The Detroit News' top 25 Red Wings prospects

1. Michael Rasmussen, 6-foot-6, 221 pounds, center. 2017-18 stats: Tri-City (WHL) — 47 games, 31 goals, 28 assists. Acquired: 2017, first round, No. 9 overall. Skinny: It would be shocking, at this point, if Rasmussen doesn’t begin the season in the NHL. He impressed, again, at the recent development camp, not only with his skills but with his maturity and desire to live up to other people’s expectations. He isn’t likely to be awed by the NHL.

2. Filip Zadina, 6-foot, 196 pounds, right wing. 2017-18 stats: Halifax (QMJHL) — 57 games, 44 goals, 38 assists. Acquired: 2018, first round, No. 6 overall. Skinny: Projected to be drafted in the top five in June’s Entry Draft, Zadina somehow fell to the Red Wings. And they are very, very pleased. Zadina has a certain type of star quality on and off the ice and, simply put, his ability to score goals will come in handy for a Wings’ roster that needs it.

3. Dennis Cholowski, 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: Prince George and Portland (WHL) — 69 games, 14 goals, 52 assists. Acquired: 2016, first round, No. 20 overall. Skinny: Cholowski looked stronger, more self-assured and confident at this year’s development camp than he has in any other camp. He looks ready to begin his pro career, likely in Grand Rapids, but it shouldn’t take long before Cholowski gets promoted to the NHL.

4. Filip Hronek, 6-foot, 178 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL) — 67 games, 11 goals, 28 assists. Acquired: 2016, second round, No. 53 overall. Skinny: Flip a coin between Dennis Cholowski and Hronek as to who is the defenseman with the most potential in the organization. Hronek showed dramatic improvement in Grand Rapids from the start of the season to the end. He plays with a lot of heart and isn’t afraid to mix it up physically.

5. Evgeny Svechnikov, 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, right wing. 2017-18 stats: Detroit (NHL) and Grand Rapids (AHL) — 71 games, nine goals, 18 assists. Acquired: 2015, first round, No. 19 overall. Skinny: With the addition of Filip Zadina, the logjam of forwards on the NHL roster and the drafting of Joe Veleno and Jonas Berggren, you get the sense this is an important season for Svechnikov. He needs to rebound from a largely mediocre season.

6. Joe Veleno, 6-foot-1, 191 pounds, center. 2017-18 stats: Saint John and Drummondville (QMJHL) — 64 games, 22 goals, 57 assists. Acquired: 2018, first round, No. 30 overall. Skinny: Another projected mid first-round pick who fell to the Wings, Veleno is a pass-first center who doesn’t give up on a shift and has the speed to make impactful plays. He could be effective in a variety of roles.

7. Joe Hicketts, 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL) and Detroit (NHL) — 72 games, three goals, 12 assists. Acquired: Undrafted free agent. Skinny: Hicketts, much like Evgeny Svechnikov, took a bit of a step back. Nobody will ever doubt Hicketts’ passion and desire, but the lack of size and the defensive miscues continue to be concerns. Hicketts is in the mix for the one vacant roster spot available on the Wings, but he has a lot of competition.

8. Jonatan Berggren, 5-foot-10, 181 pounds, right wing. 2017-18 stats: Skelleftea (Sweden) — 38 games, 18 goals, 39 assists. Acquired: 2018, second round, No. 33 overall. Skinny: Many mock drafts had Berggren being drafted in the first round, but he fell to the Wings in Round 2. Effective at both ends of the rink, Berggren’s speed can be a difference-maker.

9. Vili Saarijarvi, 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL) and Toledo (ECHL) — 52 games, two goals, 15 assists. Acquired: 2015, third round, No. 73 overall. Skinny: Saarijarvi is another smallish, offensive defenseman in the organization who plays a little bigger than he is. He likely needs more time in the AHL but has shown the offensive potential to be an NHL player. Saarijarvi will be in the mix for the open roster spot in training camp.

10. Gustav Lindstrom, 6-foot-2, 187 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: Almtuna IS (Sweden) — 39 games, six goals, eight assists. Acquired: 2017, second round, No. 38 overall. Skinny: Lindstrom was limited toward the end of the development camp because of an aching back, but again showed enough to be an NHL prospect. He should gain valuable experience this season playing for a top Swedish junior team. He's steady defensively and can make a fine first pass.

11. Jared McIsaac, 6-foot-1, 193 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: Halifax (QMJHL) — 65 games, nine goals, 38 assists. Acquired: 2018, second round, No. 36 overall. Skinny: McIsaac dropped into the Wings’ laps in Round 2 after many mock drafts had him going in the bottom half of the first round. Some scouts feel he’s a top-four caliber defenseman on a team, while others aren’t so sure.

12. Dominic Turgeon, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, center. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL) and Detroit (NHL) — 74 games, 14 goals, 18 assists. Acquired: 2014, third round, No. 63 overall. Skinny: Turgeon likely isn’t going to be an elite offensive player in the NHL, but he could be a mainstay in the bottom-six forwards and a fine penalty killer for many years. He knows and understands his role. The logjam among Wings’ forwards will likely hurt Turgeon’s chances to make the NHL this autumn.

