The Detroit Red Wings have announced that center Nate Danielson has been recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The ninth overall pick at the 2023 NHL Draft, Danielson is now in line to make his NHL debut at the earliest in today’s matinee contest against the Chicago Blackhawks or in Thursday’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
The 21-year-old center began this season injured before he was reassigned to the AHL on Oct. 24. It took just four games in the AHL (where he scored five points) for Danielson to earn a recall to the team’s NHL roster.
The former Brandon Wheat Kings captain is in his second season playing professional hockey. He scored 12 goals and 39 points in 72 games for Grand Rapids last season, and added a goal in three playoff contests.
Entering the season, Danielson was ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the Red Wings’ system by Elite Prospects, though his ranking there can vary, as The Athletic’s Corey Pronman slotted Danielson as the team’s No. 1 prospect in August. Pronman wrote that he sees Danielson as a future top-six center, while Elite Prospects projects him more as a middle-six pivot.
Whatever his ultimate NHL role may be, it’s unlikely he’ll take up that role in Detroit any time soon. All four of the Red Wings’ NHL centers (Dylan Larkin, J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp, Michael Rasmussen) are under contract at least through 2026-27, and they have a combined cap hit of nearly $23MM.
One of those players could be shifted to the wing, of course, as could Danielson, but it’s important to nonetheless note how set-in-stone things appear to be at center for the Red Wings in this short-term future, and that’s before even bringing up the fact that the team’s top pick from 2022, Marco Kasper, is a natural center.
Having an abundance of capable NHL pivots is hardly a problem, and the addition of Danielson only further enhances the team’s depth in that area. He’s not yet proven himself at the NHL level, of course, but if his AHL performances are any indication, it would seem that Danielson has a long NHL career ahead of him.
Thanks to this recall, that NHL career could start very soon.
Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Yay!
I hope Shine/Leonard get call ups at some point
Red Wings are now in the midst of the annual early season slide which will coincide with their late season swoon in March with both resulting in them missing the playoffs…AGAIN!!!
It is a familiar, and unfortunately an annual pattern. Playing down to the level of the competition becomes the norm for the Wings and when they need to ramp it up, it just isn’t there any more. Games are like practicing, riding the brakes becomes phoning it in, and after a few weeks, that is exactly how all games are being played. Bowman didn’t care how much you got paid or what your name was, perform every shift or sit. No one should be hiding out on the 3rd or 4th lines. Its time for those guys to either move it or lose it. This is pro sports not mite hockey.
From yesterday’s game, “Scratches Detroit Red Wings: Jacob Bernard-Docker, Michael Rasmussen, Jonatan Berggren”
A good start, sit these non producers. If they are unable to take another step forward, move them to the AHL. Lots of good money paid for sub par effort, not sure if the talent is really there or was just a fantasy.
Only soviet style discipline can turn this team around but its just not possible in our day in age. This team has shown it has enough talent to hang in any game. The players just decide not to show up and one-by-one a chain reaction starts
Detroit has backed off the aggressive and constant, -meaning 60 minutes- forechecking and back checking in recent weeks. D zone lapses allowing opponents primo positions (and shots) are returning. Perhaps that is also a symptom of the weak, non aggressive backchecking. Hard to tell for sure watching he TV coverage. I really don’t need to see the whiskers on the face of the puck carrier on those tight shots of them on the break out…..that is when the DO get an organized break out going.
In this season, the Wing’s initial energy and aggressive play looked like they might actually have what it takes for a run at a playoff spot this season. However, during and since their recent road trip, they look to be our of energy. Outlet plays seem to have few options, has play without the puck evaporated? At times they look a bit lost for some reason. Can’t quit put a finger on it.
Well, our Jekyll and Hyde Redwings, Mr. Hyde showed up for the Anaheim game last night. Looked like the start of the season Wings again. Not fancy, just aggressive and energetic hockey against another high flying team.