The Red Wings are hoping several young players make their season-opening roster in 2018-19. (MLive/Brendan Savage)

As the Detroit Red Wings begin their rebuild in earnest after missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, they’re hoping to have anywhere between two and five young players on their season-opening roster who weren’t in the NHL at the start of 2017-18.

One will be Tyler Bertuzzi. A handful of others will be competing for jobs in training camp and the preseason.

Here is a look at 10 of the Red Wings’ top prospects, how they fared this past season and how far away they might be from the NHL.

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Michael Rasmussen could make the rare jump from juniors to the NHL. (AP file photo)

Michael Rasmussen

Position: Center

Height/Weight: 6-6/221

Shoots: Left

Drafted: First round in 2017 (No. 9)

2017-18 season: He tallied 31 goals and 59 points in 47 games with the WHL Tri-City Americans in a season interrupted by wrist surgery. He was even more dominant in the playoffs, with 16 goals and 33 points in 14 games.

Timeline to NHL: The Red Wings are counting on Rasmussen to make the team in training camp. They plan to ease his transition to the NHL by starting him on wing, like they did with Dylan Larkin as a rookie in 2015-16. If Rasmussen isn't ready for the NHL he will return to Tri-City for his final junior season. He is not eligible to play in the AHL in 2018-19.

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Evgeny Svechnikov will look to rebound from a down year. (AP file photo)

Evgeny Svechnikov

Position: Right wing

Height/Weight: 6-3/212

Shoots: Left

Drafted: First round in 2015 (No. 19)

2017-18 season: Svechnikov struggled his second pro season, taking a step back after a promising first year with the Griffins. He was better the second half (five goals, 18 points in 30 games), but overall his production dipped considerably (seven goals, 23 points, compared to 20 goals and 51 points in 2016-17), though he did spend more time in Detroit (two goals, two assists in 14 games).

Timeline to NHL: Barring a spectacular showing in training camp and the preseason, Svechnikov will start the season in Grand Rapids and likely will be recalled at some point. It is his final waiver-exempt season. Starting in 2019-20, he's in the NHL to stay.

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Filip Hronek had a strong first pro season. (MLive file photo)

Filip Hronek

Position: Defense

Height/Weight: 6-0/178

Shoots: Right

Drafted: Second round in 2016 (53rd overall)

2017-18 season: Hronek was impressive in his first full pro season, making the AHL All-rookie team and leading Griffins defensemen in goals (11) and points (39). It earned him a spot on the Czech World Championship team (one goal, three points in eight games).

Timeline to NHL: He will compete for a roster spot in training camp, likely with Joe Hicketts. Hronek's right shot could help the power play. The Red Wings hope to have one defenseman from Grand Rapids on their season-opening roster, but only if they're playing regularly. Their odds increase if Mike Green isn't re-signed and the team doesn't ink another veteran free-agent defenseman.

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Dennis Cholowski was productive in his first and line major junior season. (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

Dennis Cholowski

Position: Defense

Height/Weight: 6-1/200

Shoots: Left

Drafted: First round in 2016 (20th overall)

2017-18 season: His lone major junior season after leaving St. Cloud State was split between Prince George and Portland of the WHL. He tallied 14 goals and 66 points in 69 games and picked up five goals and seven points in 12 playoff games for Portland. He joined the Griffins after the Winter Hawks were eliminated and played in one playoff game.

Timeline to NHL: The Red Wings want Cholowski to make a push for a job in training camp, but more experienced defensemen Filip Hronek and Joe Hicketts likely are ahead of him in the pecking order. It's difficult, especially for a defenseman, to jump from juniors to the NHL. Cholowski likely will need at least one season in Grand Rapids before seriously competing for a roster spot in 2019-20.

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David Pope is a late bloomer with a tremendous shot. (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

David Pope

Position: Left wing

Height/Weight: 6-3/200

Shoots: Left

Drafted: Fourth round in 2013 (109th overall)

2017-18 season: He led Nebraska-Omaha in goals (20) and points (41) as a senior and graduated. He's a late bloomer with offensive ability who is described as a shooter, with a good one-timer off the flank and great wrist shot.

