NHL

“Massive Reports” On 3 Bold Franchise-Level Detroit Red Wings Prospects

Nero Scofield

While there is debate to the term franchise player and if the Detroit Red Wings have any within their system, here are three prospects that I consider franchise-level prospects.

Will Scouch, whose opinions I greatly respect regarding NHL prospects, recently released his prospect pyramid for the Detroit Red Wings. While I admire his work, I have a different viewpoint on some prospects and their rankings.

My intention is not to undermine Scouch but to contribute to the conversation about potential franchise-level players within the Red Wings’ prospect pool. Here’s a link to his video that elaborates on his pyramid and analysis.

In his tiers, Scouch defines the franchise tier as “players you never want to get rid of.” His analysis ranks prospects based on their current development and NHL projectability, and according to his criteria, none reached the franchise tier. This is where I strongly disagree.

I believe the Detroit Red Wings have three prospects with franchise-level potential.

Simon Edvinsson

Initially, I was unsure about Simon Edvinsson when I evaluated him for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He’s a smart player with impressive skills, but his consistency raised some questions. His performance varied significantly, leading to confusion about the reasons for his ups and downs.

I was surprised when the former Detroit Red Wings super scout and current Dallas Stars GM expressed interest in selecting Edvinsson first overall in the 2021 draft.

However, considering the strides Edvinsson has made over the past two to three seasons, he embodies the qualities needed in a modern defenseman. At six feet, six inches, he not only has height but also a remarkable wingspan that allows him to dominate the ice. Alongside Elmer Sõderblom and Sebastian Cossa, Edvinsson excels in covering ground—he can seemingly take up a quarter of the ice, making it easier to block shots and control puck play, particularly during power plays.

Among all the prospects in the Red Wings system, Edvinsson has the highest potential. When he’s on the ice, he often stands out as one of the best players. It’s not just boasting; he possesses a unique skill set that may sometimes go unnoticed because of his humility.

In both the NHL and AHL, Edvinsson has a tendency to defer to teammates rather than assert himself in plays. Despite this, his sharp mind, excellent puck handling, and impressive skating ability allow him to make plays effortlessly.

Ideally, Edvinsson will gain confidence to assert himself on the ice, playing to his strengths without being restricted by conventional molds.

Sebastian Cossa

I debated whether Cossa or Edvinsson should top this tier, and I lean towards Cossa for several reasons.

Cossa might be underrated, given that his developmental path has faced challenges, leading some to dismiss his potential as luck or too late to matter. Discussions about the best goalie prospects in the world often leave him out, but I can’t think of another goaltender I’d prefer in the Red Wings’ system.

Having observed his journey over the past two seasons, I’ve noticed a growth in his composure and resilience. Cossa possesses the size, drive, and competitive spirit, though consistency has sometimes eluded him. His determination might have compounded frustrations when pucks slipped by him or when team dynamics were suboptimal.

There were times I could sense his exhaustion or frustration, and occasionally he may have seemed to give up during a game. However, these instances were rare. Instead of facing prolonged stretches of poor performance, he now encounters occasional goals against that he would want back, a significant improvement over the 2022-23 season.

Cossa has a strong competitive spirit and enjoys outplaying his opponents, whether during practice against teammates or in game situations—perhaps more than any other player.

This fierce desire to win, combined with his natural talent (including an improved blocker, better five-hole coverage, and enhanced puck-tracking abilities), significantly boosts Cossa’s potential.

While it’s uncertain if anyone beyond the Detroit Red Wings organization fully recognizes Cossa’s abilities, he’s definitely someone I wouldn’t want to part with.

Axel Sandin-Pellikka

Sandin-Pellikka stands out as one of the sharpest prospects I’ve encountered in my amateur scouting efforts. He possesses a keen hockey sense both on and off the ice.

He has a unique ability to read the game, making plays from seemingly impossible situations. His exceptional hands translate his vision into action, a skill that many players struggle to combine.

Although he’s not the biggest player, he competently holds his own on the ice. He doesn’t necessarily seek out physical confrontations, but he doesn’t shy away when they occur naturally during play.

Sandin-Pellikka excels at finding open spaces to shoot, and his effective shot from the point is enhanced by his willingness to move closer to the net or around the goal line, adding to his offensive toolkit.

Like Edvinsson, he embodies all the qualities fans desire in a defenseman, with the exception of size, which I think adds to Sandin-Pellikka’s appeal.

Bonus: Marco Kasper

I could see arguments for Marco Kasper being a tier below as a core piece for the Red Wings.

To me, Kasper is akin to Moritz Seider within the forward line.

Unless someone deliberately pays attention, it can be hard to recognize the impact both players have on their team’s performance. They excel in all three zones, consistently fulfill their roles, and play physically but with discipline, avoiding unnecessary penalties.

There’s no doubt that I wouldn’t want to lose Kasper at any cost, although others may not view him in the same light.

In my eyes, Kasper was the Grand Rapids Griffins’ MVP during the playoffs, which is significant considering how highly I regard Cossa and Edvinsson. While both had strong cases for MVP, Kasper’s consistency and tenacity earned him the nod in my assessment.

In a fast-paced environment filled with flashy plays, Kasper brings a sense of stability to the Detroit Red Wings system, although he does showcase some skillful moves from time to time as well.

Here are three prospects (plus one bonus) that I view as franchise-level talents within the Detroit Red Wings system. Who do you think should be included in this conversation—or excluded?

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