Revisiting the Red Wings' 2023 Draft Class & 3 Senators' Prospects Who Deserve a Call-Up
Before we dive fully into the 2024 NHL Draft, let's check in on a few team's top prospects and review last season's draft.
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In today’s edition, we have a look at the Detroit Red Wings’ 2023 Draft Class, a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Draft, the Minnesota Wild’s midseason prospect rankings, and much more!
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Now on to the good stuff…
Re-visiting the Red Wings’ 2023 Draft Class
January 18, 2024 by Logan Horn
The 2023 NHL Draft was the most hyped group of prospects in recent memory, with an absurd level of expectation being placed on the shoulders of the players at the top of the draft. There was this idea in many peoples’ minds that teams would find future stars in the late first round and even into the second round, and while that may be a bit of an exaggeration, I do think it was an above-average group.
The Detroit Red Wings went into the draft with the 9th and 17th overall picks in the first round as well as three consecutive picks from 41-43rd overall in the second round. That level of draft capital early in the draft is extremely valuable, and even though they ended up trading down with one of those picks, the Red Wings were poised to come out of the 2023 Draft with a really great group of young players.
Detroit selected 11 players in the 2023 Draft, so let’s take a look at each of them and how they’ve fared in the roughly six months since being selected!
Maple Leafs Strategically Sign Kieffer Bellows
January 14, 2024 by The Old Prof
Obviously, during his 2016 draft year, Kieffer Bellows was seen as a promising forward. The New York Islanders thought highly enough of him to choose him in the first round (19th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. But, since Bellows turned professional, he’s taken a bit of a pilgrimage around the American Hockey League (AHL) and the NHL.
During this past offseason, the organization inked him to a PTO (professional tryout offer) with their AHL Toronto Marlies affiliate. There Bellows did well. As a result, when his PTO ended after Friday’s game, the organization signed the experienced prospect to an AHL contract on Jan 14, 2024.
Minnesota Wild 2023-24 Top 15 Prospects Midseason Rankings
January 17, 2024 by Tyson McKay
This mid-season ranking of the Minnesota Wild’s top prospects reflects a dynamic shift in talent. As their most promising players rise and are consequently promoted to the NHL, their pipeline is beginning to lack the elite talent that Wild fans have become accustomed to.Â
Some big names remain atop the list, but others have fallen, and the organization will face pivotal decisions that could shape their future. This article explores what we consider to be the top 15 prospects, and their notable movements in the prospect list, to shed light on emerging stars.
OHL: Windsor Spitfires Name Liam Greentree as New Captain
January 16, 2024 by Dave Jewell
As the Windsor Spitfires make a push for the final playoff spot in the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Western Conference, they took care of some business off the ice. On Saturday morning, after much anticipation, they named their new captain.
Coming into 2023-24, Spitfires general manager Bill Bowler had some decisions to make about his roster. After going all-in last season, he had multiple veterans that could have been traded for future assets to help the club in the long term. However, most of them were leadership material, creating questions as to who would succeed last season’s captain, Matthew Maggio (New York Islanders). When the club started making moves, a handful were traded away. It left a clear choice, and that was made official on Saturday.
3 Senators Prospects Who Deserve Call-Up From AHL
January 17, 2024 by Paul Quinney
The Ottawa Senators have no chance of making the playoffs this year. That leads some fans to secretly hope their team throws in the proverbial towel so they get Macklin Celebrini – the presumed number one draft pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The best way to bring that about, they say, is to start playing more prospects from the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Belleville.
I think they should call more of them up too, but not because I’d ever counsel a team to deliberately tank to improve their draft prospects! Rather than using the rest of this dismal season to improve their place in the standings, the Senators should focus on improving their roster. To do that, they need to fully understand which prospects in Belleville could contribute to success next year. What better way to do that than by giving them more playing time with the big club in Ottawa?
More Draft & Prospects stuff from THW:
NHL Draft History - 2013 NHL Entry Draft: Where Are They Now?
Buffalo Sabres - Grading Buffalo Sabres’ First-Round Picks in the Pegula Era
Prospect Rankings - The NHL’s Top 100 Prospects - Midseason Rankings
Draft Coverage - Baracchini’s Top 64 January Rankings
2024 NHL Mock Draft - Horn’s Early Top-16 Mock Draft