The Red Wings’ home rink has been buzzing this week, and not because the NHL season is close. Little Caesars Arena has become Team USA’s temporary training base ahead of the World Junior Summer Showcase in Windsor, Ontario, and three Detroit prospects have been right in the middle of it.
JP Hurlbert, Victor Plante, and Brent Solomon have spent the week skating and competing with some of the top junior players in the country. All three were drafted by Detroit over the last two years, and this week offered a look at how they might fit together down the road. Team USA’s White squad put the trio on its roster, and on Thursday’s practice, Plante and Hurlbert were paired together often during line drills before Solomon later joined them in a power-play session.
That chemistry is worth watching, especially for a Red Wings team that could use more punch. Detroit is set to lose three of its top five goal scorers from last season, so the need for offense is real and immediate. Hurlbert, Solomon, and Plante probably aren’t close to helping in a Red Wings sweater, but all three still have room to grow and plenty of upside.
They’re scheduled to take the ice against Team Finland at 12:00 PM est today.
Elsewhere, Marco Kasper appears to be moving in the right direction after the knee injury that required offseason surgery. His rookie season came with a tough step back after the early highs, but there’s still a path for the young Austrian forward to become a top six contributor. Kasper wrapped up his summer Sunshine Hockey League run with 20 points in five games this year, and while it’s only summer hockey, the signs are encouraging that he’s skating well and once again looking dangerous around the net.
In other Red Wings notes, Patrick Kane said it was “an honor” to be a Red Wing, even if the team never got over the hump. Former Grand Rapids Griffins captain Josh Didier has also landed in Sweden.
In Other News...
Red Wings Suddenly Have A New Franchise Face To Consider
Dylan Larkins future has suddenly pushed the Red Wings into a familiar but uncomfortable question: if the captain is no longer the centerpiece, who becomes the player everyone else orbits around? In the middle of that uncertainty, Alex DeBrincat has emerged as the most obvious candidate, and not just because he can fill the net. He gave Detroit a career-best season, finishing with 41 goals and 44 assists, and his production made him one of the few players on the roster who can credibly be viewed as a franchise-level presence.
DeBrincat also brings a different kind of value, one that matters even if he is not the loudest voice in the room or the one wearing the C. The Red Wings need someone they can build around while the Larkin situation gets sorted out, and DeBrincats skill set gives them a clear place to start. If Detroit wants stability after the dust settles, the next step looks obvious enough: make sure he is around for the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings GM Search Just Took A Concerning Turn For Fans
The Red Wings front office suddenly has a very different look, and the search to fill the opening is already drawing plenty of attention around the league. Shawn Horcoff is seen as the internal name to watch, while familiar Detroit figures like Brendan Shanahan and Nicklas Lidstrom remain part of the conversation as the organization weighs its next move.
One external possibility is Tom Fitzgerald, but his candidacy comes with obvious baggage for a team trying to avoid another misstep. His run in New Jersey left lingering questions about whether he ever solved the Devils biggest roster problems, from the blue line to the need for a true winger alongside Jack Hughes and the search for steadier goaltending, which is why some around the Red Wings may be skeptical about that direction. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Larkin Buzz Puts Stars Fans Back In A Familiar Debate
Dylan Larkins name has been floating through the offseason rumor mill for a while now, and the latest buzz has only put more attention on where the Red Wings captain might land if Detroit actually moves him. A request for a trade earlier this offseason changed the tone around the situation, turning what once felt like a long-term cornerstone discussion into a leaguewide speculation game with several contenders watching closely.
For Stars fans, the familiar debate is less about whether Larkin would fit and more about whether a deal ever gets far enough to matter. Detroit still needs a general manager in place before anything can move forward, and the salary cap picture is tight across the teams connected to his no-trade list, which keeps the whole process stuck in limbo for now. Even with the chatter building, this is still one of those situations where the next step may be more important than the destination. [Read more 🡒]