with a lower-body injury last season as well.
2018-19 stats to date: 2 GP, 2.31 GAA, .937 SV%
10. Libor Sulak, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 15) ? The thing that I think gets lost with Sulak is that, while he has certainly shown the kind of ?flashes? you want from a legit prospect, he will turn 25 this season. He of course has ceiling remaining as he gets more comfortable with North American ice sheets, but when looking long-term, it would be hard to put him above some of his younger Griffins teammates who simply have more time to develop. He still had really impressive moments this preseason, so it?s not like this is doom and gloom; he may well log minutes for the Red Wings at some point. It just calls for a dose of perspective when ranking the big Czech blueliner among his peers.
2018-19 stats to date: 24 GP, 0 G, 5 A
9. Joe Hicketts, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 13) ? Hicketts is solid, and here?s betting he gets meaningful NHL minutes before some of the names ahead of him on this list. But as the Red Wings have beefed up their prospect system over the last year or two, he might be a guy who needs to really cement a spot while he can, because he no longer has the market cornered as a heady, smaller d-man who can skate well. His intangibles are fantastic, though, so even if he is eventually surpassed he could end up being an ideal 6/7 defenseman ? a role he is certainly capable of filling right now if not for the Red Wings wanting him to get more minutes in Grand Rapids.
2018-19 stats to date: 20 GP, 1 G, 7 A
8. Vili Saarijarvi, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 11) ? Speaking of heady smaller defensemen who skate well ? Saarijarvi has really stood out in the last two Griffins games I attended. I love his offensive game, and while he can still shore up his all-around play, he?s no longer all upside. With steady minutes in Grand Rapids, he?s finally been able to get comfortable, and the results have been encouraging. His defense could end up deciding what his role ends up being on a good team, but the offensive elements he brings are a nice baseline regardless.
2018-19 stats to date: 29 GP, 1 g, 7 a
7. Gustav Lindstrom, D, Frolunda (SHL) (Last ranking: 9) ? I liked Lindstrom a lot at last summer?s development camp, and it would have been nice to see him in Traverse City for a longer look with the NHLers. Regardless, the reason I gave him the edge over Saarijarvi this time around came down to this: while his offensive production doesn?t have the same ceiling, he should have one of the better all-around potentials in this group. It?s certainly a good sign that the Red Wings have added offensive ability to their blueline core, but Lindstrom?s complete game should help him secure a role ? and the fact that he?s getting nearly 19 minutes per game in Sweden?s top league right now will help him advance quicker when he does get to North America, too.
2018-19 stats to date: 24 GP, 2 G 2 A
6. Evgeny Svechnikov, F, Detroit (NHL) (Last ranking: 7) ? The guy who just can?t catch a break underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery before the season began in October, the latest in a series of unwanted delays for the 2015 first-round pick. We never got to find out where Svechnikov was actually set to open the season as a result, but considering all the injuries the Red Wings are dealing with, he probably would have ended up getting some solid minutes in Detroit right now. Instead, he?s going to be coming back next year and may have to fend off Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno for a roster spot. The tools haven?t changed with Svechnikov, and on that alone he could probably be a bit higher ? but it?s hard to project with too much confidence right now, especially considering the statistical drop-off he suffered in the AHL last season.
2018-19 stats to date: None
5. Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax (QMJHL) (Last ranking: 8) ? Making the Team Canada roster for the World Juniors should be a good reward after a strong start to the season for McIsaac. More than that, it?ll be a great chance for Red Wings fans to get a longer look at him, after McIsaac was injured at the prospect tournament. Halifax uses him in all situations, including against the opponents? top players, which reflects the all-around game the Red Wings can look forward to when he?s ready. If he can develop into a second-pairing player in the future, that would be a definite win for the Red Wings with their 2018 second-round pick. ?His game is well rounded, but he also has the ability to set the (pace of the game) and slow the game down,? Halifax GM Cam Russell told me this week. ?He controls the puck so well, passes the puck like a pro, and his skating is very underrated. He?s such a strong, fluid skater, and he?s got great speed, that he can take the puck and he can just set the pace of the game himself.?