13. Libor Sulak, 6-foot-2, 189 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: SM Iiiga (Finland) and Grand Rapids (AHL) — 44 games, nine goals, 25 assists. Acquired: Undrafted free agent. Skinny: Sulak is in the mix for the vacant roster spot on defense with the Wings. Some might consider Sulak the dark horse but given his age and pro experience, don’t be surprised if he emerges as the winner. He's very raw but has refined some of his skills and remains an intriguing prospect.

14. Givani Smith, 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, right wing. 2017-18 stats: Guelph and Kitchener (OHL) — 46 games, 17 goals, 13 assists. Acquired: 2016, second round, No. 46 overall. Skinny: Smith had a real good development camp. He looked big and strong, and skated with a purpose. An aggressive power forward who doesn’t mind playing physically, the offense hasn’t yet come along for Smith but the Red Wings hope it does. He’ll start the season in Grand Rapids.

15. Filip Larsson, 6-foot-2, 196 pounds, goaltender. 2017-18 stats: Tri-City (USHL) — 18-10-0 record, .941 save percentage. Acquired: 2016, sixth round, No. 167 overall. Skinny: In an organization that needs young goaltenders to begin showing growth, Larsson appears to be a bit further ahead than the others. Larsson, 19, is a long way from the NHL, but he gave the organization reason for optimism this past season. He has a good glove and minimizes his movement in the crease. Larsson will play collegiality at Denver.

16. David Pope, 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, left wing. 2017-18 stats: Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) — 35 games, 20 goals, 21 assists. Acquired: 2013, fourth round, No. 109 overall. Skinny: Pope, 23, played four seasons at Nebraska-Omaha and signed with the Red Wings this spring. His calling card is a wicked shot, but he needs to develop the other parts of his game to have a firm chance of making the NHL roster in October.

17. Kasper Kotkansalo, 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, defenseman 2017-18 stats: Boston University (NCAA) — 40 games, two goals, four assists Acquired: 2017, third round, No. 71 overall Skinny: He's behind some others right now on the defensive depth chart, but Kotkansalo is the type who could move ahead quickly because of his simple but effective game. A defensive defenseman who is sturdy and tough-minded, he had a good freshman season in a tough league.

18. Keith Petruzzelli, 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, goaltender. 2017-18 stats: Quinnipiac (NCAA) — 5-6-2 record, .892 save percentage. Acquired: 2017, third round, No. 88 overall. Skinny: He had a rough freshman season, but Petruzzelli showed some potential late. Tall and rangy, Petruzzelli is learning how to read plays and his footwork is improving.

19. Christoffer Ehn, 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, center. 2017-18 stats: Frolunda HC (Sweden) — 50 games, seven goals, 10 assists. Acquired: 2014, fourth round, No. 106 overall. Skinny: Ehn has stayed in Sweden since being drafted, getting stronger physically and maturing on and off the ice. An outstanding skater and strong defensively, Ehn will play in Grand Rapids next season.

20. Patrik Rybar, 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, goaltender. 2017-18 stats: Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic) — 23-13-0 record, .931 save percentage. Acquired: Undrafted free agent. Skinny: Rybar, 24, was signed this spring after impressive play in the Czech Republic and at the world championships. The Red Wings like his athleticism and he has a chance to play in Grand Rapids next season. Rybar has an edge on younger goaltending prospects given his pro experience.

21. Malte Setkov, 6-foot-5, 170 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: Pantern IK (Sweden) — 26 games, no goals, two assists. Acquired: 2017, fourth round, No. 100 overall. Skinny: Setkov battled pneumonia this season, which kept him out of the lineup and badly needed ice time. Gangly and desperately in need to grow into his body, Setkov remains an intriguing prospect because he’s a fine skater, mobile and has offensive potential.

22. Alec Regula, 6-foot-4, 203 pounds, defenseman. 2017-18 stats: London (OHL) — 67 games, seven goals, 18 assists. Acquired: 2018, third round, No. 67 overall. Skinny: The former Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood product has risen through the ranks in juniors and should have a big role in London this winter. Regula is mobile, has size, and isn’t awed by the NHL. He’s an intriguing prospect.

23. Axel Holmstrom, 6-foot, 200 pounds, center. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL) — 66 games, seven goals, 19 assists. Acquired: 2014, seventh round, No. 196 overall. Skinny: Holmstrom struggled in his first year of pro hockey adjusting to the smaller ice surface and the pace in North America. The skill level is impressive and the organization remains hopeful, though the depth could crowd Holmstrom out eventually.

24. Jack Adams, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, center. 2017-18 stats: Union (NCAA) — 28 games, four goals, nine assists. Acquired: 2017, sixth round, No. 162 overall. Skinny: Adams isn’t an elite skater and needs to get stronger defensively, but he remains on the radar because of his size and ability to score goals. Adams scored 37 goals in the USHL in 2016-17 but found the adjustment to college last season difficult. He had some positive moments during the development camp.