The Red Wings’ prospect pipeline got another boost on Daily Faceoff’s latest ranking, with four Detroit prospects landing among the NHL’s top 75. That group gives the organization another reminder that the future is still packed with options, even if some of those options are still a season or two away from making a real push.
One familiar name near the top is Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who checked in at No. 43.
His value is easy to spot: he brings a strong two-way game and enough finishing touch to matter offensively, which is exactly why he stood out for the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also got an extended look with the Red Wings, though limited ice time and some frustrating deployment kept him from fully showing what he can do.
The ideal path, at least from Detroit’s perspective, would be Brandsegg-Nygard making the roster out of camp and building toward a bigger role from there.
Carter Bear comes in just behind him at No. 44, and the praise around him is straightforward. After another productive year with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, he’s officially headed pro.
Depending on how things shake out, he could begin 2026-27 with either the Red Wings or the Griffins. His biggest selling point is the goal-scoring touch, and Steven Ellis made it clear he’s high on the player, saying, "Consider me a big fan," he says.
J.P. Hurlbert, the final first-round pick of the Steve Yzerman era, lands at No.
- The concerns here are about speed and his play away from the puck, but Ellis also emphasized the upside that jumps off the page when Hurlbert has possession.
He called him "scary" with the puck, which is the kind of trait that keeps scouts interested even while the rough edges get sorted out. At 18, he has time to iron those things out.
Rounding out Detroit’s group is Max Plante at No. 64.
Plante closed last season at the University of Minnesota Duluth with 25 goals and 52 points, production that earned him his first Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA in the 2025-26 season. Ellis described him in especially vivid terms, calling him everything from a machine to a pit bull, a player who can hound the puck and finish chances.
There’s also a family connection worth noting: the Red Wings drafted his brother, Victor, in June, and the two will keep playing together at UMD while hoping to sign their entry-level deals as early as next season.
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