Timeline to NHL: He'll have an opportunity to earn a roster spot in training camp, but unless the Red Wings have multiple injuries among their top nine forwards, Pope likely will start the season in Grand Rapids. His performance there will dictate whether he gets a look in Detroit during the season. He should be more poised to compete for a spot in 2019-20.

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The Red Wings signed Libor Sulak as a free agent in 2017. (AP file photo)

Libor Sulak

Position: Defense

Height/Weight: 6-2/207

Shoots: Left

Drafted: Free agent signed in 2017.

2017-18 season: Sulak led Lahti Pelicans defensemen in scoring (nine goals, 32 points) in the Finnish League before joining Grand Rapids for a pair of games late in the regular season (two assists). He played for the Czech Republic in the World Championship (one goal, three points in eight games) and was second among the team's defensemen in average ice time (18:04).

Timeline to NHL: Mobile defenseman who likely will need some time in the AHL to get accustomed to the smaller North American rinks. He's behind Filip Hronek and Joe Hicketts on the depth chart. Injuries and his performance in Grand Rapids will dictate whether he gets an opportunity in Detroit during the season. Might be ready to compete for a job in 2019-20.

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Joe Hicketts played in five games for the Red Wings in 2017-18. (AP file photo)

Joe Hicketts

Position: Defense

Height/Weight: 5-8/180

Shoots: Left

Drafted: Signed as a free agent in 2014.

2017-18 season: He wasn't as productive (three goals, 12 points, minus-10) following a strong first season with Grand Rapids (seven goals, 34 points, plus-15). He impressed the Red Wings with his compete level and determination during five NHL games (three assists, team-leading plus-5).

Timeline to NHL: He'll be competing with Filip Hronek for a spot on the season-opening roster. If Hicketts starts in Grand Rapids, chances are he'll get a look in Detroit at some point during the season, his final year of waiver-exempt status.

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Givani Smith will start his pro career in Grand Rapids next season.

Givani Smith

Position: Right wing

Height/Weight: 6-2/209

Shoots: Left

Drafted: Second round in 2016 (46th overall)

2017-18 season: He missed the start of his final junior season due to an ankle injury at Red Wings training camp. Smith split the season between Guelph and Kitchener, collecting 17 goals and 30 points in 46 games. He stepped up in the playoffs, with 11 goals and 18 points in 18 games for Kitchener.

Timeline to NHL: A big, abrasive forward with some scoring ability, Smith will begin his pro career in Grand Rapids next season. Chances are, he'll need at least a couple of seasons in the AHL before making a serious push for a Red Wings roster spot.

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Filip Larsson was the top goalie in the UHSL last season. (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

Filip Larsson

Position: Goaltender

Height/Weight: 6-2/196

Drafted: Sixth round in 2016 (167th overall)

2017-18 season: Larsson was named USHL goaltender of the year for the Tri-City Storm by a vote of the league's general managers. He experienced what the USHL described as one of the best seasons by a goalie in league history (1.65 goals-against average and a league-record .941 save percentage in 30 games). He posted seven shutouts, the fourth-highest total in USHL history.

Timeline to NHL: Larsson will play at the University of Denver next season. He might spend two years in college before turning pro and joining Grand Rapids. It can be difficult to predict when a goaltender is NHL-ready. Larsson, who turns 20 in August, is probably at least three years away.

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Vili Saarijarvi spent past of last season in Toledo. (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

Vili Saarijarvi

Position: Defense

Height/Weight: 5-10/178

Shoots: Right

Drafted: Third round in 2015 (73rd overall)

2017-18 season: It was a bumpy transition to the pros for Saarijarvi, who had no goals and 10 assists in 42 games for the Griffins and two goals and six points in 10 games with the ECHL Toledo Walleye.

Timeline to NHL: He'll probably need two more seasons in Grand Rapids before seriously challenging for a roster spot in Detroit.