Corey Pronman’s deep dive into the farm system of every NHL organization includes a ranking of all of the team’s prospects, broken into tiers based on their projection; the impact on the upcoming season and an overall ranking of all players under 23. Further explanation of Pronman’s system, player eligibility, prospect tiers and the complete ranking of all 31 teams can be found here.
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The Wings’ system changed a lot over the past year. It graduated some key prospects and had an important draft in 2019. Filip Zadina was a guy I was very enthusiastic about at this time last season, but I may have hyped him a tad too much. He remains the team’s top prospect even though I bumped him down a notch. The Wings have a lot of very good players on the way but still look to be in the early parts of their rebuild.
Key additions: Moritz Seider, Robert Mastrosimone, Albin Grewe
Key subtractions/graduations: Michael Rasmussen, Filip Hronek, Dennis Cholowski
2018 farm system ranking: No. 7
Prospect Ranking
1. Filip Zadina, RW, Grand Rapids-AHL
Nov. 27, 1999 | six-foot | 196 pounds
Tier: High-end prospect
Zadina had an up and down first North American pro season in the AHL with impressive stretches. He has so much talent. His hands are near elite level, and he’s an excellent playmaker. Inside the offensive zone, he’s very dangerous because he makes defenders miss, finds options through a seam and if that fails, he has his shot. He’s a shooter more than a passer even if he’s a very good passer. His shot can beat goalies from a distance consistently. His speed isn’t as dangerous as his skill, but he’s a good skater who will be able to put pressure on NHL defenders. When Zadina decides to lower his shoulder and drive, he’s very dangerous. But often I find he tries to shoot too much from the outside and not attack. Improving that aspect and his defensive play will be important for him going forward. He remains an excellent prospect and a potential top-line forward.
2. Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim-DEL
April 6, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 207 pounds
Tier: High-end/very good bubble
The Seider pick at sixth overall was mildly controversial at the 2019 draft given public consensus. In a poll of NHL teams after the draft, several teams endorsed the pick. But other teams thought top 10 was way too high. While I personally don’t share the Wings’ opinion, I thought it would be relevant to know that at least some other NHL teams did. I did do much more video work on Seider after the draft to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Upon reflection, I gave him a slight bump in value after giving his skill grade an improvement.
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Seider played limited minutes in the top German pro league where his team won the league title. He was very impressive in the world championships for a U18 player. At the IIHF U20 B pool, though, we saw the best of Seider. He was the best defenseman in the tournament as a double underage player. He’s got great athletic tools as a 6-foot-4 defenseman who skates well. He uses his feet to join attacks often and can make plays at speed. Seider’s main criticism from scouts is his lack of standout puck skill. While he’s not dynamic, he can make plays and shows great poise with the puck. Defensively he’s a rock with his wingspan, feet and defensive acumen and projects as a tough minutes player in the NHL.
3. Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville-QMJHL
Jan. 13, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 194 pounds
Tier: Very good NHL prospect
Veleno was one of the best players in the QMJHL in his fourth season in the league and made Canada’s World Junior team in a lower role. He’s a well-rounded center and his skating is his best asset. Veleno will be able to consistently gain the zone versus pros with his speed. He works hard and has some defensive value. He is a skilled forward who sees the ice well, and put to rest some concerns about his finishing issues, scoring 42 in 59 games. With Veleno the main concern is whether the skill level and overall playmaking is dynamic enough to become a top-six forward. He did score a lot this past season, but some scouts claim that is just because he was a fourth year player in the Q. I like the player and think that, while he’s not overly flashy, he’s skilled enough that he’ll find ways to score. With that said, I did see many games where, despite scoring, he didn’t truly pop.
4. Jonatan Berggren, RW, Skelleftea-SHL
July 16, 2000 | 5-foot-11 | 183 pounds
Tier: Very good NHL prospect
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Berggren was having a decent first pro season before a midseason back injury knocked out his second half. He didn’t produce a ton in the SHL, but I thought he looked a little better than his numbers suggest. He’s a highly skilled and intelligent forward. Berggren sees the whole ice very well and regularly makes creative passes or tough dishes through seams. He’s small and slight, and this injury won’t ease concerns over his durability, but I do like how he competes. He can play through defenders with dekes, but doesn’t mind driving to the net. He is a fine skater, but ideally for 5-foot-11 he adds another step at some point; but even without doing so I think he can be a good NHL player.
