The under-26 group of Detroit Red Wings forwards carry a lot of promise. Best of all, they offer a variety of roles within the team. The burning question is: Will they develop properly and mesh as a formidable unit in the coming seasons?<\/p>\n
Under-26 Detroit Red Wings Forwards Can Wreak Havoc in Coming Seasons<\/p>\n
This group already has one proven playmaker. There are a few wild cards here, with as many as four listed below boasting top-six potential. Even those who aren\u2019t destined for the top six bring toughness to the table.<\/p>\n
Credit Image: \u00a9 Dirk Shadd\/Tampa Bay Times via ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n
Toughness, willingness to stick up for and defend teammates, and land consistent body checks was something the veteran forward group didn\u2019t bring. That said, this younger crew has a massive opportunity, starting with the first man listed below.<\/p>\n
6 \u2013 Carter Mazur<\/p>\n
Carter Mazur<\/a> is only at the rear because of his limited sample size. But in eight games, he showed off grit, physical play, and a high-energy approach the Red Wings needed<\/a>. Mazur isn\u2019t someone who will score a lot of points, but if the Wings want a player who will work his way into a solid third or fourth-line role and stay there for the long haul, Mazur is it.<\/p>\n Injuries are Mazur\u2019s only nagging issue. He\u2019s missed significant time in each of the last two seasons, including right after his Red Wings debut in early 2025. Had Mazur avoided those injuries, there\u2019s a good chance he\u2019d at least have a half-season of experience already.<\/p>\n In 2026-27, expect Mazur to make the big club out of camp if he stays healthy. Fans would immediately label him an upgrade over the revolving door that they saw in the Wings bottom six in 2025-26.<\/p>\n 5 \u2013 Nate Danielson<\/p>\n Nate Danielson<\/a> showed off his potential, with two goals and seven points throughout 28 contests. He averaged just 11:03 of total ice time, and didn\u2019t do enough to further gain the coaching staff\u2019s trust. But he went over to Grand Rapids and showed off his playmaking skills.<\/p>\n Still, the one stat most fans are looking at is five goals between 46 contests in Detroit and Grand Rapids. If Danielson doesn\u2019t get more consistent finding the net, he could end up wearing the \u201cgifted underachiever\u201d label.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, injuries also plagued Danielson\u2019s 2025-26 campaign. He was hurt in the preseason, and that likely kept him from making the opening-night lineup. Danielson also played in just 18 games for Grand Rapids, so his status with the Red Wings as a surefire member with the big club next season remains a mystery.<\/p>\n 4 \u2013 Michael Brandsegg-Nygard<\/p>\n Give Michael Brandsegg-Nygard<\/a> credit, where credit it due. Very few youngsters spend time with their organization\u2019s big club during their first full year in North America. Brandsegg-Nygard showed us immediately in camp that he was capable of spending some time in Hockeytown, and he appeared in 14 games.<\/p>\n While he struggled to put up points, just one assist all season, he landed 43 body checks. Like Carter Mazur, Brandsegg-Nygard should be a lock to make the big club next season and spend most, if not all his time, in Detroit. And he will inject a brand of physical play the Red Wings haven\u2019t seen from many forwards but desperately need.<\/p>\n Brandsegg-Nygard also showed off his scoring ability in Grand Rapids, potting 20 goals in 59 games. If he carries that momentum to Hockeytown next season, he may wind up in the top six.<\/p>\n 3 \u2013 Marco Kasper<\/p>\n You can\u2019t blame the fan base for its disappointment in Marco Kasper<\/a>. He went from 19 goals and 37 points throughout his rookie season to just 19 points and nine goals in 2025-26. Still, Kasper provided value with a 51.5 faceoff win percentage and 186 body checks. The latter was especially valuable, thanks to Detroit\u2019s lack of physical play.<\/p>\n In a worst-case scenario, Kasper figures to keep bringing value defensively, thanks in part to his ability to take defensive-zone faceoffs. Alongside another promising player in Emmitt Finnie<\/a>, the Wings could put the two onto the lower lines, giving them a young \u201cenergy line\u201d that they could have used this season.<\/p>\n It would also make the Red Wings much deeper. This season, they were too top-heavy, with production dropping like a rock on the bottom six. Should Kasper return to form offensively, he\u2019ll remedy that problem.<\/p>\n 2 \u2013 Emmitt Finnie<\/p>\n Few have surprised like Emmitt Finnie in recent years. The 201st-overall pick in 2023 made the team out of camp, played in all 82 contests, logged 30 points and 13 goals, landed 131 body checks, and averaged 15:30 of ice time per game. That\u2019s unheard of for someone who was a seventh-round pick two years before he debuted with the Wings.<\/p>\n While Finnie would fare better playing between 13 and 14 minutes per game, he showed that he can handle playing top-six minutes when needed. If the Wings can\u2019t find a high-producing veteran forward or two this summer, Finnie makes for great insurance. Should they land someone<\/a>, Finnie will be an outstanding all-around bottom-six forward.<\/p>\n Chances are, Finnie\u2019s point production will increase as he gains more experience. Regardless of where the Wings put him, expect Finnie to transform into one of the team\u2019s more valuable young assets.<\/p>\n 1 \u2013 Lucas Raymond<\/p>\n