3 Red Wings Prospects Who Could Make a Big Impact This Season

The Red Wings have a decision to make on their future, and if they are to prioritize the youth in 2026/27, these are three players that should be given significant roles.

Nate Danielson of the Detroit Red Wings. / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Red Wings are a team whose future is unclear, and ahead of the 2026/27 season, it's likely up to the return of a potential Dylan Larkin trade to determine whether or not the team will push for contention or begin another rebuild.

The latter would be a tough pill to swallow for fans who have waited a decade for another appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but given the construction of their roster, turning this organization over to the youth may be their best path forward.

This all leads to the 2026/27 campaign, where Detroit will need to make the decision on how they will get back to the postseason, but regardless of whether they go for the rebuild, there are young players who will look to play a role this year. Today, we'll look into that youth and name three young players/prospects that could potentially play a huge role for the Red Wings in 2026/27.

Nate Danielson

Nate Danielson of the Detroit Red Wings / USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Nate Danielson was the Red Wings’ No. 9 overall pick back in the 2023 NHL Draft, and after appearing in 28 games for the team a year ago, he's made it clear that he's too good for the AHL after posting 3 goals and 15 points in 18 games played.

As of right now however, there's no defined spot for him on this current roster, and while he was never drafted for superstar potential, he has the stability and the versatility to play a key role in the Red Wings middle-six.

If Larkin is moved, Danielson is a perfect candidate to play the 3C as a replacement with Andrew Copp and Marco Kasper moving up the lineup, and given the floor, he could be a long-term fit there.

At 21 years old, there's time for Danielson to develop, and after showing promise with two goals and seven points in those 28 games played, it's time to get him a full-time role as the team looks to solidify the center position in the years to come.

Michal Postava

Detroit Red Wings goalie John Gibson Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In net, the Red Wings will start the 2026/27 season with the duo of veteran John Gibson and Daniil Tarasov, but in their system there are several goaltenders that could push for a spot on the roster this year.

While many rate former second-round pick Trey Augustine as the Red Wings’ top prospect, he has just two AHL career appearances under his belt, so while his time is coming, the team will want him to spend the entire 2026/27 campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Instead, if the team wants to inject some youth into their net-minding situation, look for formerly undrafted Czechia goaltender Michal Postava to get an opportunity on the back of a dominant AHL campaign in 2025/26.

Across 25 appearances, the 6-foot-2 goalie tallied a .937 save percentage along with a 1.71 GAA, and with those numbers looking just as good in the Calder Cup Playoffs, he may be ready for an opportunity.

A move here would also open up the AHL net for Augustine, and while he's still young, if he wants to be the starter in Detroit for years to come, giving him a heavy workload in the AHL now would be a good way to set him up for success.

The chance for Postava will likely only come if the team decides another rebuild is on the cards and potentially trades John Gibson, but if that's the case, look for the 24-year-old Postava to push his case for a full-time NHL role as the team looks to lock down a goaltending tandem for years to come.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard of the Detroit Red Wings / IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Perhaps the player on this list with the most potential is 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who also got an opportunity with the Red Wings in 2025/26 during an AHL campaign where he had 20 goals and 44 points across 60 games played.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound winger brings not only size and physicality, but also immense, high-end skill, and with the middle-six lacking youth, he would be the perfect fit for a line with talented players like Alex DeBrincat or Marco Kasper.

In Danielson, the team knows what the ceiling could be, but for MBN, the sky is the limit, as the team selected him No. 15 overall with the knowledge that he was a high-risk player, but one who comes with high reward potential.

Last season, he tallied just one assist in 14 NHL games for Detroit, but if the team can prioritize his development and put him in a position to succeed, they may have another long-term star on the wing alongside Lucas Raymond.