5. Oliwer Kaski, D, Pelicans-Liiga
Sept. 4, 1995 | 6-foot-3 | 187 pounds
Tier: Very good/legit bubble
Kaski was the top defenseman and MVP of Liiga, taking a massive step forward as a player into an NHL prospect and signing with Detroit after the season. He’s an offensive defenseman with size. He has a good skill level and a cannon of a shot, scoring more than 20 goals between Liiga’s season and playoffs. He’s a power play guy, but I wouldn’t call him a natural puck-mover. He can transition the puck due to his solid mobility and skill, but his decision making isn’t always the best. For that reason and because he is not overly physical, he hasn’t often been trusted to kill penalties in Liiga or for the national team. I could see him carve out a role as power play guy who is average at 5-on-5, but I could also see him not being reliable enough at even strength.
6. Robert Mastrosimone, LW, Chicago-USHL
Jan. 24, 2001 | 5-foot-10 | 170 pounds
Tier: Very good/legit bubble
Mastrosimone had a fantastic 16-year-old season in the USHL, following it up with a good 17-year-old season as one of the best wingers in the USHL and a great postseason. He also performed well in international events. I love his skill level and hockey sense. When Mastrosimone has the puck, he’s looking to make a play. He always had the high-level creativity and offensive instincts, and as the season went along his playmaking developed into a real weapon. He can set up his teammates, but he also has a hard, accurate shot and can score from a distance. He’s small but competes well and gives it his all each shift. His main issue is his skating. For a small player, he lacks a true separation gear, and his technique isn’t the best. He flashes average speed but not consistently. His production may not have been fantastic for a U18 in the USHL, but I’m a big believer in the skill level.
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7. Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax-QMJHL
March 27, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 192 pounds
Tier: Very good/legit bubble
After an up and down draft season, McIsaac’s 18-year-old season was more promising, as he was one of the best defensemen in the Q and made Canada’s World Junior team, beating out several first-round-pick defensemen to make that squad. There’s nothing about McIsaac that blows me away, but he does a lot well. He’s a good skater, he has some power play ability, and he plays hard, effective defense. His decision-making isn’t perfect, but it’s better than I thought last season. I don’t know if he’ll be a point producer in the NHL, but it’s possible. He could be slotted into a lot of roles as a pro due to his well-rounded skill set.
8. Alec Regula, D, London-OHL
Aug. 6, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds
Tier: Legit NHL prospect
I had some skepticism about Regula as an NHL prospect in his draft season, but he impressed me in viewings in 2018-19. He played big minutes for London and showed more offense than I gave him credit for. Regula has good hands and makes plays, though he forces things a bit more than I’d like and throws some pucks away. He played a unique role for a defenseman on the first power play unit as London’s net front guy. He skates OK – good for a guy his size but average overall. At times his game can lack pace and other times he shows the speed to transition pucks well. Regula will never be a highlight reel player, but he can make stops, move pucks fine and has a pro frame, so he could be a third-pair defender.
9. Albin Grewe, RW, Djurgarden-J20 SuperElit
March 22, 2001 | six-foot | 187 pounds
Tier: Legit NHL prospect
The first time I saw Grewe was at the World U17 Challenge in Fort St. John. I remember him barreling down the wing with speed, going to the net hard, finishing his checks hard and showing his skill. After one dominant stretch, a hockey executive turned to me and exclaimed: “I want him on my team!” That image of Grewe stuck with me for the past two years even though his draft season was good but not the most dominant. He’s smart, but he’s not an elite playmaker and can force plays. He skates fine, but he’s not a blazer. What Grewe does bring is a high compete level and a physical game that helps overcome his size. He goes over the line at times, a lot of his penalties this season were due to excess physicality. Grewe isn’t a grinder, though. He’s got great puck skills and makes skilled plays into the tough areas. He could be a fan favorite and a player rival fans hate.
