The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!

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Read past 32 series stories here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/

Make sure to check out the Detroit Red Wings team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/detroit-red-wings/

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The Red Wings tricked everyone in 2025-26 as they were tops in the Atlantic early int eh season, before cratering down to missing the playoffs again. This trade deadline, now ex-GM Steve Yzerman added, just like Captain Dylan Larkin publicly complained about the season prior, and Detroit still missed. There is now quite the drama in Detroit with Larkin asking for a trade and Yzerman being fired upwards in to a consulting role. The Yzerplan clearly never materialized, and a lot of that can be thanked with GMSY’s Free Agency adds/handcuffs July 1^st 2024 and 2025. This July 1^st there was no one of consequence added.

Larkin has also handcuffed the franchise by only giving them the option to trade him to Las Vegas, Florida or Minnesota. Vegas and Florida are both against the cap and have nothing to really give back to Detroit, unless they want a sideways deal. That just leaves Minnesota, who traded all/most prospects of consequences and do not really have a player they would swap that would be Larkin’s level, as the Wild either have much better players or worse.

By all accounts Larkin will be on the Red Wings to open the 2026-27 season, unless he adds more teams to his list. It is a team that lost a lot of older players (Kane, JVR, Talbot), and will rely on younger ones to help (ASP, Brandsegg-Nygard, Danielson). Unfortunately, they will be doing that versus a stacked Atlantic division and are quite likely to miss the playoffs again. Sorry Wings fans.

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NHL Draft Recap

Round 1, 23^rd overall – J.P. Hurlbert, LW/RW/C

The Red Wings traded Sebastian Cossa to Utah for a first-round selection, and with that selection the Red Wings nabbed Hurlbert. He did two very impressive things in 2025-26, the first was play in all three forward positions and the other was to lead the WHL in rookie scoring with 97 points in 68 games. The forward has a plethora of skilled tools at his disposal with shooting and passing at the tops. The first round was filled with many skilled players that may make future GMs look like genius’ with others looking like fools. Hurlbert jumped from the USHL to the WHL, and in 2026-27 go to the NCAA and play with the University of Michigan. He may be able to make an impact on Detroit’s roster in two seasons.

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Round 2, 47^th overall – Victor Plante, LW/RW

After drafting his brother Max two years ago in the second round (which looks to be a great pick), Detroit drafted the younger Plante with their second-round selection. Both will play for the University of Minnesota-Duluth in Max’s final season. Plante has more of a shooting mentality than his brother, he is also quite a solid two-way player. The big knock is that he is 5-10 and 165 lbs, but he surprisingly does not get knocked off the puck super easily. He will need to fill out and really work to make it to the NHL, but if he is like his brother he will really pop in his D+2 season.

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Round 3, 79^th overall – Michal Orsulak, G

Orsulak came over from the Czech league to join the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders. He performed quite well with a 28-4-4 record and a 0.907 save percentage. In the playoffs, and internationally, he had a sub-0.900 sv%, so could the defense in front of him be helping his numbers? As Orsulak plays it will be more distinguishable, but he does get the job done and wins games. Also, he is 6-4 and we all know NHL GMs love large goalies.

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Round 4, 108^th overall – Adam Levac, C

In Levac’s second OHL campaigned he upped his points per game from 0.18 to 0.73, and could improve next season as well. He is more of an energy/fore-checking type for forward but there may be some untapped skill there as well.

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Round 5, 143^rd overall – Beckham Edwards, C

Edwards had an identical point output with Sarnia in his second year, with 45 points in both campaigns and only two additional games. He has decided to head to the NCAA with Notre Dame for 2026-27 as he looks to increase his development. Edwards loves to shoot the puck and fly all over the ice, which may help him in the future.

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Round 6, 175^th overall – Luka Arkko, LW

Arkko is a 6- beast of a player, and the Erie Otters have convinced him to come play in the OHL for 2026-27. He has played quite well in the U-20 Finland leagues, and in international play, f he can continue his impressive play then the Red Wings could have quite a nice player here.

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Round 7, 196^th overall – Myles Brosnan, RHD

Brosnan has quite the offense flair and can be dynamic with the puck. For a pick in the seventh round, the offense is very nice to see, but then you realize he was selected int eh seventh round for a reason. If Brosnan makes the NHL, it will be to score.