2018-19 stats to date: 23 GP, 7 G, 15 A
4. Jonatan Berggren, F, Skelleftea (SHL) (Last ranking: 6) ? A back injury has sidelined Berggren for the next couple months, which will keep him away from the World Juniors and take a massive chunk out of his season in the SHL. He looked promising in Detroit over the summer, though, and as a young prospect (he won?t turn 19 until July) he was always going to be a longer-view piece of the puzzle. The skills are clear, though, and that?s why he gets such lofty billing. Fans will recall this clip from September in particular as an example of what he can do:
2018-19 stats to date: 16 GP, 0 G, 3 A
3. Filip Hronek, D, Detroit (NHL) (Last ranking: 3) ? He?s actually with the big club now, the result of another wave of injuries along the Red Wings? blueline and a big opportunity for him to establish himself for the future. Hronek was the second defenseman sent back earlier in the season, after playing a handful of games to open the year, but played well enough in Grand Rapids to get the call when Mike Green went down. His offensive abilities were on display with 18 points in 20 AHL games, and the Red Wings like his smarts and competitiveness. That competitiveness can border onto ?too hard on himself? territory sometimes, but a good showing over the next few weeks could go a long way in helping solidify his comfort level in Detroit.
2018-19 stats to date: (AHL): 20 GP, 5 G, 13 A
2. Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL) (Last ranking: 4) ? Easily this season?s star of the farm system thus far, Veleno?s 2018-19 season is off to a roaring start. His 54 points in 28 games have him first in the QMJHL in points per game, thanks in large part to an outstanding past month. Since Nov. 18, Veleno has 31 points in nine games, flashing the scoring ability that could elevate him to a potential second-line center in the NHL. He has already matched the 22 goals he posted all of last season. Detroit wants him working on his defensive game to be a true 200-foot player, and his strong skating ability should only help that. He?s in position for a spot on Canada?s World Junior team, which would be a great platform to showcase himself if he makes it. He?s looking like a steal at pick 30.
2018-19 stats to date: 28 GP, 22 G, 32 A
1. Filip Zadina, RW, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 1) ? First, the good news: The last time I watched Zadina (Saturday night), he played the most complete period offensively I?ve seen from him as a Griffin. He had a goal and an assist, but more than that, he was confidently making the right decisions in the offensive zone. It helped that a couple of those shifts came on the power play ? and he still managed to be on the ice for two goals allowed at even strength ? but in general you?re watching the offensive progress with Zadina. You saw it in that game. The flip side is that those performances were (perhaps unfairly) expected to be the norm for the Czech phenom this season in Grand Rapids. Instead, top-end production hasn?t come immediately ? but don?t overthink this one. He still has all the ingredients to be an elite scorer when he does arrive in the NHL.
2018-19 stats to date: 26 GP, 8 G, 9 A
Red Wings? Top 20 prospects: End of 2018 edition
20. Joren Van Pottelberghe, G, EHC Kloten (NLB) (Last ranking: 22) ? Van Pottelberghe landed in the second division Swiss league last month after just a handful of starts in Denmark and nothing with HC Davos in the NLA. It?s not the ideal outcome if you were hoping for him to rise fast against top competition overseas, but developmentally it should afford him good opportunities for reps. He?s still just 21, and his stats with Kloten have been good thus far, so there?s no real reason for panic. But this is a good time for a reminder to not stake too much hope on any one goalie prospect in particular.
2018-19 stats to date: (With Kloten/NLB): 5 GP, 1.80 GAA, .936 SV%. (With Rungsted Seier Capital/Denmark): 4 GP, 2.53 GAA, .885 SV%.
19. Givani Smith, F, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 12) ? Smith?s transition to the AHL has been a tough one. After looking pretty solid in the prospect tournament in Traverse City, he hasn?t done much of anything scoring-wise with the Griffins and was a healthy scratch my last time there. He?s totaled 25 penalty minutes in 23 games, not surprising given his physical style of play, but his production (3 points) just hasn?t been what it will need to be if he?s going to carve out a place for himself with the Red Wings. He won?t turn 21 until February, so he?s got time, but he?ll need to do a lot more if he?s going to make a run at Detroit any time soon.
