Who will make the Detroit Red Wings roster from training camp: Danielson, Mazur, or Kasper?
Three prospects stand out as potential candidates for the Red Wings roster this season. With Detroit’s recent poor performance since 2019, the team has still managed to build one of the NHL’s strongest prospect pools without a top-3 draft pick.
The Detroit Red Wings hold the top spot in the NHL prospect pool rankings. With a deep roster of young talent, including Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, and Nate Danielson, the future looks bright. Eleven of their prospects feature in McKeen’s top 200, showcasing the strength of… pic.twitter.com/Gwz8drFnKQ
— McKeen's Hockey (@mckeenshockey) June 10, 2024
Drafting outside the top 3-5 picks generally means players need more time to develop, making it harder for them to make an immediate impact. Despite this, the Red Wings have several promising prospects, including Carter Mazur, Nate Danielson, and Marco Kasper, who have all shown they might be ready for a call-up in the 2024-25 season.
Carter Mazur: A Potential Game-Changer
Drafted 70th overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Carter Mazur impressed during his two seasons at the University of Denver, earning Defensive Forward of the Year and nearly a point-per-game average. He signed his entry-level contract before the 2022-23 season and recorded solid numbers in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins, despite a brief injury setback. Mazur’s defensive skills and physical play could address the Red Wings’ defensive struggles and add some grit to the team. His offensive potential, with the possibility of being a 20+ goal scorer, makes him a strong candidate.
Carter Mazur
RH LW/RW 6’ 175 22yo
Reg Season: 60GP 17G 20A 48PIM 13.9SH% 3GWG
Playoffs: 9GP 3G 5A 18PIM 9.7SH%
•Gifted around the net
•Great motor 2way player
•Gritty Playoff style
•Underrated hands and playmaking
•Good in board battles
•Gets in opponents heads
🧵⬇️ #LGRW pic.twitter.com/iTAl5U1Q1P— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) June 17, 2024
Marco Kasper: Proven Pro Experience
Selected 8th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Marco Kasper has showcased his two-way play and physical style. He spent his rookie year with Rögle BK in the SHL, producing 23 points in 52 games. In his first season in North America with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Kasper showed improvement, finishing strong in both the regular season and playoffs. His experience in both the SHL and AHL, along with a brief NHL appearance, highlights his potential as a gritty, playmaking center.
Marco Kasper
6’1 192lbs LH C 20yo
Reg Season:71GP 14G 21A 30PIM +9
Playoffs:9GP 4G 3A 14PIM +1
•200ft pest
•Good transition puck carrier
•Gets to the net
•Really plays the cycle game, protects pucks creates off of the wall
•Playoff style
•Underrated hands+shot
🧵⬇️#LGRW pic.twitter.com/72twx3DC5a— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) June 14, 2024
Nate Danielson: Emerging Talent
Drafted 9th overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Nate Danielson initially seemed a safer pick, but he has exceeded expectations. As captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings, Danielson posted impressive numbers and continued his strong performance after a mid-season trade to the Portland Winterhawks. Although he didn’t make the opening night roster last season, his performance in training camp and the preseason indicated he could be a dynamic playmaker with significant goal-scoring ability. His strong showing in the WHL playoffs further suggests he has the potential to excel in the professional ranks.
Nate Danielson
Reg Season BDN: 26GP 12G 14A 14PIM+6
POR: 28GP 12G 29A +20 28PIM
WJC: 5GP 1G 2A+2
Playoffs: 18GP 7G 17A+13 16PIM
•great natural playmaker
•Has great skating to transport pucks/zone exits+entries
•needs to shoot more+quicker release#LGRW
🧵⬇️
(All goals pt 1) pic.twitter.com/vTVtsrwTFe— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) June 26, 2024
Each of these prospects brings unique strengths to the table, making it an intriguing decision for the Red Wings as they finalize their roster for the upcoming season.
