The Detroit Red Wings are off to their hottest start in the last 5 years, with an above .500 record going into their first game in November for what feels like the first time since their playoff drought began. The Red Wings AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins are undefeated with several recent draft picks contributing heavily to their success. The two rookies still with the main club roster are showing that they belong in the NHL with each passing game, with 7th rounder Emmitt Finnie tied for the lead in points by a rookie so far this year. 

With all that, one wouldn’t be remiss to be wondering what, if anything, the Red Wings still have in the tank. Taking that into account, this should be a good look into what the prospect pool below the “professional roster” for Detroit is at the moment. This article will be the first part in a series following featuring prospects around the world, first looking into three of Detroit’s top young forwards. 

Dmitri Buchelnikov (2022, 52nd overall)

Buchelnikov has been discussed often both by fans and Red Wings brass for two reasons: He’s a really good scorer, and no one is sure exactly when he will make his way to North America. After some shifting around with his clubs in Russia, Buchelnikov had 54 points in 65 games last season with Vityaz Moscow in the KHL. The small winger has a definitive scoring touch and already 7 goals and 9 assists through 21 games this year with his newest KHL team, CSKVA Moskva. Buchelnikov is under contract for another season with the Russian club, but has been keeping in regular contact with the Red Wings and their scouts. Most Russians skip the year or so of AHL ice time that the majority of prospects get, so if he comes over next year, he’ll be jumping right into the deep end of the pool in Detroit. It’s yet to be seen if that production from last year will actually be carried through the end of the season, but he is on pace to near his totals so far. That’s a very positive sign for the Red Wings’ bottom six.at the very least.

Max Plante (2024, 47th overall)

Plante is in just his second season of NCAA hockey and yet the slightly undersized forward is averaging a point per game. Plante comes from a hockey pedigreed family, which includes his brother and linemate at University of Minnesota-Duluth. In his freshman season, Plante had 28 points in 23 games after missing some time at the beginning of the season following an injury against Bemidji State. Like Buchelnikov, Plante is a little on the smaller side but the Red Wings have shown that size doesn’t matter in their lineup, and that they’re willing to help their prospects to bulk up. Carter Mazur and Amadeus Lombardi are both undersized forwards who have found success in Grand Rapids, along with a little more weight in their frame. Plante and the Bulldogs were able to go on a playoff run last year, and hope to defeat rival Minnesota if the postseason opportunity presents itself after sweeping them in an early season series.

Carter Bear (2025, #13th overall)

Bear is the Red Wings most recent first round pick, selected ninth overall and playing for the WHL’s Everett Silvertips. Last season was Bear’s first with an “A” on his chest for the team and he lived up to the patch. With 40 goals and 42 assists, Bear’s 82 points led his team and landed him in the top 20 for scoring in the WHL, just behind future teammate Emmitt Finnie. Bear is larger than the other two prospects at an even 6’0 and he makes sure the opposing team is aware of his presence. Bear has the size, skill, and mentality to do the dirty work around the net and specializes in playing like he’s got his hair on fire, something current Red Wings coach Todd McLellan is sure to like. Despite a decent preseason showing, Bear was sent back to the WHL before the final game, which shows the Red Wings think he could use another year of seasoning in the same league that’s produced their latest late-round draft gem in Finnie. So far, he has 4 goals and 4 assists in the first 9 games of the season. along with 14 penalty minutes.

TBC

With that, Part 1 of the Prospect Check-In Concludes. The next article in the series will round out our look at Detroit’s forward prospects and peek behind the blue line.