2018 Detroit News top 20 Detroit Red Wings prospects

1. Michael Rasmussen, center. Age: 19. Height/weight: 6-6/221. 2017-18 stats: Tri-City (WHL) – 47 games, 31 goals, 28 assists, 59 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2017, first round (No. 9 overall). Skinny: Rasmussen appears certain to begin his NHL career next season, probably on the wing, easing him into the pros. Rasmussen impressed in September's training camp with his maturity, poise and determination. He doesn't have elite speed, but makes up for it in so many other areas.

2. Dennis Cholowski, defenseman. Age: 20. Height/weight: 6-1/200. 2017-18 stats: Prince George, Portland (WHL) combined – 69 games, 14 goals, 52 assists, 66 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2016, first round (No. 20 overall). Skinny: He was a force in junior hockey last season after a disappointing college season at St. Cloud State in 2016-17. An outstanding skater who makes a fine first pass, Cholowski has an array of offensive tools. He can earn an NHL roster spot if he dazzles in training camp, but likely needs seasoning in Grand Rapids.

3. Evgeny Svechnikov, right wing. Age: 21. Height/weight: 6-3/216. 2017-18 stats: Detroit (NHL), Grand Rapids (AHL) combined – 71 games, nine goals, 18 assists, 27 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2015, first round (No. 19 overall). Skinny: He took a step back after a 20-goal season in Grand Rapids a year ago. Not making the Red Wings out of training camp seemed to deflate Svechnikov, who never really got going. An impressive training camp could send Svechnikov to the NHL in October.

4. Filip Hronek, defenseman. Age: 20. Height/weight: 6-0/178. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL) – 67 games, 11 goals, 28 assists, 39 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2016, second round (No. 53 overall). Skinny: He was one of the most improved players on the Griffins' roster over the course of the season. Hronek isn't the biggest guy around, but plays with a lot of heart and isn't afraid to mix it up physically. He's further along offensively, including showing a real awareness on the power play.

5. Joe Hicketts, defenseman. Age: 22. Height/weight: 5-8/180 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL), Detroit (NHL) combined – 72 games, three goals, 12 assists, 15 points. Acquired: Undrafted free agent. Skinny: Hicketts, much like Svechnikov, took a bit of a step back. His five-game promotion to the NHL, in some ways, might have been some of Hicketts' best hockey. Nobody will ever doubt Hicketts' passion and desire – he has a ton of it – but the lack of size and the defensive miscues continue to be concerns.

6. Vili Saarijarvi, defenseman. Age: 21. Height/weight: 5-10/165. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL), Toledo (ECHL) combined – 52 games, two goals, 15 assists, 17 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2015, third round (No. 73 overall). Skinny: He began the season in Toledo where he eventually earned a promotion after dominating in the ECHL. Another smallish, offensive defenseman who plays a little bigger than he is, Saarijarvi needs more time in the AHL, but has shown the ability to play with the Red Wings in the future.

7. Gustav Lindstrom, defenseman. Age: 19. Height/weight: 6-2/187. 2017-18 stats: Almtuna IS (Sweden) – 39 games, six goals, eight assists, 14 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2017, second round (No. 38 overall). Skinny: Lindstrom likely isn't ever going to be a high-profile star, but could be the type of player who'll play in the NHL for a decade. He played well at the world juniors against elite competition. He's steady defensively, and can make a fine first pass.

8. Dominic Turgeon, center. Age: 22. Height/weight: 6-2/200. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL), Detroit (NHL) combined – 74 games, 14 goals, 18 assists, 32 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2014, third round (No. 63 overall). Skinny: He likely isn't going to be an elite offensive player in the NHL, but could be a mainstay in the bottom-six forwards and fine penalty killer for many years. Turgeon knows his role, and works hard to be a success in that spot in the lineup.

9. Libor Sulak, defenseman. Age: 24. Height/weight: 6-2/189, 2017-18 stats: Pelicans (SM Iiiga, Finland), Grand Rapids (AHL) combined – 44 games, nine goals, 25 assists, 34 points. Acquired: Undrafted free agent. Skinny: Very raw when the Red Wings signed him a year ago, Sulak has refined some of his skills and remains an intriguing prospect. Sulak needs to gain strength, and isn't ready defensively, but the potential is interesting.

