The Grand Rapids Griffins’ home opener gave the Detroit Red Wings organization a little bit of everything: a first look at two new names, a veteran-like performance in net and a debut that had Carter Bear popping off the screen from the opening shift.
On an uncharacteristically warm October night, Grand Rapids opened at home against the Manitoba Moose and came away with a 1-0-1 mark after a game that put several prospects front and center. Chase Stillman, a free agent signee, and Bear, the Red Wings’ 2024 first-round pick, both made their Griffins debuts. Bear, skating on the second line with Theo Rochette and Wilmer Skoog, drew plenty of attention right away.
He didn’t record a point, but he was all over the ice. Bear finished with two shots on net and several sharp passes, and his relentless style stood out throughout the night. The energy he brought was the kind that makes a first impression stick.
Still, Bear wasn’t the only prospect who made his presence felt.
Dylan James showed exactly why he’s already earning trust in a key role. The 40th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft made his pro debut last year and closed that season with two goals in two games for the Griffins. In this one, he made his biggest impact on the penalty kill, helping keep Grand Rapids’ shorthanded work at a high level.
"That's what he's known for," said head coach Dan Watson on James' penalty killing ability. "He was a real good penalty killer in school.
We knew what we were getting from him...the exhibition games we saw him play in and the first three games this last season have really impressed us. He can use his speed -- he did that tonight.
And he and (Kienan Draper) are excellent on the penalty kill."
Watson made it clear what the staff wants next from him.
"We need him to step up and play that role for us."
Michal Postava was just as important, and maybe even more so. After finishing last season with a 1.71 goals against average and a .937 save percentage in 25 starts, he opened this home stretch by stopping 36 of 37 shots. That performance earned him First Star honors, along with a 1.02 goals against average and a .972 save percentage for the night.
"He was outstanding tonight," Watson said. "Without him, we don't win that game.
He was excellent. He made some really big saves and in big moments -- especially when they had that momentum going.
He held strong."
Watson also said Postava will split the net 50/50 with Trey Augustine, but this outing still felt like a strong sign that the Czech goalie will get tougher assignments as the season moves forward.
And then there was Bear, who never seemed to fade from the action. He created offense, including a setup that sprung Rochette for a breakaway, and he wasn’t shy about throwing his body around when Manitoba got too close. The game showed off the full package: pressure on the puck, physicality, quick recovery after mistakes and the ability to attack in more than one way.
He’s still adjusting to the professional game, and the learning curve is real. This is the highest level of talent he’s faced so far, and there will be growing pains. But for one night, the upside was obvious.
Even with a few hiccups, Bear recovered quickly, including a moment when he turned the puck over and won it right back seconds later. He looked comfortable crashing the net, working from the point and sliding into defensive position. That kind of versatility is exactly what made the debut so intriguing.
"Obviously, it's next level when compared to the WHL," Bear began. "A lot bigger, stronger.
The puck's quicker. It was awesome.
Grand Rapids has a crazy atmosphere and really good fans. I'm looking forward to the future."
In Other News...
Red Wings Suddenly Have A Goalie Question They Did Not Expect
A year after arriving from Czechia as an undrafted free agent, Michal Postava is suddenly looking like more than organizational depth for the Red Wings. Signed in June 2025 after his time with HC Kometa Brno, the 24-year-old spent the 2025-26 season backing up Sebastian Cossa in Grand Rapids, but he has opened the new season strong enough to move into the starters net for the Griffins, who sit atop the Central Division.
For Detroit, that kind of development is exactly the sort of surprise that can reshape the goalie picture quickly. Postavas rise gives the organization another young option to track closely, especially with Grand Rapids playing well and the crease becoming a more interesting part of the pipeline than it seemed just a few months ago. [Read more 🡒]
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The Dylan Larkin chatter around Detroit has taken on a different tone with Florida suddenly carrying more flexibility under the salary cap, and that alone has been enough to push the conversation from idle rumor to something that feels at least worth monitoring. For the Red Wings, any talk involving their captain lands differently, because it is not just about a good player changing teams - it would signal a major shift in how the organization views its timeline and its next move.
What makes the speculation especially notable is the kind of framework being discussed, with the Panthers current roster situation creating room for a bigger swing than they might otherwise consider. The names floating through the conversation are the sort that would make Detroit pause, since any deal built around Anton Lundell or Eetu Luostarinen and extra draft capital would force the Red Wings to weigh immediate leadership against future value, and that is the kind of decision that rarely comes easy. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings May Be Stalling Two Young Players They Need Most
Detroits pipeline has looked encouraging in spots this season, with five Griffins prospects getting NHL looks and a few of them quickly finding their footing. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, William Wallinder and Anton Johansson have each managed to turn opportunity into something more meaningful, which is exactly the kind of progress the organization wants to see as it keeps trying to build a stronger next wave of talent.
The trickier part is figuring out what to do with Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Nate Danielson, two young players the Red Wings need to become more than just depth options. Both have had a harder time carving out real NHL influence, and the development case for each could point back to Grand Rapids for more seasoning before Detroit asks them to carry more of the load. [Read more 🡒]