The Detroit Red Wings’ prospect conversation usually starts with the big names - Axel Sandin-Pellikka, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Trey Augustine and Carter Bear.
But tucked a little deeper in the pipeline are three defense prospects from the 2023 NHL Draft who have kept moving along without much noise. Larry Keenan, Jack Phelan and Brady Cleveland may not draw the same attention, but each has stayed on Detroit’s radar in his own way.
Keenan, taken in the fourth round at 117th overall, spent the 2025-26 season at the University of Massachusetts and kept building his case as a dependable two-way defender. The 21-year-old left-shot blueliner is 6-foot-4 and 203 pounds, and he put together a strong year with 36 games played, 8 goals, 11 assists and 19 points. He also finished with 47 blocked shots, third-best on the team, along with 5 penalties.
His size, skating ability, and defensive awareness have kept him on Detroit's radar. He'll have another opportunity to prove he can eventually earn a pro contract after this season.
Phelan followed a similar college path, though his game leans even more toward the defensive side. Detroit picked him in the fifth round, 144th overall, and the 22-year-old right-shot defenseman is listed at 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds.
At Wisconsin in 2025-2026, he appeared in 37 games and posted 9 assists for 9 points while going without a goal. He also logged 46 blocked shots, third-most on the team, and 7 penalties.
The numbers don’t scream for attention, but Phelan has settled into the role of a reliable stay-at-home defenseman who can handle different situations. Like Keenan, he remains a longer-term project, and Detroit has shown patience with college players before.
Brady Cleveland is probably the name most fans would recognize from this group. The Red Wings grabbed him in the second round, 47th overall, and the 21-year-old brings a heavy frame at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds.
He’s now at the University of Minnesota Duluth, where the offensive production has stayed modest. In 2025-26, he had 2 assists and 2 points, with 18 penalties for 47 minutes.
That’s not where Cleveland makes his money anyway. His game has always been about force, edge and contact.
He finishes checks, plays physically and isn’t shy about standing up for teammates. Those traits made him an appealing second-round pick, even if his offensive upside doesn’t match some of Detroit’s other blue-line prospects.
With the Red Wings continuing to stockpile depth on defense, Cleveland is still a name worth watching as his development rolls on.
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