When many of the Detroit Red Wings’ top prospects take the ice Thursday, much of the focus will be on a trio of forwards who aren’t far away from the NHL – Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren and Lucas Raymond, as well as two other high draft picks in defenseman Jared McIsaac and goaltender Sebastian Cossa.
But the organization also will be eager to see how another group fares – players not drafted as high but expected to compete for jobs in Detroit over the next couple of years, like forwards Chase Pearson and Kirill Tyutyayev, defensemen Wyatt Newpower and Donovan Sebrango and goalie Victor Brattstrom.
The NHL Prospects Tournament returns to Traverse City’s Centre I.C.E. Arena this week after being canceled last year due to the pandemic. The Red Wings open the five-team tourney Thursday against Dallas (7 p.m., live streamed on DetroitRedWings.com).
This event will mark the North American debut of Raymond, the No. 4 overall pick in 2020, and Berggren, the 33rd selection in 2018. Both are likely to need some development time with the Grand Rapids Griffins, but their offensive skills could enable them to push for NHL jobs in training camp and the preseason.
Berggren is further ahead in his development following a breakout season in the Swedish Hockey League with Skelleftea AIK (12 goals, 33 assists in 49 games), leading the team and tying for sixth in league scoring. Raymond’s season with Frolunda in Sweden’s top men’s league was cut short due to elbow surgery (six goals, 18 points in 34 games).
Veleno played well during his five-game NHL debut at the end of last season but needs a good prospects tournament, training camp and preseason to have a shot at making the season-opening roster. That will happen only if he is playing regularly, since he still is waiver-exempt.
Pearson (6-2, 209) is another waiver-exempt center close to challenging for a roster spot. He is the only pick from the 2015 draft (140th overall) still with the organization.
Tyutyayev is a small (5-9, 146) but highly skilled forward the Red Wings took a flier on in the seventh round in 2019 (190th overall). He hails from Yekaterinburg, Russia, the same hometown as Pavel Datsyuk, and played in Belarus last season (11 goals, 32 points in 43 games).
The Red Wings are set with their top eight defensemen to start the season, barring a major surprise (Danny DeKeyser, Filip Hronek, Nick Leddy, Gustav Lindstrom, Jordan Oesterle, Moritz Seider, Marc Staal, Troy Stecher). Newpower, an undrafted free agent signed to a two-year contract, will start the season in Grand Rapids and compete to be the first recall on defense.
Sebrango, a third-round pick in 2020 (No. 63), has come a long way in a short time. With the OHL season on hiatus due to COVID, Sebrango signed an amateur tryout contract with the Griffins and impressed as a 19-year-old in a men’s league with his toughness and grit (31 games). He became the first pick from Detroit’s 2020 draft class (63rd overall) signed to an entry-level contract.
While Cossa, the 15th pick this year, is the organization’s goalie of the future, Brattstrom will have an opportunity over the next few years to work his way into the mix. The 6-5 Swede played for KooKoo in the Finnish league last season (2.20 goals-against average, .903 save percentage) and will make his North American debut with the Griffins.
Red Wings’ Prospects Tournament roster
Forwards: Jonatan Berggren, Cameron Butler, Davis “T-Bone” Codd, Patrick Curry, Cross Hanas, Chase Pearson, Lucas Raymond, Luke Toporowski, Kirill Tyutyayev, Joe Veleno, Hayden Verbeek, Cooper Walker, Pasquale Zito.
Defensemen: Adam Brubacher, Alex Cotton, Jared McIsaac, Wyatt Newpower, Oscar Plandowski, Donovan Sebrango, Mason Ward.
Goaltenders: Jared Bednar, Victor Brattstrom, Sebastian Cossa.
Red Wings Prospects Tournament schedule
Thursday vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.
Saturday vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.
Sunday vs. Columbus, 6 p.m.
(All games live streamed on DetroitRedWings.com)
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