The Detroit Red Wings are attempting to rebound after a 25-year playoff run ended. They’re now rebuilding, and they have several prospects in the pipeline that can help with that.
The Detroit Red Wings are a year separated from the end of their extended playoff run. They picked in the top 10 last year, the first time in decades they did so. After the 2017-18 season, the Red Wings were a lottery team.
They were one of the bottom-tier teams, and now they’re rebuilding with the aid of several young players. That includes Dylan Larkin, Andreas Athanasiou, and Anthony Mantha.
Along with that trio, the Red Wings now have several prospects in a deep pool that can help Detroit rebecome the contenders they once were. These prospects are ranked based on three categories: ceiling, NHL readiness, and the likelihood they play consistent minutes with the Detroit Red Wings. Chief amongst these categories is the ceiling.
To qualify, a player must not have played their rookie season (18 games in one season). Let’s start with the goaltenders.
1. Filip Larsson (6-167, 2016)
Stats (Tri-City Storm, USHL): 30 games played, 1.65 goals against average, .941 save percentage.
Filip Larsson was the best goaltender in the USHL last season, and while 20 is a bit old to be making the transition to the NCAA, going to a program like Denver will only help him become an even better netminder. Especially because Larsson will play at most two seasons in the NCAA, but has the chance to develop quite well. Then a move to the AHL will be an easier thing.
Larsson, if he continues to take steps forward, is the best goaltender in the Detroit Red Wings’ pipeline.
Larsson, if he continues to take steps forward, is the best goaltender in the Detroit Red Wings’ pipeline. No one else that the team has drafted is as good at such a young age as Larsson. There’s Keith Petruzzelli who’s younger, but he didn’t have a great post-draft year. The next guy on the list is perhaps better, but he’s years older and doesn’t have as high a ceiling.
He’s a few years away from being NHL ready, but it’s likely that he plays for the Detroit Red Wings as at least a backup goaltender. Larsson’s ceiling is hard to tell, and it can keep getting higher as he keeps taking steps forward and keeps changing leagues, but right now, it appears he can be the eventual starter in Detroit.
2. Patrik Rybar (UDFA)
Stats (HK Hradec Kralove, Czech): 36 gp, 1.73 GAA, .932 SV% (12 playoff games played, 2.24 GAA, .918 SV%);
Stats (HC Stadion Litomerice, Czech2): 1 gp, 2.00 GAA, .943 SV%.
Rybar was one of the best goaltenders in the Czech League, coming in third in save percentage and second in goals-against average. In the playoffs, Patrik Rybar did great as well, coming in third in save percentage amongst goaltenders who played more than 10 games. He’s also older and can take over the AHL starting job and the third-string goaltender duties right away.
Rybar’s still young, and he could be a potential long-term solution as a battery partner to someone like Jonathan Bernier
He’s not got starting potential, at least not in the NHL, but he’s more NHL ready than the other Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospects. He’s also got a good chance of playing consistent minutes with the Red Wings, especially if Jimmy Howard gets traded at the deadline to a contender in need of goaltending help. Rybar’s still young, and he could be a potential long-term solution as a battery partner to someone like Jonathan Bernier.
He needs to make the North American transition before he makes the NHL one, but he looks like a solid goaltending prospect.