3 Red Wings Prospects Expected To Make Detroit's Lineup Out of Camp

With the oncoming storm in July, free agency should see the team make tough decisions regarding the lineup. If GM Steve Yzerman's analysis of the roster is assessed correctly, more players from Grand Rapids should make it into the opening night lineup.

While one or two of these players should be expected, we'll go over each one and give a brief reason why they deserve a spot in the lineup.

Amadeus Lombardi is a Red Wings prospect who has spent the last two seasons in Grand Rapids. He's increased his production by 14 points this season, scoring a total of 40 (19 goals, 21 assists). While comparisons to Trevor Zegras, as a flashy player, his two-way play was lacking. Given how easily he was pushed off the puck, the comparison seemed to ring true.

However, in 2024-2025, we saw him break out in Grand Rapids. The reason why the Red Wings haven't promoted him? According to Sean Shapiro on Shaps Shot Hockey, he needs to improve his backchecking.

After recovering from an injury and showing us all after November, he's worth a spot in the lineup in Detroit. We could see him in a sheltered role on the fourth line with someone like Michael Rasmussen or Andrew Copp.

A line with wheels, and with players who can help him overcome his deficiencies while learning the game in the NHL.

While there were concerns about Sandin Pellika's game translating from the Swedish ice to North American, we should rest easy. According to Katy Glaza of Octopus Thrower, she sees Sandin Pellika starting the season in Grand Rapids and being promoted to the NHL soon after, on the team's third-pairing.

That is depending on what the Red Wings plan to do with Erik Gustafsson, who current fulfills a similiar role in the teams lineup.

Carrying two offensive-defenseman in a lineup could spell disaster for a team who needs more size and more shutdown style players in the lineup.

It depends primarily on how he performs in the prospect games at the end of the season, and how hard he pushes the veterans in the lineup to be better during training camp.

In a dream scenario, he could be paired with Simon Edvinsson or Albert Johansson. Again, this depends on what GM Steve Yzerman has planned for veterans like Erik Gustafsson and Jeff Petry later down the road.

Despite his disappointing performance in the AHL playoffs, Brandsegg-Nygard could find himself on the opening night roster if he continues to build his confidence down in the upcoming prospect games and training camp.

While he didn't make any significant contributions to the Griffins' Calder Cup playoff run, he built his confidence, and that's what matters. With his physical style of play and great shot, we could easily see him on the team's third or fourth line to start the season.

No longer having to bottle up his brutal, physical checking style like he did in the SHL, he can let loose in the NHL and give other players on his line a chance to exercise their offensive skills, along with his own.

He could be paired with Jonatan Berggren, and Brandsegg-Nygards' style of play could open the ice for Berggren to create plays, while Nygard cleans up in front of the opposition's net.

The Red Wings have some great prospects that could make an impact in the lineup, should Yzerman and McLellan decide that these three are NHL-ready, whether at the start of the season or in the future.

With the lack of scoring depth for the team, they should be given a long look before they're send back down to the AHL.