Fresh off the 2024 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings have entered a new phase of their rebuild. Their top pick was outside the top-10 for the first time since 2016, and they have reached a point where a handful of their prospects are expected to push for NHL jobs in the Fall.
The draft always has an impact on the hierarchy of the Red Wings’ prospect pool. But for the first time in a couple years, NHL graduation has an impact on this list this time around. For the first time since Jan. 2022, we have someone new at the top of Detroit’s prospect pool. That’s because this ranking is exclusive to players that hold rookie status in the NHL, and Simon Edvinsson’s rookie status technically expired after playing in 16 NHL games last season. The organization’s top pick in the 2021 draft is expected to play a big role in the Detroit in 2024-25.
As always, this list is created by considering a number of factors including NHL potential, NHL probability, outside opinions, and my own gut feeling about these prospects. While this list is meant to be definitive, there is always room for debate when it comes to prospects. That’s a fact I think will be realized as we get deeper into this list.
With that in mind, let’s dig in!
25. (D) Eemil Viro – 2020, 70th Overall
Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) – 32 GP, 1 G, 6 P
Previous Rank: 22
This marks another fall in the rankings for Eemil Viro as he was ranked 17 following the 2023 draft. The Finnish defenseman is still who he has always been: a non-flashy defense-first defenseman with a hint of offense in his game. He doesn’t move the needle a ton, if at all, but he is the type of defenseman teams need to fill out a lineup.
Since beginning his time in North America, Viro has had a tough time consistently holding a spot in the lineup. After playing in 48 American Hockey League (AHL) games in 2022-23, he featured in just 32 this season. He stood out in the five games he played in the ECHL back in 22-23, so there is reason to believe that the AHL is still the right level for him to be at. There are a lot of talented defenders in this system, so if he is ever going to announce himself as anything more than just a depth AHL defenseman, he probably needs to do it soon.
24. (LW/C) Noah Dower Nilsson – 2023, 73rd Overall
Frölunda HC (SHL) – 5 GP, 1 G, 2 P
Previous Rank: 20
One of my favorite picks from the 2023 draft, Noah Dower Nilsson had what you might…
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