Red Wings Prospect Report: Goals Galore at World Juniors

There are only four Detroit Red Wings prospects playing in this year’s IIHF World Junior Championship. Yet three days into competition, all four have made their mark.

Saturday, forward Max Plante (47th, 2024 NHL entry draft) was scoring for the USA in their 5-1 win over Latvia. Friday saw forward Jesse Kiiskiken tallying for Finland in a 3-1 victory against Germany. Detroit was picking up Kiiskinen’s rights last summer in a trade with the Nashville Predators.

Max Plante goes upstairs for his first of the tournament! @USAHockey | @UMDMensHockey | @DetroitRedWings | #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/Krv8Su1Hi7

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) December 28, 2024

On Dec. 26, the opening day of the tourney, defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th overall, 2023 draft) was netting a hat-trick and also dishing out an assist as Sweden beat Slovakia. Goalie Trey Augustine (41st overall, 2023 draft) was posting the win for the USA against the Germans.

Red Wings Pick Finally Tastes Victory

It’s been a rough season for Leksands in the SHL. However, they were ending a seven-game losing skid on Saturday, downing Rogle 2-0. It was the club’s first win since Nov. 23.

Red Wings prospect defenseman Anton Johansson (105th overall, 2022) was expressing a sense of relief on behalf of all of his teammates.

It is an incredible relief to win hockey matches because we have had a tougher period,” Johansson told Swedish website Aftonbladet. “It was important for us.

“We have a little dip here and there, but not like we had in previous matches. That is why we are winning today.”

Elsewhere in the SHL, winger Michael Brandsegg Nygard (15th overall, 2024 draft) was dishing out an assist as Skelleftea was blanking Frolunda 5-0.

Buchelnikov On Target Again

In Russia’s KHL, winger Dmitri Buchelnikov (52nd overall, 2022) was getting on the board as Vityaz fell 5-3 to league leaders Lokotmoviv.

Buuuuch!

Dmitry Buchelnikov's wrister is lethal. His 10th goal of the season! pic.twitter.com/1ebzHn9EpH

— KHL (@khl_eng) December 27, 2024

It was the 10th goal of the season for Buchelnikov, who has accounted for 33 points in 38 games.

Much like the NHL squad he hopes to one day play for, Buchelnikov’s current club is also watching their playoff hopes slipping away. Vityaz is now five points out of a postseason position.