2018-19 stats to date: 23 GP, 1 G, 2 A
18. Malte Setkov, D, Malmo (SHL) (Last ranking: 20) ? Ice time has been limited for Setkov in his 13 SHL games, but the big defenseman is listed on Denmark?s preliminary roster for the World Juniors in what should be a good test of his progress. A 2014 fourth-rounder, Setkov will turn 20 in January, so him getting any time in the top Swedish league is a decent sign in its own right. The next step will be producing in it. So far, all five of his points this season have instead come in the SuperElit league, in which he has also played seven games.
2018-19 stats to date: (SHL): 13 GP, 0 G, 0 A; (SuperElit): 7 GP, 2 G, 3 A
17. Axel Holmstrom, F, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 24) ? The last game I saw from Holmstrom was the best I?ve seen him, a three-assist outing in which his decision-making with the puck was really strong. My issue with his projection, though, is basically this: I don?t see him getting into Detroit?s top six, but he also doesn?t seem to play a style that would suit the bottom of a lineup. I like him best when he sets up in the offensive zone and makes plays ? and his skating wouldn?t lend ideally to the grinding, dump and chase style usually found on the bottom lines of an NHL team.
2018-19 stats to date: 28 GP, 6 G, 8 A
16. Chase Pearson, F, Maine (NCAA) (Last ranking: 23) ? A point-per-game NCAA skater for Maine, Pearson is having a breakout junior season. The Black Bears are in a weird stretch in which they haven?t played an official game in more than two weeks (though Pearson did log an assist in an exhibition against the loaded U.S. National Team Development Program?s U18s a week ago) and won?t play again until Dec. 28. Regardless, this looks like an important step forward for the 2015 fifth-rounder, who didn?t see much of one last year as a sophomore.
2018-19 stats to date: 14 GP, 8 G, 6 A
15. Alec Regula, D, London (OHL) (Last ranking: 19) ? Regula plays on a stacked blue line for the Knights, with 2018 lottery picks Adam Boqvist and Evan Bouchard both also on the roster and in the spotlight. His counting stats have seen an uptick this year ? he?s right around a half-point per game ? which is good for the young 18 year old. Regula won?t turn 19 until next August, and his 6-foot-4 size brings a different element to the Red Wings? defensive prospect corps from many of the higher-rated players on this list.
2018-19 stats to date: 29 GP, 3 G, 12 A
14. Kasper Kotkansalo, D, Boston University (NCAA) (Last ranking: 17) ? Nobody will confuse Kotkansalo for an offensive dynamo, although it?s still a good sign that his four assists in 16 games have already matched his total from 2017-18. New York Rangers coach David Quinn, who coached Boston University last season, was optimistic when we spoke in the spring that a jump would be in order for the Finnish blueliner ? but that was more in terms of decisiveness and confidence than the offensive numbers explicitly. In general, Detroit?s system has really strengthened in terms of defensive depth, while still missing legit top pair defensemen. Kotkansalo doesn?t figure to be that. He could, however, have a shot at filling one of the penalty kill roles in the future, if he can develop enough at BU.
2018-19 stats to date: 16 GP, 0 G, 4 A
13. Dominic Turgeon, C, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 14) ? I seem to be consistently higher on Turgeon than others, but I think he could handle NHL work right now if needed. That has to count for something. The problem is, especially with the addition of Jacob De La Rose, the Red Wings are already pretty full in the defense-first center department, with Christoffer Ehn currently slotted on the wing out of necessity. Still, having Turgeon in the system is a good thing, especially in a pinch. Last time I saw him, he scored a beautiful shootout winner, too.
