The great Grind Line Podcast tweeted this out about a potential Red Wings roster next season. It certainly got people talking and thinking:
I believe another one of Detroit’s prospects will be in there instead–be it Simon Edvinsson, Jared McIsaac, or Donovan Sebrango. Regardless of what Steve Yzerman does, the prospect pool Yzerman has build on defense is truly something to behold.
The Red Wings Defensive Pipeline is Full of Possibilities
It stands to reason that not every Red Wings prospect is going to hit. Go back a decade and think of all the names (regardless of position) we thought would be in Detroit one day: Ryan Sproul, Alexey Marchenko, Robby Russo, or even Dennis Cholowski are just a few that come to mind.
But with what Yzerman has built, it’s an interesting mix. McIsaac technically is a Holland pick so his impressive ability to bounce back from what have been some brutal injuries is just half the battle. At this point, I’m rooting for him because the perseverance alone is just inspiring. Beyond that, his solid season thus far in Grand Rapids has been enough to most likely get him to the big show within the next year.
Donovan Sebrango? Sneaky good, consistent, and mature. If there’s ever another Gustav Lindstrom candidate on the roster, it’s him. Though I believe Edvinsson and McIsaac will both be in Detroit before him, Sebrango seems to be the next solid bet to see time in Detroit sooner rather than later.
And who can forget William Wallinder? Amidst the seasons that Edvinsson and Elmer Soderblum are having, the hulking 6’4 defenseman is appearing to be yet another Yzerman stroke of genius in drafting. 15 points (4-11) with Rögle BK is evidence of that. And he’s only 19.
Beyond that, the list is staggering. I tweeted this out yesterday and between the size of the prospects down to the names on the list that have certainly caught the attention of the draft analysts.
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler still has Detroit as a top 10 system and with those d-men, listed them in terms of their rank within the system in this fashion: Edvinsson (#1), Wallinder (#4), Johansson (#6), Sebrango (#10). That’s four defenseman–four (4!)–in the top ten. Hell, three in the top six. His next three after Sebrango are McIsaac, Antti Tuomisto, Shai Buium, and rounding out the top 15 is Eemil Viro.
Again, it’s not guaranteed that all hit, and it’s likely some are used to facilitate a trade down the road.
But defense was a massive concern when Yzerman took the reins back in 2019, and my goodness, did the Yzerplan address it. It’s time to kick back, relax, and see what comes of it.