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The Detroit Red Wings dont have a first-round pick for the first time since 2012, putting more of an onus on their scouting staff to find an NHL player or two in later rounds.
The Red Wings have seven selections, including the 47th overall pick, in the second round.
They also have picks in the third (No.
79), fourth (108), fifth (143), sixth (175) and seventh rounds (196 and 207).
The first round is Friday (7 p.m., ESPN) and Rounds 2 through 7 are on Saturday (11 a.m., NHL Network).
Prospects will gather at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, but team personnel will work out of their home cities in this second year of a decentralized format.
The Red Wings could use some depth at center in their organization, but its difficult to find players at that position after the first round.
They are deepest in their system on the wing and in goal.
Here are the Red Wings top prospects at each position: Centers Nate Danielson (No.
9 in 2023): Drafted as a two-way player, he needs to show he has more offense in him.
He played 28 games with the Red Wings (two goals, five assists) and missed the last few months of the season with the Griffins due to an injury.
Wingers Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (No.
15 in 2024): He wasnt NHL-ready at the start of last season (one assist in 14 games with the Red Wings) but impressed in Grand Rapids with his heavy game and scoring ability (20 goals in 60 games, eight points in eight playoff games) and continued to flourish for Norway at the World Championship.
Carter Bear (No.
13 in 2025): Rebounded from season-ending Achilles surgery for a strong final junior season in Everett (36-4177 in regular season; 7-1522 in playoffs).
Ready for first season with Griffins.
Max Plante (No.
47 in 2024): He is the first Red Wings prospect to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top collegiate player after tallying 25 goals and 27 assists in 42 games as a sophomore forward for Minnesota-Duluth.
He will return for his junior season.
Eddie Genborg (No.
44 in 2025): At 6-2 and 198, he possesses a combination of scoring ability and physicality.
He got a feel for North American hockey late in the season with a 12-game stint with the Griffins.
Carter Mazur (No.
70 in 2021): Staying healthy has been a challenge for this gritty forward whos been productive the past two seasons in Grand Rapids (19-1231 in 36 games).
He had no points in eight games with Detroit.
Jesse Kiiskinen (No.
68 in 2023 by Nashville): Acquired along with a second-round pick for defense prospect Andrew Gibson, Kiiskinen was on loan to HPK in Finland this past season and tallied 17 goals and 28 points in 54 games.
He played three games with the Griffins at the end of the season (one goal, one assist) but didnt dress for the playoffs.
Defensemen Axel Sandin-Pellikka (No.
17 in 2023): Mobile D-man showed his offensive skills as a rookie with the Red Wings (seven goals, 21 points in 68 games) but must improve defensively and likely needs some development time in the AHL.
Anton Johansson (No.
105 in 2022): Under-the-radar prospect was on loan to Leksands of the Swedish Hockey League last season.
Hes impressed over a small sample size with the Griffins (11 points in 19 games).
William Wallinder (No.
32 in 2020): After playing 213 regular season and playoff games with the Griffins the past three seasons, this 6-4 left shooter will compete for a job with the Red Wings and is no longer waiver-exempt.
Shai Buium (No.
36 in 2021): Big two-way D-man missed the first three months of his second pro season with an injury and was limited to 36 games, none in the playoffs.
Goaltenders Trey Augustine (No.
41 in 2023): He appeared in two games for the Griffins at the end of the season after capping a tremendous three-year career at Michigan State.
He might be the starter in Grand Rapids, if Michal Postava backs-up in Detroit.
Michal Postava (free agent signee): He went 17-6-0 with a 1.71 goals-against average, .937 save percentage and four shutouts with the Griffins and beat out Sebastian Cossa for the starting job in the playoffs.
Sebastian Cossa (No.
15 in 2021): He was strong for much of the season in Grand Rapids (26-8-4, 2.33, .915) but slumped down the stretch, prompted the team to turn to Postava.
The Red Wings appear poised to trade him.
Carter Gylander (No.
191 in 2019): Hes had two good seasons in Toledo (ECHL) and stepped up when needed in Grand Rapids this past season (7-0-1, 1.62, .942).
Rudy Guimond (No.
163 in 2023): Hes excelled at Moncton (QMJHL) the past two seasons and playoffs.
Hell play at Harvard next season.
- Red Wings acquire mid-round pick for center prospect Lombardi - Red Wings sign former second-rounder wholl compete for a spot - Trades coming fast, furious as Red Wings, Larkin in holding pattern - Red Wings second-round picks: Some fizzled, some dealt, some hopeful - More intrigue about trades than picks for Red Wings during draft.