2018-19 stats to date: 29 GP, 2 G, 7 A
12. Keith Petruzzelli, G, Quinnipiac (NCAA) (Last ranking: 21) ? Petruzzelli got off to a tough start as a freshman last season, but after rebounding toward the end of the campaign, he?s taken another step forward as a sophomore. He now boasts a .917 save percentage in 11 starts for the Bobcats. He?s still just 19, which is positive from a development standpoint, because it means he has plenty of time to improve on what he?s already doing. On the flip side, the Red Wings don?t really have any young goalie who seems close to competing for a roster spot and are going to need to start making future plans at some point. But you take the potential over the readiness at this stage, and Petruzzelli?s improvement is significant as the Red Wings look for someone to eventually take over their net long-term.
2018-19 stats to date: 11 GP, 2.10 GAA, .917 SV%
11. Filip Larsson, G, Denver (NCAA) (Last ranking: 10) ? Larsson has missed significant time in his freshman season due to a lower-body injury, so there?s not much change in his evaluation from the last time we did one of these. The good news for him, though, is that he already held a relatively strong r?sum?. He?s coming off a season in which he led the USHL in save percentage (.941) and he was sixth in Sweden?s SuperElit in that same category the year prior. He has made just two starts in college, but so far those have gone well, too ? he?s stopped 74 of 79 shots, including allowing just one goal to North Dakota a couple weeks back. Still, injuries have to be the major concern for Larsson at this point after he missed considerable time with a lower-body injury last season as well.
2018-19 stats to date: 2 GP, 2.31 GAA, .937 SV%
10. Libor Sulak, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 15) ? The thing that I think gets lost with Sulak is that, while he has certainly shown the kind of ?flashes? you want from a legit prospect, he will turn 25 this season. He of course has ceiling remaining as he gets more comfortable with North American ice sheets, but when looking long-term, it would be hard to put him above some of his younger Griffins teammates who simply have more time to develop. He still had really impressive moments this preseason, so it?s not like this is doom and gloom; he may well log minutes for the Red Wings at some point. It just calls for a dose of perspective when ranking the big Czech blueliner among his peers.
2018-19 stats to date: 24 GP, 0 G, 5 A
9. Joe Hicketts, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 13) ? Hicketts is solid, and here?s betting he gets meaningful NHL minutes before some of the names ahead of him on this list. But as the Red Wings have beefed up their prospect system over the last year or two, he might be a guy who needs to really cement a spot while he can, because he no longer has the market cornered as a heady, smaller d-man who can skate well. His intangibles are fantastic, though, so even if he is eventually surpassed he could end up being an ideal 6/7 defenseman ? a role he is certainly capable of filling right now if not for the Red Wings wanting him to get more minutes in Grand Rapids.
2018-19 stats to date: 20 GP, 1 G, 7 A
8. Vili Saarijarvi, D, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 11) ? Speaking of heady smaller defensemen who skate well ? Saarijarvi has really stood out in the last two Griffins games I attended. I love his offensive game, and while he can still shore up his all-around play, he?s no longer all upside. With steady minutes in Grand Rapids, he?s finally been able to get comfortable, and the results have been encouraging. His defense could end up deciding what his role ends up being on a good team, but the offensive elements he brings are a nice baseline regardless.
2018-19 stats to date: 29 GP, 1 g, 7 a
7. Gustav Lindstrom, D, Frolunda (SHL) (Last ranking: 9) ? I liked Lindstrom a lot at last summer?s development camp, and it would have been nice to see him in Traverse City for a longer look with the NHLers. Regardless, the reason I gave him the edge over Saarijarvi this time around came down to this: while his offensive production doesn?t have the same ceiling, he should have one of the better all-around potentials in this group. It?s certainly a good sign that the Red Wings have added offensive ability to their blueline core, but Lindstrom?s complete game should help him secure a role ? and the fact that he?s getting nearly 19 minutes per game in Sweden?s top league right now will help him advance quicker when he does get to North America, too.
2018-19 stats to date: 24 GP, 2 G 2 A
6. Evgeny Svechnikov, F, Detroit (NHL) (Last ranking: 7) ? The guy who just can?t catch a break underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery before the season began in October, the latest in a series of unwanted delays for the 2015 first-round pick. We never got to find out where Svechnikov was actually set to open the season as a result, but considering all the injuries the Red Wings are dealing with, he probably would have ended up getting some solid minutes in Detroit right now. Instead, he?s going to be coming back next year and may have to fend off Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno for a roster spot. The tools haven?t changed with Svechnikov, and on that alone he could probably be a bit higher ? but it?s hard to project with too much confidence right now, especially considering the statistical drop-off he suffered in the AHL last season.
