Every NHL team would love to have a collection of talented young players and yet teams with plenty of top prospects are usually not in a hurry to play them. That’s certainly the case with the Red Wings.

GM Steve Yzerman prefers to make sure they ready. He wants them to have considerable AHL experience, before promoting them for good. The logic for that approach is reasonable: younger players are prone to mistakes. Young forwards are usually short on defensive instincts and young defensemen take too many chances.

That’s why Simon Edvinsson didn’t get sustained playing time until the end of the season and Jonatan Berggren primarily stayed in Grand Rapids, even though he was playing at a high level there. Well-liked Albert Johansson played two seasons at Grand Rapids without seeing Detroit.

But it’s different this season with Edvinsson, Berggren and Johansson expected to make the team. Berggren and Johansson are no longer waiver exempt, meaning the Red Wing risk losing them on waivers if they attempt to send them to the minors.

Youth Infusion

“I think you need some of that competition — that push from the younger guys,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said.

Berggren is still an unsigned restricted free agent, but the Red Wings do seem to need him to replace some of goals lost through forwards David Perron, Robby Fabbri and Daniel Sprong leaving through free agency and trade. Berggren has 17 goals in 79 NHL games, and last season he tallied 24 goals and 56 points in 52 regular-season games. He managed five goals in nine AHL playoffs.

“He’s shown the ability to create offense,” Lalonde said. “When he’s been with us, he’s created offense. But again, we have a lot of guys with a similar DNA. We need him to be responsible.”

The reason why Berggren didn’t stick in Detroit is that coaches didn’t trust his play without the puck. Reducing goals against will be an emphasis in 2024-25.

“We’re gonna ask the whole team to be conscious of a two-way game, without taking away from some of his offense,” Lalonde said. “It’s a credit to him. He did a really good job in a really tough situation last year. I’ll never say anyone’s played themselves out of the American Hockey League. It’s just too good of a league. But he’s proven, or maybe more it’s he’s earned this opportunity… He’ll have to do it in camp but I believe in my conversations with him this summer.”

Edvinsson should play regularly this season. The Red Wings have nine defensemen, counting Johansson and Edvinsson. Presumably, William Lagesson goes to Grand Rapids if Johansson makes the roster.

Improved Depth

“I like the depth. I think we got really fortunate last year in staying healthy on the back end,” Lalonde said. “But we’ll need that depth. I think all eight are very capable. I’m very excited about Simon. I think his play towards the end of last year was exciting. But I’m very excited about Albert, too. I was able to see him towards the end of the year and into the playoffs. I think he’s ready for the National Hockey League. He’ll have to show us that in camp. ”

Other youngsters, such as Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson and Carter Mazur, could also force their way onto the roster by playing well during their eight-game preseason schedule.

“I think the eight games will be beneficial,” Lalonde said. “Not only for the fluid situation with some lines and special teams, getting looks for everyone and getting looks for our young guys, too. Very excited about some of our young guys in Grand Rapids that will be pushing.”