After ranking the top 100 NHL prospects for 2015-16, and ranking each team by organizational depth, ESPN Insider Corey Pronman ranks the top 10 prospects for each NHL team. Here is his entry for the Detroit Red Wings. Extended write-ups on prospects ranked in the top 100 can be accessed here.
After a bit of a recent dip in quality, the Red Wings' system is back to being among the better ones in the NHL. Former top prospect Anthony Mantha was just OK this past season, but several Red Wings prospects, such as Dylan Larkin, Evgeny Svechnikov, Axel Holmstrom, Joe Hicketts, Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi had very good seasons.
I was not a huge Bertuzzi fan during his draft season, but he was extremely impressive throughout 2014-15, including one of the better recent performances I've seen from an under-20 player in the AHL playoffs. (And for those who are wondering, he is Todd Bertuzzi's nephew.) His skill level isn't outstanding, but it is above average. He couples that with good overall hockey IQ, fine speed and a great work ethic. Bertuzzi has shown the ability to be effective on both special teams, including at the pro level.
There are things about Athanasiou that prevent me from being overly optimistic about him. He's inconsistent, a little too north-south, and I don't love his counting stats. But, his skating is elite, he's very skilled and he's shown significant improvement as a two-way player. Athanasiou made you notice him on a regular basis in the AHL this season, and I feel like I'm going out on a limb with him a bit; but, he's warranted the attention.
Alexei Marchenko's always been a favorite of mine. He's an effective two-way defenseman with size and above-average skill. Injuries have followed him throughout his career, but this past season he was able to show that he may be able to play at an NHL level. One prospect I'm interested to follow next season is Vili Saarijarvi, who really trended up toward the end of the season with a brilliant under-18 championships performance, and impressed me at the recent under-20 camp in Lake Placid, New York. He's very small, but is a very good skater and puck mover with fantastic offensive hockey sense.
Noteworthy prospect
Ryan Sproul is a defenseman who has been discussed for years as a top prospect in the Wings' system, but frankly, I'm having a hard time seeing him as an NHLer based on what he's shown as a pro. He's big, skates well, is skilled and has a great shot, but his defensive game is very far away from being good enough to play at the top level.
2015-16 impact
Though this would go against Detroit tradition, I expect Larkin will make a strong case as a teenager to make the team out of camp, or at the very least he'll be a midseason call-up. Xavier Ouellet and Marchenko should also be making cases during camp.