10. Filip Larsson, goaltender. Age: 19. Height/weight: 6-2/196. 2017-18 stats: Tri-City (USHL) – 18-10-0, 1.65 GAA, .941 SVS. Acquired: Drafted, 2016, sixth round (No. 167 overall). Skinny: Larsson is a long way from the NHL, but he gave the organization reason for optimism with his season in junior hockey. Has a good glove, and minimizes his movement in the crease. Larsson will play collegiately at Denver.

11. David Pope, left wing. Age: 23. Height/weight: 6-3/200. 2017-18 stats: Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) – 35 games, 20 goals, 21 assists, 41 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2013, fourth round (No. 109 overall). Skinny: Pope played four seasons at Nebraska-Omaha and signed with the Red Wings recently. He's put in substantial work over the last few summers with Wings' skills coaches, and it's helped. He has outside chance of making the roster in October.

12. Givani Smith, right wing. Age: 20. Height/weight: 6-2/209. 2017-18 stats: Guelph, Kitchener (OHL) combined – 46 games, 17 goals, 13 assists, 30 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2016, second round (No. 46 overall). Skinny: Smith is an aggressive power forward who doesn't mind playing physically. The offense hasn't yet come along, but the Red Wings hope it does. He will start his pro career in Grand Rapids in October.

13. Christoffer Ehn, center. Age: 22. Height/weight: 6-2/180. 2017-18 stats: Frolunda HC (Sweden) – 50 games, seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2014, fourth round (No. 106 overall). Skinny: He has stayed in Sweden since being drafted, and gotten stronger physically. An outstanding skater and strong defensively, Ehn (21) will play in Grand Rapids next season.

14. Kasper Kotkansalo, defenseman. Age: 19. Height/weight: 6-2/200. 2017-18 stats: Boston University (NCAA) – 40 games, two goals, four assists, six points. Acquired: Drafted, 2017, third round (No. 71 overall). Skinny: Kotkansalo acquitted himself nicely in a tough league as a freshman, and further stamped himself as a legitimate prospect. He is a defensive defenseman who is sturdy and tough-minded.

15. Keith Petruzzelli, goaltender. Age: 19. Height/weight: 6-5/180. 2017-18 stats: Quinnipiac (NCAA) – 5-6-2, 2.88 GAA, .892 save percentage. Acquired: Drafted, 2017, third round (No. 88 overall). Skinny: He struggled in his freshman debut, but steadily improved over the season. Tall and rangy, Petruzzelli developed a better understanding on how to read plays and his footwork is consistently improving.

16. Patrik Rybar, goaltender. Age: 24. Height/weight: 6-2/165. 2017-18 stats: Hradec Kralove (Czech Republic) – 23-13-0, 1.73 GAA, .931 save percentage. Acquired: Undrafted free agent. Skinny: Rybar was signed this spring after impressive play in the Czech Republic, then at the world championships. The Red Wings like his athleticism and has a chance to play in Grand Rapids next season.

17. Axel Holmstrom, center. Age: 21. Height/weight: 6-0/200. 2017-18 stats: Grand Rapids (AHL) – 66 games, seven goals, 19 assists, 26 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2014, seventh round (No. 196 overall). Skinny: He struggled in his first year of pro hockey in North America, adjusting to the smaller ice surface and the pace. The skill level is impressive, though, and the organization remains hopeful.

18. Jack Adams, center. Age: 21. Height/weight: 6-5/210. 2017-18 stats: Union (NCAA) – 28 games, four goals, nine assists, 13 points. Acquired: Drafted, 2017, sixth round (No. 162 overall). Skinny: Adams is a big, rangy forward who scored 37 goals in the USHL, but found the adjustment to college last season difficult. Still, Adams has size, good hands, and flashes raw skills that could develop in the future.

19. Malte Setkov, defenseman. Age: 19. Height/weight: 6-5/170. 2017-18 stats: Pantern IK (Sweden) – 26 games, 0 goals, two assists, two points. Acquired: Drafted, 2017, fourth round (No. 100 overall). Skinny: Setkov battled pneumonia this season, which kept him out of the lineup and badly needed ice time. A fine skater, Setkov needs to grow into his body and learn the finer points of defensive hockey. The size and mobility are intriguing.