Detroit Red Wings roster changes ahead of season opener

The Detroit Red Wings are done with training camp and preseason games. The regular season is days away and the organization is still making moves to set the roster for opening night, which is Thursday, October 12 against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. Key prospects have been sent down and Detroit has added a veteran to the roster.

The Red Wings have made some transactions over the past week, most of them releasing players or sending them down. While some have been outright released or sent back to junior, some of the bigger-named prospects were sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins, the AHL affiliate of Detroit.

Some of those names include Marco Kasper, Simon Edvinsson, Sebastian Cossa, Amadeus Lombardi, Albert Johansson, Jonatan Berggren, Cross Hanas, and Elmer Soderblom.

The players above were sent down for different reasons. Kasper, Lombardi,  Berggren, Soderblom, and Johansson were sent down because there was no room in Detroit because of all of the off-season additions despite them playing extremely well.

The Detroit Red Wings are primed for some success in the 2023-24 season.

Edvinsson was sent down because he is still not in game shape because of recent shoulder surgery. Cossa was sent down because he struggled in the rookie camp and his being sent down will help his confidence and development.

The Red Wings roster now sits at 23, with moves still to be made when the finalized opening night rosters are due on Monday. 2023 first-round pick, center Nate Danielson, impressed this preseason and was a late cut, but he was sent down to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

Detroit finished the preseason at 5-2-1 for 11 points. Every player who was in camp got some ice time and seized the opportunity by playing well and others realized what they needed to work on.

Goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who went to Red Wings camp as an invite, was released but will attend Griffin’s camp on a professional tryout in hopes of grabbing a spot there. Hutchinson has played 153 NHL games, posting a record of 57-61-18 with a goals-against-average of 2.93 and a save percentage of .902 with six shutouts.

The training camp for Grand Rapids is set for Monday. October 9. Their first preseason game is on Friday, October 13 against the Colorado Eagles at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

With the training camp roster for Grand Rapids being revealed, there is one name who could still show up there. Forward Zach Aston-Reese signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Red Wings.

He spent last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring 10 goals and four assists for 14 points and 25 penalty minutes in 77 games. Aston-Reese went undrafted but has played in 307 NHL games, posting 42 goals and 38 assists for 80 points and 124 penalty minutes.

While it is unknown what his role will be within the organization, Most think he would report to the Griffins to start the season based on the availability in Detroit. He is a valuable depth piece that can still play the game and is a versatile player wherever he is playing.

Detroit should be fun to watch this season as the team looks better than last season. While the 2023-24 roster has not yet been released, expect a team that has a bit of everything including scoring depth.

In the preseason, Detroit had more jump, played more physically, and were more creative in the offensive zone. It could be fun to sit back and watch the Detroit Red Wings have a successful season.