In Red Wings Land

Ranking the five best prospect teams to watch for future NHL talent | ESPN ($)

1. Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL

Because of the way the Detroit Red Wings have drafted recently, and due to the circumstances of this being a rebuilding year, fans can see five of the organization’s past six first-round draft picks in one place. The Griffins’ roster includes 2019 first-round defenseman Moritz Seider, 2018 selections Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno, 2015 first-rounder Evgeni Svechnikov and 2017 first-rounder Michael Rasmussen, who spent all of the previous season with Detroit but was sent down to get more reps at his natural position of center.

This article is behind a paywall, but the Red Wings farm team is ranked at the top of the list.

PROSPECT NEED TO KNOW: WHAT TY SMITH CAN ACCOMPLISH BACK IN SPOKANE | The Hockey News

DET: I asked Toronto’s Mac Hollowell recently who his toughest opponent was at the Traverse City tourney this fall: “Filip Zadina was pretty fast and elusive,” he said. “He was hard to defend.”

Man, when it all finally clicks for Zadina — and it will — he’s going to be one fun player to watch.

Around the League

Looking at what’s worked for Oilers GM Ken Holland so far this season | Sportsnet

What’s worked for Holland is having Connor McDavid on his roster. Jokes aside, getting rid of Milan Lucic and his terrible was a good move.