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10. Filip Larsson, G, Denver-NCHC
Aug. 17, 1998 | 6-foot-2 | 181 pounds
Tier: Legit NHL prospect
Larsson was a top goalie in the NCHC last season, posting a .932 save percentage for Denver and signing with Detroit after the season. His size is average at 6-foot-2, and while he moves fine, his lateral quickness isn’t anything special. What makes Larsson an NHL prospect is his hockey sense. He tracks pucks very well and I’m a big fan of his positional play in net. He always seems to be moving with the puck without extra effort, and even when he loses it he finds it very quickly. He’s not a huge goalie, but he’s aggressive with his challenges. Sometimes he’s a little over aggressive, but he doesn’t usually get burned by it.
11. Evgeny Svechnikov, LW, Grand Rapids-AHL
Oct. 31, 1996 | 6-foot-3 | 212 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Svechnikov didn’t play in 2018-19 due to a knee injury. When healthy, he showed over two seasons he was a fine player at the pro level but not yet a top AHL player. He’s a 6-foot-3 forward with good skills who can create some offense. He skates at a fair level. I’ve seen worse at his size, but it will be interesting to see how his quickness looks following knee surgery. Svechnikov can make plays, score goals, and use his big frame to get into the tough areas and engage physically. He’s yet to show he has what it takes to be an impact guy offensively though. It’s safe to say this upcoming season is huge for him.
12. Taro Hirose, LW, Detroit-NHL
June 30, 1996 | 5-foot-10 | 161 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Hirose was one of the top scorers in college hockey and after signing with Detroit he scored seven points in his first 10 NHL games. He’s a skilled forward with great hockey sense who moves the puck creatively and can run a power play. He’s not that big and his skating is very average, which may limit him at the next level. He doesn’t lack speed, but his stride breaks down easily, and for his size, at 5-foot-10, he lacks a true separation gear. His initial success in the NHL inspires confidence he can overcome his physical limitations, but I’d like to see it for a slightly longer period of time.
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13. Chase Pearson, C, Grand Rapids-AHL
Aug. 23, 1997 | 6-foot-2 | 190 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Pearson had a solid junior season at Maine, as a top player in the conference, and was decent in the AHL afterward. He’s a 6-foot-2 center who can be used in a variety of ways. He has some physicality in his game, with the ability to go to the net, and makes plays in traffic. He’s also a solid defensive center who was named top defensive forward in Hockey East. Pearson’s skating has improved to a roughly pro average level. His speed or skill will never wow you, which is why I think it remains to be seen whether he can score at the pro level, but he’s trending well and has put himself on the radar.
14. Antti Tuomisto, D, Assat-Finland Jr
Jan. 20, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 194 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Tuomisto came on strong this season after not looking like much of a prospect last season and was one of the best defensemen in Finland’s junior circuit. He can move the puck and be relied on at both ends. He kills plays with his stick and reads, closing gaps. He’s physical and makes it tough for opposing forwards to get inside. With the puck, he shows decent creativity and can execute passes through tight seams. I wouldn’t call his puck game natural, though, as he’s not going to deke through anyone at the pro level. His skating and pace are the main concern. His stride is OK; it can look clunky at times, particularly on his first few steps, but when he gets going in a straight line he has OK speed. He’s not one to push the tempo, though, and he doesn’t show much pace in his game.
15. Otto Kivenmaki, C, Assat-Liiga
March 24, 2000 | 5-foot-8 | 137 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Kivenmaki had a promising first pro season, playing a significant role on a weak Liiga team. Kivenmaki is a very smart and shifty forward. He has the vision and patience to make seam passes and run a power play at a high level. He’s a good, if not a very good, skater with skill who can create off the rush and make space for himself to make plays. My concern is, at 5-foot-8, is he dynamic enough offensively for the NHL. He’s fast but it’s not elite speed. He’s skilled but it’s not elite skill. He’s not the most physical player to boot. He’s on the radar now, but he still has more to prove before he looks on the NHL track.
