This is the most current version of my semi-quasi-tri-annual prospect rankings. These were done in the summer of 2010. It does not include 2010 draft picks -- that'll be in the fall version. Check out the draft review for information on those fellas.

Right here is where you can access -- at any time, free of charge -- previous versions of these rankings.

January 2008
April 2008 (21-30) (11-20) (1-10)
August 2008
December 2008
April 2009 (31-39) (21-30) (11-20) (1-10)
August 2009
December 2009 (20-38) (1-19)
Summer 2010 (31-39) (21-30) (11-20) (1-10)

1. Tomas Tatar, LW (-) [+9]
2nd round, 60th overall, 2009
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Stats
08/09 .. HKM Zvolen (SVK) .. 48 GP .. 7-8-15 .. 20 PIM
08/09 .. HK Detva (SVK-2) .. 1 GP .. 1-1-2 .. 2 PIM
08/09 .. Slovakia (WJC) .. 7 GP .. 7-4-11 .. 4 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 58 GP .. 16-16-32 .. +8 .. 12 PIM
09/10 .. Slovakia (WJC) .. 6 GP .. 3-2-5 .. 6 PIM
09/10 .. Slovakia (WC) .. 6 GP .. 2-0-2 .. 4 PIM
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Season: Tatar's season started with some uncertainty. He was a high draft pick in the CHL Import Draft by the Kitchener Rangers (rights later traded to the more local Plymouth Whalers). Detroit indicated that they had some interest in watching him in the OHL, where he likely would have been one of the top scorers in the league. Tatar wanted to play with men, so his top two choices were Grand Rapids or back in the top Slovak league. Despite being the youngest player in the league, Tatar worked his way into the lineup and became one of the hottest players in the league in the middle of the season. He cooled down by the end of the year, but still sat among team leaders in scoring, even missing games due to work permit issues at the beginning of the year, and a two week stint with Slovakia at the World Junior Championships, where he first rose to prominence as a prospect after a successful 2009 tournament. His tournament was not as successful, nor was Slovakia as a whole, but it was enough for him to draw consideration for the Olympic team, as well as a spot on their team at the World Championships.
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Future: Tatar retains his spot on top after being not only an exciting prospect who surpassed all expectations, but truly one of the most offensively-gifted players in the AHL. I'm not as concerned about him cooling off later in the season because Griffins' coach Curt Fraser did not really lean on young players the way most coaches do when their team is out of the playoff hunt. Tatar has two more years remaining on his entry-level contract. He has no problems playing in the AHL despite his size, so it seems that a little more consistency with his scoring and a continued effort to improve his already much-improved two-way game will get him an NHL call-up before those two years are over.
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2. Brendan Smith, D (+1) [+2]
1st round, 27th overall, 2007
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Stats
08/09 .. Wisconsin (WCHA) .. 31 GP .. 9-14-23 .. 75 PIM
09/10 .. Wisconsin (WCHA) .. 42 GP .. 15-37-52 .. 76 PIM
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Season: This season was a big deal for Smith. Due to injuries and a desperate need to make up for lost time in his defensive game (Smith was a forward up until the start of 2006-07), he only showed flashes off the game-breaking offensive ability that made him a coveted first round pick in June of 2007. Smith was actually a healthy scratch for the second game of the season, and that was all he needed as a wakeup call. He ignited his offensive came, quickly matching the totals he put up as a sophomore and going on to nearly double them. He was considered a front-runner for the Hobey Baker Award -- the award for the best collegiate hockey player. He made the cut down to the final ten nominees, but eventually the trophy was awarded to his teammate and Nashville Predators prospect, Blake Geoffrion. Still, Smith, who led all NCAA defensemen in scoring, helped Wisconsin climb all the way to the NCAA Championship game (courtesy of an NCAA record-tying five assists in their Frozen Four match against RIT), where they were defeated by Boston College. Still, the accolades rolled on for him: NCAA All-West Regional Team, WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, All-WCHA First Team, WCHA Defensive player of the Week (3x), INCH National Defenseman of the Year, AHCA/Reebok West First Team All-American, and WCHA Player of the Month in December. And, according to his profile on the Badgers' official site, he scored more points than the entire defensive corps of eight different D-1 teams. His award-laden season was unfortunately ended with a black mark, as Smith, who has in the past gotten in trouble while under the influence of alcohol, punched someone in the face at a party and is facing charges for it.
