Detroit Red Wings: Top 10 prospects to track in 2021
By Bob Heyrman
Heading into the 2021 NHL season, here are the top ten Detroit Red Wings prospects to watch.
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman enjoyed what looks to be another successful NHL Draft. In Yzerman’s first draft, he shocked the world with a surprise selection sixth overall selecting German defenseman Moritz Sieder.
Yzerman followed that up in 2020 by selecting Lucas Raymond fourth overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 18-year old winger Raymond is already playing in his third season with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League.
Raymond currently ranks fourth in team scoring with Frölunda in 2020 with five goals, seven assists, and 12 points. It’s the same club that is currently housing Red Wings forward Christoffer Ehn. It’s also ironic, former Red Wings forward Jan Mursak leads the team with 14 points in 2020.
Now, let’s dive into the top ten Detroit Red Wings prospects to follow throughout the 2021 NHL season.
Defenseman: William Wallinder
At 6-foot-4, defenseman William Wallinder is a tower of a human. The Detroit Red Wings drafted the large in stature defenseman with the 32nd overall pick in the second round of the 2020 NHL Entry Level Draft.
Wallinder is not only a large youngster; he’s exceptionally mobile for a big fella. He’s claimed to model his game around a player Steve Yzerman is all too familiar with; Tampa Bay Lightning standout defenseman, Victor Hedman.
Hedman is a fairly good player to try and emulate, if you’d ask me.
Wallinder has spent his last two seasons playing with MODO Hockey Ornskoldsvik of the Swedish-1 Divison, while he’s not been a big-time point-producing defender recording five points, all assists in 34 games. Wallinder did excel last season playing with MODO Hockey J20 in J20 SuperElit, recording a stellar 24 points in 24 games, scoring five goals and adding 19 assists.
The young Swedish defender’s large frame leaves us salivating at what he may grow into. At just 18-years old, he’s currently a mere 194-pounds. He’s an elite skater and has a knack for leading the rush up ice.
That mix of size, skill, and skating ability has been what’s lacked on the backend in the Detroit Red Wings organization for years. Wallinder is a player to follow over the next couple of seasons’ as he tries to make his way to Detroit.
NHL ETA: 2023