Victor Plante has the kind of game that tends to get noticed fast.
The 18-year-old, ranked No. 13 among Red Wings prospects by Detroit Hockey Now, is heading into his college career at Minnesota-Duluth after being selected 47th in the 2026 NHL Draft. At 5-10 and 165 pounds, he doesn’t have the frame of a classic power prospect. But everything else about him points to a player who could force his way into the conversation sooner rather than later.
Plante comes from a hockey family. He is the son of former NHLer Derek Plante and the younger brother of Detroit prospect Max Plante and Pittsburgh prospect Zam. And by all accounts, Victor brings a different kind of juice: energetic, feisty and always in the middle of the action.
He’s described as a slick passer, a dedicated playmaker and a player who keeps his engine running. That blend of skill and edge is a big part of why he stands out. In the college game, he could wind up having as much impact as his brother Max, who won the Hobey Baker Trophy last season.
Last season, Plante put up 21 goals and 48 points in 57 games for the U.S. National Team Development Program.
That production says plenty about his offensive ability. The 71 penalty minutes tell another part of the story.
He’s not just a scorer with a nice touch; he’s a relentless little pest who hunts pucks, backchecks hard and refuses to back off.
“If you (watched Victor’s team) this year and if there was a guy who really flashed out to you, even though he’s my brother,” Max Plante said. “He was that player who kind of stuck out to you.”
There’s a reason scouts keep circling him. Red Line Report tabbed Victor as the 2026 NHL draft’s No. 1 pest, calling him “163 pounds of yappy little mutt who’s always
nipping at your ankles.”
That’s the profile here: fast, crafty and skilled, with a willingness to go to the net and handle the puck in traffic. He also has a knack for showing up in tight, important games, and the Plante family’s feel for the sport only adds to the appeal.
The question, of course, is how his size holds up. It hasn’t stopped him yet, but he’ll need time in the weight room over the next couple of summers if he wants to handle stronger competition.
The timeline points to patience. Victor’s dad spent four years at Minnesota-Duluth, and Zam and Max will be in their third college season. The Red Wings wanted Max to leave college after he won the Hobey Baker Trophy, but he stayed with the idea of playing with Victor at the college level.
For Victor, the expectation is at least two seasons at Minnesota-Duluth. After that, Grand Rapids likely becomes part of the path as he continues to add strength and adjust to the pro game.
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