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16. Joe Hicketts, D, Grand Rapids-AHL
May 4, 1996 | 5-foot-8 | 181 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Hicketts turned into a solid two-way AHL defenseman but has yet to break through at the NHL level. On the plus side, he’s a super smart defenseman who has a high compete level. He shows excellent vision on his breakouts and inside the offensive zone. The obvious issue with him is he’s 5-foot-8. While he competes hard and wins more battles than most players his size, it’s a limitation. You couple that with the fact his speed and skill are not at the dynamic level you’d want of such a small defenseman at the NHL level and it leaves a question on what his role would be. I still have him as a prospect because there’s stuff about his profile I like a lot, but his first contract with Detroit ended last season.
17. Ethan Phillips, C, Sioux Falls-USHL
May 7, 2001 | 5-foot-9 | 154 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Phillips started the year playing prep hockey in New England, then made a successful midseason transition to the USHL, where he played significant minutes for Sioux Falls. He buzzes around the ice. He’s a very good skater who plays quick and can put defenders on their heels. I like his skill level a lot. He doesn’t try to dangle everyone, but he can make slight moves in tight and get around defensemen. Phillips sees the ice well and tries to make creative plays, but I find he forces a lot of plays. He’s a small forward, and although he plays quick and gets to the net, he’s very slight and can be pushed around. I question if he’s dynamic enough for a smaller forward to be a legit NHLer.
18. Seth Barton, D, UMass-Lowell
Aug. 18, 1999 | 6-foot-2 | 174 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Barton started off in a top-four role for Lowell but saw his ice time decline toward the end of his freshman season. There’s physical tools with Barton; he’s 6-foot-2 and mobile. His straight away speed isn’t anything amazing, but he moves well in all four directions, being active off the blue line. He moves pucks well, showing some power play ability in the NCAA. With Barton the question is of upside and role. I don’t see a ton of high-end in his game at either end of the ice, so I wonder what he could ultimately end up being in the NHL.
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19. Albert Johansson, D, Farjestad-J20 SuperElit
Jan. 4, 2001 | six-foot | 168 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Johansson is a smaller defenseman with some offensive upside. He moves the puck very well with poise and skill, and skates well. For a six-foot defenseman, there’s nothing about his game that truly screams NHL qualities, but I think he also doesn’t have many glaring weaknesses. Some scouts were huge fans of him last season. He never popped to me, but I give some deference to the sources I know who liked him a lot.
20. Jesper Eliasson, G, Vaxjo-J20 SuperElit
March 21, 2000 | 6-foot-3 | 209 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Eliasson played well in the Swedish junior league. I didn’t love that he repeated the level as opposed to pro, but he will play pro hockey next season. Eliasson is a 6-foot-3 goalie who has a calmness to his game but can also make the tough saves. He doesn’t have a lot of extra movement in his game, tracking pucks well and looking steady in goal. He has a good glove hand to get pucks away from his body and quite a few times this season I saw him make tough saves that required him to break from his technique. While he had a few good international games, it’s hard for me to tab him as a top NHL prospect unless he plays better competition.
21. Ryan Kuffner, LW, Detroit-NHL
Junne 12, 1996 | 6-foot-1 | 194 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Kuffner was one of the top players in the ECAC and, after signing with the Wings, looked just OK in the NHL in a 10-game stint. He’s a goal-scorer who has above-average hands and good hockey sense. His talent level isn’t all that amazing and he’s not a great defensive forward yet. He has some skill and speed. His pace isn’t always the best, but I thought he played a lot faster in the NHL than he did in college. I see some offense translating, but I don’t see him as a driver at the pro level.
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22. Keith Petruzzelli, G, Quinnipiac-ECAC
Feb. 9, 1999 | 6-foot-5 | 181 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Petruzzelli has had a tough go the past two seasons, not getting many starts as he was behind the top goalie in the nation in Andrew Shortridge. He hasn’t produced that well when he has played, but his toolkit is intriguing. He’s 6-foot-5 and very athletic. He moves laterally around the crease so well. His reads aren’t perfect and there’s a little more chaos around his crease than you’d like, but I don’t think his sense is bad either. I could see him having a big end to his collegiate career because the tools are there.
