How Long Will It Take for Red Wings to Call-up Danielson?

At a time when Marco Kasper is on the Detroit Red Wings’ second line and Jonatan Berggren is one of the team’s hot scorers, it seems fair to wonder how long it will take Nate Danielson to join the younger forward group.

Danielson, five months younger than Kasper, has one goal and four assists for five points in his last five games for the surging Grand Rapid Griffins. They take an 11-3-1 record into tonight’s home game against the Iowa Wild at Van Andel Arena. This is the team’s second-best start for 15 games in franchise history.

With eight points in his first 15 games this season, Danielson has the exact total Kasper showed last season at this time.

“I think the first couple of games was just trying to getting used to it,” Danielson said. “I think it was a big adjustment from junior. The first four or five games was getting used to it. Feeling a lot more comfortable and confident now.”

The Red Wings will likely want to see Danielson play a full AHL season like Kasper did in 2023-24. Kasper was more effective in the second half of last season than he was in the first half. But every season is different, and each player develops at a different place.

Danielson Needs Seasoning

Kasper played 73 AHL games and nine playoff games before he was recalled this season. The Austrian center is just starting to find his game at the NHL level after 15 games: He has three points, including two goals, in his past four games. He led Detroit with four shots on goal in a 2-1 win against the Islanders Thursday.

Thus far, Danielson has played two AHL playoff games (last season), plus his 15 regular-season games. But it’s not unthinkable that the Red Wings might call him up to get a taste of the NHL.  It will depend on how the Red Wings are playing and if Danielson starts to put up even better offensive numbers.

Danielson was the No. 9 pick in the 2023 NHL draft, and nine first rounders from that class have already appeared in an NHL game. Five of those players — Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks), Leo Carlsson (Anaheim Ducks), Adam Fantelli (Columbus Blue Jackets), William Smith (San Jose Sharks), Matvei Michkov (Philadelphia Flyers) were picked ahead of Danielson.

But Zach Benson (Buffalo Sabres) was drafted 14th, and he played 71 games in the NHL last season and 13 more this season for Buffalo. Left wing Samuel Honzek (Calgary Flames, 16th), center Calum Ritchie (Colorado Avalanche, 27th) and center Bradly Nadeau (Carolina Hurricanes) have all played a smattering of games.