2018-19 stats to date: None
5. Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax (QMJHL) (Last ranking: 8) ? Making the Team Canada roster for the World Juniors should be a good reward after a strong start to the season for McIsaac. More than that, it?ll be a great chance for Red Wings fans to get a longer look at him, after McIsaac was injured at the prospect tournament. Halifax uses him in all situations, including against the opponents? top players, which reflects the all-around game the Red Wings can look forward to when he?s ready. If he can develop into a second-pairing player in the future, that would be a definite win for the Red Wings with their 2018 second-round pick. ?His game is well rounded, but he also has the ability to set the (pace of the game) and slow the game down,? Halifax GM Cam Russell told me this week. ?He controls the puck so well, passes the puck like a pro, and his skating is very underrated. He?s such a strong, fluid skater, and he?s got great speed, that he can take the puck and he can just set the pace of the game himself.?
2018-19 stats to date: 23 GP, 7 G, 15 A
4. Jonatan Berggren, F, Skelleftea (SHL) (Last ranking: 6) ? A back injury has sidelined Berggren for the next couple months, which will keep him away from the World Juniors and take a massive chunk out of his season in the SHL. He looked promising in Detroit over the summer, though, and as a young prospect (he won?t turn 19 until July) he was always going to be a longer-view piece of the puzzle. The skills are clear, though, and that?s why he gets such lofty billing. Fans will recall this clip from September in particular as an example of what he can do:
2018-19 stats to date: 16 GP, 0 G, 3 A
3. Filip Hronek, D, Detroit (NHL) (Last ranking: 3) ? He?s actually with the big club now, the result of another wave of injuries along the Red Wings? blueline and a big opportunity for him to establish himself for the future. Hronek was the second defenseman sent back earlier in the season, after playing a handful of games to open the year, but played well enough in Grand Rapids to get the call when Mike Green went down. His offensive abilities were on display with 18 points in 20 AHL games, and the Red Wings like his smarts and competitiveness. That competitiveness can border onto ?too hard on himself? territory sometimes, but a good showing over the next few weeks could go a long way in helping solidify his comfort level in Detroit.
2018-19 stats to date: (AHL): 20 GP, 5 G, 13 A
2. Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL) (Last ranking: 4) ? Easily this season?s star of the farm system thus far, Veleno?s 2018-19 season is off to a roaring start. His 54 points in 28 games have him first in the QMJHL in points per game, thanks in large part to an outstanding past month. Since Nov. 18, Veleno has 31 points in nine games, flashing the scoring ability that could elevate him to a potential second-line center in the NHL. He has already matched the 22 goals he posted all of last season. Detroit wants him working on his defensive game to be a true 200-foot player, and his strong skating ability should only help that. He?s in position for a spot on Canada?s World Junior team, which would be a great platform to showcase himself if he makes it. He?s looking like a steal at pick 30.
2018-19 stats to date: 28 GP, 22 G, 32 A
1. Filip Zadina, RW, Grand Rapids (AHL) (Last ranking: 1) ? First, the good news: The last time I watched Zadina (Saturday night), he played the most complete period offensively I?ve seen from him as a Griffin. He had a goal and an assist, but more than that, he was confidently making the right decisions in the offensive zone. It helped that a couple of those shifts came on the power play ? and he still managed to be on the ice for two goals allowed at even strength ? but in general you?re watching the offensive progress with Zadina. You saw it in that game. The flip side is that those performances were (perhaps unfairly) expected to be the norm for the Czech phenom this season in Grand Rapids. Instead, top-end production hasn?t come immediately ? but don?t overthink this one. He still has all the ingredients to be an elite scorer when he does arrive in the NHL.
2018-19 stats to date: 26 GP, 8 G, 9 A