Depth Players
Gustav Lindstrom, D, Frolunda-SHL (Age: 20): Lindstrom had a decent season for the eventual SHL champion Frolunda. He started off playing regular minutes but saw his playing time decline significantly in the second half. He’s a very smart player, but his skating and skill are very average.
Vili Saarijarvi, D, Grand Rapids-AHL (22): Saarijarvi is a creative puck-mover with high-end vision and mobility, but he’s undersized and doesn’t show much defensive value in the AHL.
Dominic Turgeon, C, Grand Rapids-AHL (23): Turgeon is a fine two-way forward with sneaky skill and decent speed, but seems more like a quad-A type.
Malte Setkov, D, Malmo-SHL (20): Setkov is a physical specimen as a 6-foot-7 defender with some skill and decent skating. There hasn’t been much results, as he needs to improve his pace and defensive play.
Cooper Moore, D, Brunswick Prep-U.S. High School (18): Moore is a very good skater who can transition the puck and evade checks well. He has some offensive ability as he sees the ice well and has a big shot, but it was not consistent enough in my viewings at the prep level to think of him as a real NHL prospect.
Kasper Kotkansalo, D, Boston University-Hockey East (20): Kotkansalo is a 6-foot-2 defenseman with good mobility and hockey sense, but I don’t see much offensive upside in his game.
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2019-20 Impact
I don’t think Zadina is ready, but I could see him being a midseason call-up option. Kaski and Hirose will both be candidates to make the team out of camp and help the Wings’ power play. Kuffner, Hicketts and Turgeon could be options to call up in a pinch or if they do very well in Grand Rapids.
Organizational Top 10 (23 and Under)
- Dylan Larkin, C (23)
- Filip Zadina, RW (19)
- Filip Hronek, D (21)
- Moritz Seider, D (18)
- Michael Rasmussen, LW (20)
- Dennis Cholowski, D (21)
- Joe Veleno, C (19)
- Jonatan Berggren, RW (19)
- Robert Mastrosimone, LW (18)
- Jared McIsaac, D (19)
Larkin has developed into everything Detroit could have hoped for. His high-end speed, compete level and hockey sense make him a legitimate first-line center. Hronek started the year in the AHL but his year ended on a high note, showing well in the NHL and at the worlds. I think with his hockey sense and skill set he will be a top-four defenseman. Rasmussen was just OK in his first NHL season. I think he’ll be better down the road and become a solid NHL player. I don’t see him as a top player, but I like his hockey sense, he has a fine skill set and, with his huge frame, he can be a quality player. Cholowski started off the season so well in the NHL. He tailed off midseason, having some defensive struggles and being sent to the AHL, but he will be back soon. He’s a very good skater and puck mover who showed more offense than I thought he would.
(Top photo of Seider: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports)
Player Eligibility:
A skater no longer qualifies as an NHL prospect if he has played 25 games in the NHL in any campaign, regular season and playoffs combined, or 50 games total; or reaches age 27 by Sept. 15.
A goalie no longer qualifies as an NHL prospect if he has played 10 games in the NHL in any campaign, regular season and playoffs combined, or 25 games total; or reaches age 27 by Sept. 15.
Tier Definitions:
- Special NHL prospect: Projects as a true NHL star, someone who is among the best players in the league.
- Elite NHL prospect: Projects as an impact player, someone who is top 10-15 percent in the NHL at his position.
- High-end NHL prospect: Projects as a first-line forward or a top-pair defenseman.
- Very good NHL prospect: Projects as a top-six forward, top-four defenseman or starting goaltender in the NHL.
- Legit NHL prospect: Projects to be a full-time NHL player in the bottom half of a roster.
- Has a chance: The prospect has a chance to make it as a full-time player if some improvements are made.
- Depth Players: These are prospects who do not have NHL toolkits, but could be good AHL players and provide depth to an organization.
