The Detroit Red Wings commitment to full youth mode with a stockpile of draft picks will change the future look of the team, but it will first have a big impact on their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.

The Red Wings have as many as 11 picks within the first six rounds of the NHL draft this June 22-23. That follows 11 selected last season and comes after 14 picks the previous two drafts combined.

But, before the best prospects migrate to Detroit over the course of years they will inevitably first change the dynamic of the Griffins.

"At some point in the next four years you'll see the makeup of the team become significantly different than what he has been the past couple years," said Ryan Martin, the Red Wings assistant general manager who oversees the Griffins.

That means the organization will look to provide more younger players a shot in the ECHL with Toledo and - more so, they hope - in the AHL with Grand Rapids. For the Griffins, that would mean fewer veterans and seasoned developmental players.

If, for example, the team has five veteran forwards, the number may decrease to three. Likewise, for defensemen; instead of four veterans there may be two.

"We're going to have to make room for the young kids and the young kids are going to have to have an opportunity to compete for playing time and compete for jobs," Martin said. "There will be no entitlement, but at the same time we have to make sure we don't have impediments to them playing and getting an opportunity to play."

The Griffins have in recent years been heavy with veterans, and their contributions on and off the ice have helped earn five consecutive postseason trips and two AHL titles (last year and in 2013). Teams can carry as many veterans as they'd like, but 12 of the 18 skaters each game must have fewer than 260 regular-season pro games. As the younger players arrive, the Griffins will continue to be prudent in finding the best veteran fits.

The effect of recent drafts may begin to take hold next season. Martin projected at least five first-year AHL pros on the Griffins next season, three coming from 2016 draft. He listed:

Dennis Cholowski, a defenseman with Port Winterhawks in WHL (1

Givani Smith, a winger with Kitchener Rangers in WHL (2

David Pope, left winger from University of Nebraska (4

Christoffer Ehn, a center with Frolunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League (4

Jordan Sambrook, a defenseman with Sault Ste. Marie of OHL (5

If Sambrook is not signed, Martin suggested Libor Sulak, a 23-year-old undrafted defenseman in the Finnish Elite League who signed last May, could slide into that spot.

Of course, those are projections and the lineup could change and grow. But it does provide a look at where the Griffins - and ultimately, the Red Wings - are headed.

"The goal is always the development of players and to give them the best opportunity for success," Martin said.

Center Mike Rasmussen, the Red Wings No. 1 pick (seventh overall) last year, is expected to join the Griffins for the postseason but, by rule, next fall he will either make the Red Wings or return for his second season of juniors.