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Off-Season Moves

Incoming

The return for Dylan Larkin – Reports has the Red Wings wanting an equal player in return, but Larkin’s obscene three top teams he would accept a trade to make it far more likely he stays. Reports say Larkin has expanded the teams to also included the LA Dodgers and NY Knicks.

Keegan Kolesar (for some reason) – Traded for a 3^rd (2029) and a 7^th (2027)

Sutter Muzzatti – Traded for the ol’ Future Considerations

Wilmer Skoog – 1 year, $850k AAV

Cameron Butler – 1 year, $850k AAV

Chase Stillman – 1 year, $850k AAV

Ronald Attard – 1 year, $850k AAV

Outgoing

Potentially Dylan Larkin

Sebastian Cossa – Traded to Utah for a 2026 1^st Round pick

Erik Gustafsson

Patrick Kane

David Perron

Cam Talbot

James Van Riemsdyk

Re-Signed

Carter Gylander – 1 year, $850k AAV

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In the System

Risers

Max Plante, C

Plante’s second NCAA season was sure a great sophomore season as he won the 2026 Hobey Baker award as the top player in the NCAA. He is going back to the NCAA for another season, likely to play with his brother and it is really hard to top last season. With the Wings as weak as they are at center, Plante could make an early impression but he will have to add some more weight if he wants to be an NHL centre.

Trey Augustine, G

Another winner in 2025-26 for the Red Wings, Augustine won the Mike Richter Award as the NCAA’s top goalie. He has been among the top goaltender prospects for the least few seasons, but really shot up the rankings thanks to his NCAA play. Lucky for Augustine, Detroit has no long-term commitments in net, and they have no goalies signed for 2027-28. Additionally, the Red Wings have so much faith they traded other goaltending prospect Cossa at the draft.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW

MBN has a great first season in North America, he made the Detroit roster out of camp. However, after nine games and one assist he was sent to the AHL. In the AHL he had 44 points in 60 games, and then got called up two more times to finish the 2025-26 season, but did not obtain any more points.

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Fallers

Carter Mazur, LW

Mazur had such hyper coming out of the NCAA, but has not been able to avoid injuries for the past three seasons with totals games of 60, to 21 to 24 last year. He played in eight NHL games last campaign and just one the year prior. Mazur still puts up good/great production but needs to stay healthy to become a full-time NHLer.

Ondřej Becher, C

Becher has not been able to translate his WHL and Czechia U20 scoring to the AHL. He scored 20 points in 59 games in 2024-25 and then 28 points in 60 games last season. Becher appears to be more of an AHL / International player than an NHL player.

Noah Dower Nilsson

Dower Nilsson has not created any noteworthy numbers in the SHL,b ut he has signed his ELC and will play in North America for 2026-27. He appears to be more of a role player than a fantasy relevant player.

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Likely to see NHL action

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard – Should be Full-time

Carter Mazur

Trey Augustine

Axel Sandin Pellikka – Should be Full-time

Nate Danielson – Should be Full-time

Anton Johansson

William Wallinder

Shai Buium

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Top 20 Prospects

This section is intended to paint a picture of the Detroit Red Wings prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.

1. Axel Sandin-Pellikka (He is here as he did not technically become a full-time NHLer last season)
2. Trey Augustine
3. Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
4. Nate Danielson
5. JP Hurlbert
6. Carter Bear
7. Max Plante
8. Carter Mazur
9. Eddie Genborg
10. William Wallinder
11. Anton Johansson
12. Michal Postava
13. Jesse Kiiskinen
14. Antti Tuomisto
15. Michal Pradel
16. Shai Buium
17. Ethan Phillips
18. Victor Plante
19. Brent Solomon
20. Luka Arkko

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Make sure to check out the Detroit Red Wings team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/detroit-red-wings/

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Final Thoughts

Unless the Red Wings can get a proper return for Captain Dylan Larkin, then this season will already start with distraction and it is already not looking like a fun season for Red Wings fans anyway. Unless your definition of fun is hoping to win the NHL Lottery.

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Thanks for reading.

Follow me on Twitter: @FHPQuinn

Pat Quinn