Just as the Detroit Red Wings were showing Steve Yzerman the door and reassigning Kris Draper, the fruits of their labor are showing up in abundance on the club’s roster.
To paraphrase the late, great actor George Peppard, in his role as A-Team leader Hannibal Smith, don’t you love it when an Yzerplan comes together?
Throughout his tenure as GM of the Red Wings, Yzerman, who was removed from his post in July, stressed patience. Granted, seven years with no playoff games would test the patience of even the most loyal in the fan base.
Still, no one can debate that early into the 2026-27 NHL season, Detroit draft picks have their fingerprints all over the club’s surprising 4-3-3 start. In total, there are 11 of them on the Red Wings roster. This abundance of homegrown talent also came on the watch of Kris Draper. This season, he’s been reassigned from head of amateur scouting and put in charge of pro scouting.
Some of those picks made their mark as cornerstones of the franchise years ago. Defenseman Moritz Seider (sixth overall, 2019) leads the club in time on ice (25:46) and blocked shots (33). He’s skated on average more than five minutes per game than any other Detroit player. And Seider has blocked more than twice as many shots as any of his teammates. Defenseman Albert Johansson (60th, 2019), another Yzerman draftee, is second on the club with 15 blocked shots.
And counting 📈 pic.twitter.com/bdsh758L9A
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 23, 2026
Likewise, Lucas Raymond (fourth, 2020) is firing on all cylinders after a slow start. He’s scored three goals in the past two games. Raymond leads all Red Wings forwards in time on ice (20:33), assists (six), and power-play points (six).
Finnie, MBN Delivering For Red Wings
Emmitt Finnie (201st, 2023) showed enough to stay with the team all last season, scoring 13 goals. A move to center this season has ignited Finnie. His speed and tenacity make him a wizard at retrieving pucks.
7th round pick Emmitt Finnie btw pic.twitter.com/l08KxvYf1u
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 23, 2026
“Those centermen that can skate like that are effective because he can be low in our end and he can catch up to the play or lead the play because he skates so well,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said.
Right-winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (15th, 2024) is tied for the NHL rookie scoring lead with eight points. He’s also atop all NHL rookies in plus-minus (plus-10) and hits (39).
On defense, William Wallinder (32nd, 2020) has two goals and three points in five games. Anton Johansson (105th, 2022) is playing top-four minutes, is plus-three, and has four points in 10 games.
McLellan sees plenty to like in Anton Johansson’s game.
“His physicality, his aggressiveness,” McLellan said. “The way he shoots the puck from the blue line.”
The latter was evident in Tuesday’s win at Vancouver. Johansson flipped the puck toward the goal from the point, enabling Michael Rasmussen to deflect it in front of the net and in for Detroit’s fifth goal.
Not All Detroit Draftees Are Lighting It Up
There are still a few from this Detroit draft stockpile trying to find their footing in the NHL. Center Nate Danielson (ninth, 2023) and left-winger Carter Mazur (70th, 2021) have been in and out of the lineup. Both have struggled to find the consistent offensive game that they’ve displayed with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.
Defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka (17th, 2023), a seven-goal scorer with the Red Wings last season, also isn’t displaying the same offensive flair as a sophomore.
Speaking of sophomores, center Marco Kasper (eighth, 2022) was looking to bounce back from a tough sophomore campaign this season. He was a 19-goal scorer as a rookie.
However, an upper-body injury has put Kasper on the shelf long-term.
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