The Detroit Red Wings are currently in a transition period when it comes to their defense. Rookie defenseman Moritz Seider was added to the team last season and was outstanding. The Red Wings entered last year with four impending UFAs. Nick Leddy and Troy Stecher were traded at the deadline, while Marc Staal and Danny DeKeyser will be entering free agency in July.
For the past several drafts, the Red Wings have been stockpiling defense prospects hoping that a few can play their way into the NHL lineup in Detroit. With numerous prospects at the defense position, the Red Wings are actually in an excellent position when it comes to the defense as the team moves towards the end of their rebuild.
Here is a look at Detroit’s current defense situation.
Defense at the NHL Level
Moritz Seider
2021-2022 Team: Detroit (NHL)
Age: 21
GP: 82
Goals: 7
Assists: 43
Points: 50
+/-: -9
Moritz Seider recently finished his rookie season in Detroit. He was the Red Wings Rookie of the Year and looks like he will be a mainstay on the Red Wings defense for many years to come. Seider has two years remaining on his entry-level contract and will likely be on the top pairing next season. Seider has a cap hit of $863,333, a bargain in today’s NHL.
Filip Hronek
2021-2022 Team: Detroit (NHL)
Age: 24
GP: 78
Goals: 5
Assists: 33
Points: 38
+/-: -29
Filip Hronek recently completed his 4th season in a Red Wings uniform. After being the top scorer on the Red Wings last year, Hronek placed second in defense scoring this season despite having a difficult time in the defensive zone. Hronek has two years remaining with a cap hit of $4.4M and looks like he will remain a top-four defenseman with Detroit until he becomes an RFA at the end of the 2023-2024 season.
Jordan Oesterle
2021-2022 Team: Detroit (NHL)
Age: 29
GP: 45
Goals: 2
Assists: 6
Points: 8
+/-: -7
Jordan Oesterle recently completed his 8th NHL season, first in a Red Wings uniform. Oesterle was used sparingly on the third defense pairing for Detroit. Oesterle has one year remaining on his current contract with a cap hit of $1.35M before he becomes a UFA at the end of next season.
Gustav Lindstrom
2021-2022 Team: Detroit (NHL)
Age: 23
GP: 63
Goals: 1
Assists: 12
Points: 13
+/-: -12
Gustav Lindstrom recently completed his 3rd season in Detroit. Lindstrom continues to show that he can be a good defenseman on the third defense pairing at the NHL level. Lindstrom has one year remaining on his current contract with a cap hit of $850,000 before becoming an RFA.
Steven Kampfer
2021-2022 Team: AK Bars Kazan (KHL)
Age: 33
GP: 46
Goals: 11
Assists: 19
Points: 30
+/-: +7
Steven Kampfer was recently signed as insurance at the NHL level. Kampfer has ten years of NHL experience and recently played in Russia’s KHL. Kampfer has a two-way contract with Detroit and signed a one-year deal at the NHL minimum salary of $750,000 for next season.
Defensemen in the System
Wyatt Newpower
2021-2022 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)
Age: 24
GP: 55
Goals: 3
Assists: 7
Points: 10
+/-: 0
Wyatt Newpower recently completed his second season in the AHL. Newpower has one year remaining on his current two-way contract with Detroit. Newpower has a cap hit of $800,00 if he plays in the NHL and $70,000 at the AHL level. Newpower will be an RFA at the end of next season.
Jared McIsaac
2021-2022 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)
Age: 22
GP: 70
Goals: 5
Assists: 19
Points: 24
+/-: -11
Jared McIsaac recently completed the first season of his entry-level contract with Detroit. McIsaac was healthy for most of the season and looks like he may be one of the top defensive prospects in the Detroit organization. McIsaac has two years remaining on his current contract with an NHL cap hit of $764,167 and an AHL salary of $70,000. McIsaac can be an RFA after the 2022-2023 season.
Donovan Sebrango
2021-2022 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)
Age: 20
GP: 65
Goals: 1
Assists: 6
Points: 7
+/-: -7
Donovan Sebrango recently finished the last two years of his junior eligibility with Grand Rapids (AHL). Sebrango remains a top prospect on defense for the Red Wings. Sebrango has two years remaining on his entry-level contract before becoming an RFA. Sebrango will likely play in Grand Rapids again next year. He will earn $72,500 in the AHL and $828,333 if he plays with Detroit.
Seth Barton
2021-2022 Team: Grand Rapids (AHL)
Age: 22
GP: 20
Goals: 1
Assists: 5
Points: 6
+/-: -7
Seth Barton recently finished his first year of professional hockey after a three-year career with UMass-Lowell (NCAA). Barton split the season between Grand Rapids and Toledo (ECHL). Barton will likely be a full-time defenseman in the AHL next season. Barton has one year left on his entry-level contract and can become an RFA after next season. Barton’s AHL salary will be $70,000 next year.
