Red Wings Top Prospects & Their NHL ETAs

Earlier this summer, I published my top 25 rankings for Detroit Red Wings prospects. There was quite a bit of turnover from the preseason rankings, with several players departing and a new draft class coming in.

There were a few graduations, too, and that’s what we’re going to focus on today. We’ll take a look at Detroit’s top 10 prospects and estimate when they’ll follow in Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Emmitt Finnie’s footsteps and become full-time NHLers. Let’s dive in.

RW Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

NHL ETA: 2026-27

A breakout candidate, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard is expected to make the Red Wings out of camp. He finished the 2025-26 season on a high note and provides on-ice qualities—notably goal-scoring and tenacity—that the team lacks. The only question, though, is whether Brandsegg-Nygard will be given a top-nine scoring role or more of a depth, energy role in Detroit.

G Trey Augustine

NHL ETA: 2028-29

Prospects Trey Augustine and Michal Postava are wild cards entering the 2026-27 season. Both need to build on their strong 2025-26 finishes and have the ability to start games should John Gibson or Daniil Tarasov—both of whom are entering contract years—miss time. Augustine, in particular, only has two professional games under his belt, so projecting two full AHL campaigns before becoming a full-time NHLer seems prudent at the moment.

LW Carter Bear

NHL ETA: 2027-28

Detroit’s 2025 first-round pick will start the year in Grand Rapids and should adjust to the pro game seamlessly. Carter Bear’s hockey IQ and compete level will endear him to Griffins fans and it would not be surprising to see him get an NHL cameo before the season ends. More likely, he’ll be a strong candidate to make the Red Wings at the start of the 2027-28 campaign.

C Nate Danielson

NHL ETA: 2026-27

While Nate Danielson might start the season in Grand Rapids, I’m expecting him to be a full-time Red Wing by season’s end. Then again, an impressive training camp could propel Danielson into Detroit’s lineup sooner rather than later. The Red Wings need more from their centers and Danielson has the toolkit—playmaking instincts, defensive awareness, vision—to seize the opportunity.

LW J.P. Hurlbert

NHL ETA: 2029-30

There’s no denying that J.P. Hurlbert has lots of promise – it’s just going to be awhile before we see the offensive skills in Detroit. The 2026 first-round pick will skate for the University of Michigan this season and will likely spend more than one year in Ann Arbor. 

LW Carter Mazur

NHL ETA: 2026-27

Carter Mazur’s ETA is easy – he’s unable to be assigned to Grand Rapids without waivers and is expected to join the Red Wings full-time in the fall. There’s no point in Detroit risking a waiver claim here. Mazur will likely start in the bottom six and be given the opportunity to earn more responsibility. His compete and hockey sense around the crease could help him do just that.

LW/C Max Plante

NHL ETA: 2028-29

The 2026 Hobey Baker Award winner still has a couple of seasons before he steps into an NHL role with the Red Wings. Plante will return to Minnesota-Duluth this year to skate alongside his brother and fellow Red Wings prospect Victor Plante. From there, expect a season or so in Grand Rapids to adjust to the pro game before arriving in Detroit.

G Michal Postava

NHL ETA: 2027-28

As noted above, Michal Postava is a wild card when considering potential ETAs. If he follows up his stellar second half of last season with an equally spectacular 2026-27 campaign, it would not be surprising to see him in Detroit thereafter – likely in a backup role. He has the big-game poise to be successful – we just need to see it across a larger sample size.

RD Anton Johansson

NHL ETA: 2027-28

A darkhorse candidate to make the Red Wings this season, Anton Johansson realistically is looking at a full-time NHL role starting in 2027-28. The right-shot defenseman is a nice blend of size, agility, and hockey IQ that allows him to thrive in all three zones. 

LD William Wallinder

NHL ETA: 2026-27

Like Mazur, William Wallinder cannot be assigned to Grand Rapids without passing through waivers, and it’s very likely he’d be claimed if the Red Wings decide to press their luck. Given this, it’s fair to assume he’ll be a full-time Red Wing this season. Wallinder will compete with the likes of Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Jacob Bernard-Docker, and Jacob Bryson for time on the third pair opposite Albert Johansson. 

Final Word

While I expect there to be four graduations this season, the Red Wings will see a steady and staggered stream of prospect maturations thereafter. Brandsegg-Nygard, Danielson, Mazur, and Wallinder will be followed by Bear, Postava, and Johansson, then Augustine and Plante, and, finally, Hurlbert in 2029. Factor in continued growth from Eddie Genborg, Jesse Kiiskinen, and the younger Plante, and the Grand Rapids-to-Detroit pipeline looks even stronger.

Yes, the organization still needs another game-breaker or two. That hasn’t changed. But in terms of prospect depth and player timelines, the Red Wings are in really good shape.