On the latest episode of The Silky Mitten State, my co-host Connor Earegood and I chatted about the timeline of a number of key Red Wing prospects to contributing at the NHL level.  We wrapped up the show by considering which Detroit prospects are most prepared to make meaningful NHL contributions in the 2024-25 season, leading with the familiar names like Jonatan Berggren, Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, and Carter Mazur.  We also touched on longer shot prospects like Elmer Soderblom or longer term prospects like Axel Sandin Pellikka.

Yet, as Connor wrote yesterday, the plan for integrating those prospects while still pushing toward the postseason is arguably just as important as identifying exactly which players are ready for contributing roles:

“How can Detroit balance getting its future core into games without jeopardizing its playoff hopes? It’s complicated.  Detroit is at the crossroads of a team contending for its first playoff appearance since 2016, while also bringing along key players of its future core. Many of those future Red Wings are increasingly showing readiness for the NHL. Carter Mazur, Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson are all expected to compete for roster spots in training camp. If they don’t make it to the opening night roster, they’re going to make it up to Detroit soon.”

As GM Steve Yzerman continues to reiterate, the Red Wings remain focused on their long-term contention trajectory.  “We’re trying to build a core that’s going to be together for a number of years, and unfortunately it takes time,” the former Red Wing captain said at his recent news conference.  “And depending on how your drafts go — where you draft, who’s available in those drafts — it can expedite the process, or it can be slower. And I’m going to continue to try to be patient with our draft choices or prospects until they’re ready to go and we’ll keep building on that group. And as we’ve gotten a little bit better each season … we all would love to make the playoffs next year, we would have loved to have made the playoffs last year, but ultimately we’re still trying to put together that core of young guys that is going to be together and start to creep into the playoffs and hang around the playoffs and maybe eventually win.”

That makes life complicated in the short-term for coach Derek Lalonde, who is reportedly going into the final year of his contract with the tricky task of balancing development and contention.  You can check out a clip of our Silky Mitten State discussion via the featured video above, then listen to the full show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.