Prospect Info: Top 10 Red Wings Prospects: Summer 2026

[Waldorf]

Not really concerned about losing any room where Larkin is the leader. He failed under Newsy and he failed under McLellan.

I've pointed out how many young players have gotten time in Detroit, so I'm not really getting your narrative here. Can you provide any concrete examples of how McLellan is a hard ass who hates young players?

Just a theory. Not really talking about Larkin at this point specifically. Listening to player interviews over the years the one surefire thing that pisses players off is dragging them collectively in the media, or naming and shaming, and McLellan isnt exactly a fresh face now. The empty jerseys comment might be revealing to us, but if this is your day job as a coach you can only play that card a handful of times.

To bring this back to the prospects, Soderblom mentioned his main concern being losing ice time and it throwing him off his game. He's not a huge loss but it does seem like our guys look a bit better elsewhere. Maybe Larkin's departure is a reset, but I just have a feeling it's going to be a short one.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Just a theory. Not really talking about Larkin at this point specifically. Listening to player interviews over the years the one surefire thing that pisses players off is dragging them collectively in the media, or naming and shaming, and McLellan isnt exactly a fresh face now. The empty jerseys comment might be revealing to us, but if this is your day job as a coach you can only play that card a handful of times.

To bring this back to the prospects, Soderblom mentioned his main concern being losing ice time and it throwing him off his game. He's not a huge loss but it does seem like our guys look a bit better elsewhere. Maybe Larkin's departure is a reset, but I just have a feeling it's going to be a short one.

Who exactly did McLellan name and shame? Players have said they weren't hearing in the locker room what McLellan was saying in the media, so it's not clear anyone felt named or shamed. Please provide examples if you have any.

Soderblom did do better in Pittsburgh, but I don't think that outweighs the success of guys like AlJo, ASP, Simon Edvinsson (two years younger than Soderblom FWIW), Finnie, Kasper, and the opportunities given to guys like MBN and Danielson.

No offense, but based on the actual concrete info you've provided, it really sounds like you are grasping at straws. Happy to be proven wrong if you can provide additional concrete examples though.

 

[Frk It]

Yeah, there's a pretty good chance he's basically Cole Caufield who just had an 88 point, 51 goal season. I mean if you think he's going to bust that's fine, but when guys win the award in their freshman or sophomore season, it usually indicates he's a player. It's not outlandish to expect him to be very successful in the NHL.

I could see Plante being a 50 assist guy, but I don’t think he will ever sniff 50 goals.

Caufield’s shot has always been in the top 1% of his peers.

 

[The Zermanator]

I could see Plante being a 50 assist guy, but I don’t think he will ever sniff 50 goals.

Caufield’s shot has always been in the top 1% of his peers.

Yeah almost certainly true in terms of goals. I see a reasonable floor for him as a Mats Zuccarello-type 50ish point middle six winger. But I won't be surprised if he takes on a Huberdeau-like role as a 70-80 point offensive winger and PP specialist. Don't see the 100pt Huberdeau though.

 

[Frk It]

Yeah almost certainly true in terms of goals. I see a reasonable floor for him as a Mats Zuccarello-type 50ish point middle six winger. But I won't be surprised if he takes on a Huberdeau-like role as a 70-80 point offensive winger and PP specialist. Don't see the 100pt Huberdeau though.

That’s about the range for me as well.

Main questions for me are 1) can he score at Ev Strength at the NHL level, or does he need that extra time and space from the power play to produce? (I think he will be able to produce at both with his IQ, but we will have to see if that’s in fact the case)

And 2) how much of a goal scorer will he be on a yearly basis? 15, 20, 25, 30?