Red Wings Top Prospects Progressing; Injured Mazur Out Another Month

On a day when it made sense to look at the Detroit Red Wings from a big picture perspective, GM Steve Yzerman offered positive assessments of key prospects.

Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka (drafted 17th, 2023) got Yzerman’s attention Thursday at the World Junior Championships by netting a hat trick in a 5-2 win against Slovakia. He boasted 11 shots on goal.

“He looks like a talented young defenseman,” Yzerman said. “He’s playing in the Swedish Elite League, which is a very good league, doing well….I’m not sure how far (away he is)…Is it one year? Is it next September? Is it next December or the following year? I’m not sure. But he’s close to playing”.

Russian forward Dimitri Buchelnikov (nine goals, 22 assists for 31 points in 35 games) is 13th in the KHL scoring race.

“That’s a little bit of a different circumstance with the players playing in Russia,” Yzerman said. “We’re optimistic that he’ll be here. Will it be one, two, three years? I’m really not sure, but he’s an intriguing young prospect.”

No Timetable

Yzerman also provided an update on Grand Rapids Griffins forward Carter Mazur who offers a spunky playing style and a scoring touch.

“We think very highly of Carter Mazur,” Yzerman said.  “Carter got hurt early in the season, hasn’t played. We expect him back in a month. Does that delay his timeline to get to the NHL? Perhaps, but we’re encouraged by some of the younger players that we have, and again, we’ll transition or they’ll move into the NHL. Over the course of…maybe even later this season, some of the kids in Grand Rapids move them in next fall again and gradually, you know, build a core.”

The Red Wings don’t have exact timetables for their prospects

“It’s then getting them here and then them being impact players, and really being difference makers,” Yzerman said. “And that takes a couple years as well for the vast majority of these young kids.  They work their way into the NHL. They can play in the NHL, then they help you win in the NHL.