One of my favorite argument against the Red Wings was they’re too old and their success is coming to an end because of it. This is an argument that critics of the team have been throwing out there since the early 2000’s and yet Ken Holland still manages to rebuild and keep them competitive in the process.
Even this past the Wings had a nice complement of older veterans, players in their prime and young players just breaking in.
But what about the next group that will keep critics looking for other excuses for a Red Wings downfall?
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News takes a look at the next crop of Red Wings stars that we could see up with the team as early as next season.
* Jan Mursak , left wing: Mursak, 23, played 19 games with the Wings this past season and is likely to secure a regular role next season. He only scored one goal, but that won’t be his role. Mursak is a grinder, and showed an ability to be a first-rate checker.
* Brendan Smith , defenseman: Arguably the best prospect in the Wings’ system. Smith, 21, was one of the best defensemen in the American Hockey League last season, showing the capability to be an elite puck-mover, a great passer. Smith could use some extra work in Grand Rapids because of his defense, but he likely has a long NHL career ahead of him.
* Cory Emmerton , center: Emmerton is out of minor league options, and could be ready to stick at the NHL level. He’s got good size (6-foot, 190 pounds) and is smart with the puck.
* Calle Jarnkrok , center: Keep this name in the back of your mind. Jarnkrok is only 19 and he won’t be in Detroit for at least a couple more years. But once he fills out physically (5-11, 165 pounds), this second-round pick could be a steal. Scouts view him as Henrik Zetterberg clone, a strong two-way player.
* Gustav Nyquist , center: A former Hobey Baker Award finalist (college hockey’s Hesiman Trophy) at Maine, Nyquist had four points (one goal) in eight games with Grand Rapids to finish the season. He’s not big (5-11, 170 pounds) but awfully fast and creative, and he works hard defensively.
* Riley Sheahan , center: As a freshman at Notre Dame, Sheahan had 17 points (six goals) in 37 games, one of the few freshman to play regularlay in the CCHA. Sheahan has good size (6-2, 200 pounds) and the Wings project him as a powerful two-way center down the line.
Source: Detroit News