Simon Edvinsson
2021-2022 Team: Frolunda (SHL)
Age: 19
GP: 44
Goals: 2
Assists: 17
Points: 19
+/-: +13
Simon Edvinsson is the top defensive prospect in the Detroit organization. He recently signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings. Edvinsson will be given every opportunity to start the year in the NHL with Detroit in training camp. Edvinsson has an NHL cap hit of $925,000 next year.
Albert Johansson
2021-2022 Team: Farjestad BK (SHL)
Age: 21
GP: 52
Goals: 5
Assists: 20
Points: 25
+/-: -6
Albert Johansson is also one of the top defensive prospects in the Red Wings organization. For the last two years, Johansson was on loan to his club team in the SHL. Johansson will begin his entry-level contract with Detroit this year when he brings his game to North America for the first time. Johansson will also be given every opportunity to start the season in Detroit. Johansson has an NHL cap hit of $820,000 if he plays in Detroit next year.
Eemil Viro
2021-2022 Team: TPS (Liiga)
Age: 20
GP: 52
Goals: 3
Assists: 4
Points: 7
+/-: +9
Eemil Viro was on loan to his club team in Liiga last year. Viro will likely begin his tenure in the Red Wings organization with Grand Rapids. Viro is signed for the next three years and will earn $70,000 at the AHL level.
Restricted Free Agents
Jake Walman
2021-2022 Teams: Detroit/St. Louis (NHL)
Age: 26
GP: 51
Goals: 3
Assists: 7
Points: 10
+/-: -3
Jake Walman recently completed his third season in the NHL. Walman was one of the players acquired as part of the trade from St. Louis for Nick Leddy. After his acquisition, Walman was solid if unspectacular for the Red Wings. Walman will likely sign an extension with the Red Wings and should provide experience for what will probably be an inexperienced defense in Detroit next year.
Olli Juolevi
2021-2022 Teams: Detroit/Florida (NHL)
Age: 24
GP: 18
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Points: 0
+/-: -1
Olli Juolevi recently completed his third season in the NHL. He was acquired on waivers from Florida midway through last season. Juolevi was a terrific junior player who struggled to transition his skillset to the NHL level. It is unlikely that the Red Wings will re-sign the impending RFA.
Unsigned Defensemen
William Wallinder
2021-2022 Team: Rogle (SHL)
Age: 19
GP: 47
Goals: 4
Assists: 15
Points: 19
+/-: +5
William Wallinder had a terrific first season in the SHL. Wallinder remains one of Detroit’s best defensive prospects in Europe. Wallinder will return to Rogle, where he will play full-time next year. Wallinder’s rights belong to Detroit until June 2024.
Antti Tuomisto
2021-2022 Team: Univ. of Denver (NCAA)
Age: 21
GP: 35
Goals: 1
Assists: 8
Points: 9
+/-: +20
Antti Tuomisto won an NCAA National Championship with Denver this year. He has decided to leave school and will play his first professional season for TPS (Liiga) next year. Detroit owns Tuomisto’s rights until June 2024.
Shai Buium
2021-2022 Team: Univ. of Denver (NCAA)
Age: 19
GP: 39
Goals: 3
Assists: 15
Points: 18
+/-: +20
Shai Buium had an excellent National Championship freshman season at Denver. Buium will return for his sophomore season at Denver next year. Detroit owns Buium’s rights until June 2025.
Gustav Berglund
2021-2022 Team: Karlskrona HK (HockeyEttan)
Age: 21
GP: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 1
Points: 1
+/-: +1
Gustav Berglund struggled while playing at three different levels of professional hockey in Sweden. It has yet to be decided where Berglund will play next year. Detroit owns Berglund’s rights until June 2023.
Oscar Plandowski
2021-2022 Team: Charlottetown (QMJHL)
Age: 19
GP: 64
Goals: 4
Assists: 13
Points: 17
+/-: +12
Oscar Plandowski recently completed 3rd season in the QMJHL. Plandowski will return for his final year of junior eligibility next year. Detroit owns Plandowski’s rights until June 2023.
Cooper Moore
2021-2022 Team: Univ. of North Dakota (NCAA)
Age: 21
GP: 38
Goals: 2
Assists: 7
Points: 9
+/-: +2
Cooper Moore recently completed his sophomore season in the NCAA. Moore will return to North Dakota for his junior year in the fall. Detroit owns Moore’s rights until June 2024.
Kyle Aucoin
2021-2022 Team: Harvard (NCAA)
Age: 19
GP: 30
Goals: 0
Assists: 2
Points: 2
+/-: -1
Kyle Aucoin recently completed his freshman season at Harvard. Aucoin will return to Harvard for his sophomore year next season. Detroit owns Aucoin’s rights until June 2025.
Final Thoughts
The Detroit Red Wings have numerous defensemen scattered in a variety of leagues throughout the world. With multiple veterans leaving the organization, the young defensemen are slowly integrating into the Red Wings lineup. How many of these prospects will wear the Winged Wheel next season is anyone’s guess. One thing is for sure; the future is bright on the Detroit blueline as the team gets closer to respectability.
