The Detroit Red Wings prospect pool is ready to continue to bring important players to professional hockey in North America next season. The Red Wings have several players who are set to arrive and play in either Detroit or Grand Rapids (AHL) to start the 2022-2023 season.
Here is a look at the next arrivals that look ready to make a splash next season.
Signed Players
Simon Edvinsson recently signed his three-year entry-level contract with Detroit. This season, Edvinsson played the entire season for Frolunda in the SHL. In 44 regular-season games, Edvinsson scored two goals, 17 assists, 19 points, and a +13 rating. These statistics were good enough for the top spot in the SHL for U19 players. Edvinsson picked up two assists in five playoff games and had a +3 rating. Next year, Edvinsson will be given every opportunity to start the season in Detroit. If he plays in Detroit, Edvinsson will have a cap hit of $925,000. If he plays in Grand Rapids, Edvinsson will make $80,000.
Albert Johansson signed his entry-level contract almost two years ago, and the contract still hasn’t kicked in because Johansson has been loaned to Farjestad (SHL) for the past seasons. Johansson is currently playing in the SHL final and has played parts of four seasons in the SHL. In a career-high 52 games this season, Johansson scored five goals, 20 assists, 25 points, and a -6 rating. These statistics place Johansson 2nd in U21 scoring in the SHL and the top-scoring defenseman in the same age bracket. After three games in the final and 15 playoff games overall, Johansson has scored two goals, four assists, six points, and a -3 rating. Next season, Johansson has an excellent chance of breaking camp with Detroit. If he plays in the NHL next season, Johansson will have a cap hit of $820,000. If he plays in Grand Rapids, Johansson will make $70,000.
Eemil Viro signed his three-year entry-level contract with Detroit one year ago. Viro was loaned to TPS (Liiga) this year. Viro has played parts of the last three seasons in Liiga. In 52 regular-season games this season, Viro scored three goals, four assists, seven points, and a +9 rating. In 15 additional playoff games, Viro scored two goals, three assists, five points, and a +6 rating. Viro will likely play for Grand Rapids next season, where he will make a salary of $70,000. If Viro plays in the NHL, he will have a cap hit of $850,833.
Sebastian Cossa signed his three-year entry-level contract last August. Cossa is currently playing in the playoffs for Edmonton (WHL). Cossa is currently playing in his 3rd season in the WHL. In a career-high 46 regular-season games, Cossa had a record of 33-9-3, with a 2.28 GAA, .913 SV%, and six shutouts. In Edmonton’s four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs, Cossa won all four games with one shutout, a 1.50 GAA, and a .936 SV%. Cossa will likely start next season in Grand Rapids and will earn $80,000. If he plays in the NHL, Cossa will have a cap hit of $925,000.
Cross Hanas recently signed his entry-level contract with Detroit. The contract will kick in next season. Hanas is currently playing in his 4th season playing for Portland in the WHL. In 63 regular-season games, Hanas scored 26 goals, 60 assists, 86 points, and a +31 rating. In four games during the first round of the playoffs, Hanas scored one goal, one assist, two points, and a +3 rating. If Hanas plays in the NHL next season, he will have a cap hit of $859,167. If, as expected, Hanas plays in Grand Rapids, he will earn $80,000.
Rumored to be Signing
Pontus Andreasson is expected to sign a free agent entry-level contract with Detroit once his SHL playoffs are over. Andreasson is currently playing in his first full season in the SHL. In 52 regular season games playing for Lulea, Andreasson scored 18 goals, 20 assists, 38 points, and a +19 rating. After three games of the SHL Finals, Andreasson had played ten games where he has scored eight goals, four assists, 12 points, and a +7 rating. Andreasson is expected to challenge for a spot in Detroit or play in Grand Rapids next season.
Elmer Soderblom is also expected to sign his entry-level contract with Detroit in the not-so-distant future. At his season-ending press conference, Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman indicated mutual interest between Detroit and Soderblom in getting a contract signed for next season. This year, Soderblom was the top U22 scorer in the SHL. In 52 regular-season games, Soderblom scored 21 goals, 12 assists, 33 points, and a -10 rating. In nine playoff games, Soderblom scored three goals, three assists, six points, and had a +6 rating. Soderblom is expected to challenge for a spot on the Red Wings roster and will likely start the season in Grand Rapids.
Joren van Pottelberghe missed most of the second half of the NL season and the Winter Olympic Games because of injury. It has yet to be determined how long it will take for van Pottleberghe to be ready for next season. If he is cleared to play, van Pottelberghe has indicated that he would finally like to play in the Red Wings organization. In this year’s career-best 44 regular-season games, van Pottelberghe had a 24-12-3 record, with a 2.23 GAA, a .921 SV%, and five shutouts. It is expected that van Pottelberghe will challenge for the backup role in Detroit or share the goaltending duties in Grand Rapids with Sebastian Cossa.
