Red Wings Aren’t Second Best . . . At Least Not Yet

Griffins Are Loaded With Red Wings’ Second Rounders

In the midst of the AHL Calder Cup playoffs, the Griffins are well-stocked with Detroit second-round picks. Defensemen Antti Tuomisto (35th, 2019), William Wallinder (32nd, 2020), and Shai Buium (36th, 2021) are playing in Grand Rapids.

Goalie Trey Augustine (41st, 2023) and forwards Dylan James (40th, 2022) and Eddie Genborg (44th, 2025) are also with the Griffins.

Two other second-rounders remain in the college ranks. Minnesota-Duluth forward Max Plante (47th, 2024) just won the Hobey Baker Award as the most outstanding player in NCAA hockey. Defenseman Brady Cleveland (47th, 2023) will be entering his senior year at Minnesota-Duluth in the fall.

Plenty of Potential For Further Development

While only one of them is currently in the Red Wings, to write off Detroit’s second-round crop as a bust is both short-sighted and patently untrue. Players such as Genborg, Plante, Augustine, and Wallinder are all legitimate NHL hopefuls.

Research shows that 42% of second-round draft picks end up playing in the NHL. That means seven of Detroit’s 15 selections would need to make the show for the Red Wings to clear that bar.

It’s not unreasonable to think that could happen. Yes, it’s much too early to describe Yzerman’s second-round class as a success story. However, to categorize it as a failure at this juncture is an equally false narrative.

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