How are Detroit Red Wings prospects faring? Europeans are leading the way

Helene St. James | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Detroit Red Wings' Steve Yzerman sizes up his first draft as GM GM Steve Yzerman made 11 picks in his first draft since taking control of the Red Wings. Filmed June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The Detroit Red Wings’ rebuild is a work in progress, but even as the team struggles this season, it is encouraging that the best players are the ones the franchise drafted and developed.

Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi and Filip Hronek all have important roles on the team because they have pushed veterans aside. How soon the Wings regain competitiveness and make it back to the playoffs depends largely on how soon another wave of prospects establish themselves as impact players.

[ New Mule in Hockeytown? Anthony Mantha might fit the bill ]

Shawn Horcoff logs a lot of miles in his role as the team’s director of player development. He recently returned from a trip to Europe, and also keeps a close eye on the team’s North America-based prospects.

He shared his thoughts on select players, and the reports on several are encouraging for a team that still needs a good deal of growth from within.

Europe report

D Antti Tuomisto

Drafted: 35th overall, 2019

Buzz: Tuomisto, 18, is big (6-foot-4, 194 pounds), a right-shot defender who plays well on both ends of the ice. He leads all defensemen in Finland’s Jr. A SM-liiga with 22 points (eight goals, 14 assists) in 21 games for Assat U20.

“Tuomisto is playing fantastic,” Horcoff said. “He’s playing 25 minutes a night, all special teams, every situation. He’s doing really, really well.”

Tuomisto likely would be playing in the men’s league in Finland were he not ineligible because he is planning to go the U.S. college hockey route next season.

D Albert Johansson

Drafted: 60th overall, 2019

Buzz: Johansson, 18, has jumped between Farjestad’s men’s team and junior team. He has done better at the top level, with three points in nine games, compared to one point in six games with the junior squad). That he has played more games in the Swedish Hockey League is indicative of how well he has performed.

“He skates very well,” Horcoff said. “He’s good on the puck — he’s very crafty. He makes a good first pass.”

F Albin Grewe

Drafted: 66th overall, 2019

Buzz: Grewe, 18, is a 6-foot, 187-pound scrapper who patterns his game after Boston über-pest Brad Marchand. He has jumped between Djurgarden’s junior team (five points in seven games) and its men’s team (one goal in 10 games) and has done well at the higher level.

“He doesn’t get the offensive chances he’s used to in J20 but it’s a good league for him,” Horcoff said. “Every shift he goes out there on the ice and he plays 100%. He goes to hard areas, he takes the puck to hard areas, he’s not afraid to get physically involved. He plays a pest-game, which is uncommon for over there. His compete level is what stands out.”

F Jonatan Berggren

Drafted: 33rd overall, 2018.

Buzz: A bruised shoulder sidelined Berggren the two games Horcoff was supposed to see him, but Berggren already has resumed playing. “Before he got hurt, he was playing better, getting more minutes,” Horcoff said. “The points were starting to come. We are hoping he returns to that level of confidence. He’s very skilled with the puck.”

D Malte Setkov

Drafted: 100th overall, 2017.

Buzz: Setkov, 20, is playing in the top men’s league in Sweden. He’s doing well, but he’s a gangly 6-foot-7, 205 pounds and needs more time in the gym. “The head coach really likes him, likes his potential, as do we,” Horcoff said. “He just has to get physically stronger. He does a little bit of both special teams, but in pro hockey, in the NHL, his potential is to be a good first-pass defender.”

Grand Rapids report

D Moritz Seider

Drafted: 6th overall, 2019

Buzz: Steve Yzerman’s first pick since taking over as general manager of the Wings has three points through nine games with the Griffins. Seider, 18, is adjusting to the smaller North American ice sheet.

“Mo is in the right league right now,” Horcoff said. “He’s playing in all situations, playing big minutes. He likes to jump up in the play, but he has good awareness. He has grit to his game. He likes to go into battles. He gets back for pucks quickly. He’s very mobile. There’s a lot of upside there.

“There’s no rush with him. He’s not going to be called up and thrust into anything until he is absolutely ready to play meaningful minutes.”

F Filip Zadina

Drafted: 6th overall, 2018

Buzz: Zadina, who turns 20 on Nov. 27, had two goals and two assists his first nine games with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He left Wings training camp low on confidence and has struggled to establish himself as a consistent scoring threat in his second pro season in the AHL.

“I think he’s frustrated a little bit that the puck is not going in as much as he would like it to,” Horcoff said. “But we are happy with his game, happy with his progression. He’s playing a much better 200-foot game. He’s defensively more responsible. He’s working hard away from the puck. He is learning how to play pro hockey.

“We know he can score. But more importantly is going to be the offensive opportunities he gets. To his credit, his work ethic has been fantastic. His maturity level is higher. He is dealing with stuff better than he was at 18. But there is lots of growth maturity left in his life."

F Joe Veleno

Drafted: 30th overall, 2018

Buzz: Like Zadina, Veleno is going through growing pains as he adjusts to pro hockey. The 19-year-old had two goals his first nine games with the Griffins. “His whole life, points have come easy,” Horcoff said. “It’s not easy in the AHL and he is finding that out. He doesn’t have as much time with the puck. But he is learning what it is going to take to create chances. He has made some good plays, just hasn’t been able to convert.

"We want him to work on his 200-foot game and being strong on both sides of the puck, making sure his work ethic is there. We want his offensive game to show, too, of course.”

D Gustav Lindstrom

Drafted: 38th overall, 2017

Buzz: Lindstrom, 20, had no points through nine games with the Griffins, but he has looked good considering he also is adjusting to the smaller North American ice sheet. "Gus got off to a good start,” Horcoff said. “He’s a guy that has good hockey sense, he move the puck very well, and has good compete level. The small ice is really suiting him. He’s looked really sharp.”

Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.