Jim Nill’s Dallas Rookies Will Test Red Wings in TC

The annual NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan has a long history of showcasing future NHL impact performers. Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill has brought more than his fair share of those future stars to the tournament through the years.

Nate Robertson. Roope Hintz. Miro Heiskanen. Thomas Harley. Wyatt Johnston. Logan Stankoven. Those are just some of his draft choices who have played in Traverse City in the 12 years he has been the Dallas GM.

The tournament, once the NHL’s top preseason prospect showcase, now is down to just the Stars and Detroit Red Wings. They will play a two-game series Saturday (6 p.m.) and Sunday (2:30). But Nill, a former Red Wings executive, is still bringing rosters highlighted by blue chip prospects.

The Stars roster includes includes right wing Emil Hemming (29th, 2024), defenseman Tristan Bertucci (59th, 2023) and defensemen Lian Buchel (18th, 2022) and Christian Kyrou (50th, 2022). The Stars’ complete roster:

When Nill left the Red Wings management team to join the Dallas Stars, he hired away Joe McDonnell and Mark Leach from the Red Wings to head up his staff. The Dallas drafting has been impressive since their arrival.

McDonnell is the Dallas director of scouting and Leach is now the Toronto director of scouting.

The Red Wings are countering with right wing Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (15th, 2024), center Nate Danielson (ninth, 2023), defenseman Shai Buium (36th, 2021) and left wing Jakub Rychlovsky. (Free agent signee, Czech Extraliga).

Brandsegg-Nygard On Fast Track

There’s been a buzz about Brandsegg-Nygard because he  was just drafted three months ago, and the Red Wings wanted him to come to  training camp. More often than not, the Red Wings let European players stay in Europe because their leagues start earlier.

Axel Sandin Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygard both play for Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League, and Sandin Pellikka is not coming for training camp. Of course, Sandin Pellikka is a smallish, dynamic puck-moving defenseman, and Brandsegg-Nygard is a strong winger.

It all starts September 14th! 🙌

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— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 3, 2024

Rychlovsky is another intriguing player because he led the Czech league with 26 goals last season.

Danielson projects to play this season in Grand Rapids, but he is one of the prospects who could make the team with a memorable preseason. It seems likely coach Derek Lalonde will play Danielson and Marco Kasper often when the Red Wings start playing preseason game. Kasper will not be at the NHL prospect tournament.

Sebastian Cossa will not be at this tournament, but Carter Gylander will be. He’s probably third in line behind Cossa and Augustine among Detroit goalie prospects.

One goalie to watch: Gage Alexander. The Red Wings picked him up from the Anaheim Ducks in the Robby Fabbri trade. He’s 6-foot-6, and he’s only 22 years old. This will give the coaching staff to see what they have in this young prospect.