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Future: Like most top prospects do, Smith announced he was going to skip his senior season and signed an entry-level contract in late May. Smith got a ton of national attention for his strong play down the stretch, and many think he can make to the jump to the NHL. These people probably aren't aware that he was drafted by Detroit, though, because the Wings likely wouldn't rush him into the NHL given that they have no room. Either way, a strong training camp for him could potentially make him a top injury call-up. With Jakub Kindl moving on, Grand Rapids needs another #1 defenseman. It's not absurd to say that could be Smith by the end of the season.
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3. Jakub Kindl, D (-1) [-1]
1st round, 19th overall, 2005
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 78 GP .. 6-27-33 .. -14 .. 76 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 73 GP .. 3-30-33 .. -3 .. 59 PIM
09/10 .. Detroit (NHL) .. 3 GP .. 0-0-0 .. -2 .. 0 PIM
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Season: Kindl has struggled to really make the jump to the level of play Detroit thought he was capable of, but they showed confidence in him when they gave him a three-year, one-way contract extension that kicks in starting next season. This led to some confidence for Kindl, but he still hasn't found his game professionally. He's been solid -- he quarterbacks the powerplay and looks like a natural at times, he's become more physical, and his defensive play has come a long way, but Kindl has a lot more talent than his point totals indicate. He finally got his first taste of NHL hockey courtesy of three games in Detroit, where he played third pairing minutes with some powerplay. He was understandably a bit nervous, but showed great composure and gained many fans' confidence in him for next season.
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Future: The 30 players drafted in the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft have combined to play 3,435 games in the NHL, and only three of those belong to Kindl. Yes, it's been a while since he was drafted. He'll finally help to increase that number because he's going to be a full-time NHL player next season. His spot isn't guaranteed though. He'll likely battle Jonathan Ericsson for ice time on the bottom pairing with whichever one or two of Andreas Lilja and Mebdeech Detroit decides to bring back. It's tough to say where he fits in, but Jimmy Howard proved that sometimes all you need is better teammates. Having a more skilled core of players around him that mesh better with his puck control ability and creative style could lead to a productive rookie season that involves major minutes on the second powerplay unit.
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4. Gustav Nyquist, LW (+2) [+7]
4th round, 121st overall, 2008
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Stats
08/09 .. Maine (HE) .. 38 GP .. 13-19-32 .. 28 PIM
09/10 .. Maine (HE) .. 39 GP .. 19-42-61 .. 20 PIM
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Season: Detroit doesn't have a ton of collegiate prospects, but they do have some good ones. While Brendan Smith led all NCAA defensemen in scoring, Nyquist led all forwards. And he did so quite comfortably, nearly doubling the point totals from his freshman season that got him on his conference's all-rookie team. Some thought Nyquist was just a good player on a bad Maine team last season, but he's proving that's not the case. This season, he was the best player on a good Maine team, and proved to be one of the nation's most dangerous offensive players. Nyquist is compared at times to Henrik Zetterberg as a compliment to his complete game. He doesn't always have the elite level skills, but he thinks the game so well and competes at both ends of the ice. Nyquist was in the "Hobey Hat Trick" as one of the final three nominees for the Hobey Baker.
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Future: Usually when you write so many glowing things about a player, you mention something about a professional contract. That's not the case for Nyquist, who's already slated to return to Maine for his junior season. He's assuming a leadership role, having just announced that he will be an alternate captain next season. Over the past 10-15 years, fewer programs have had as much success as Maine, making the past couple years where they've struggled more of an anomaly than anything else. They made great strides this season and aren't losing much talent for next season. Nyquist will be front and center on what could be one of the nation's top teams. The challenge for him is to maintain a high level of play despite already having achieved so much. He does value his education, so it's not as though he wanted to turn pro and Detroit asked him to stay -- the decision seemed easy, and mutual.
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5. Jan Mursak, LW (+4) [+16]
6th round, 182nd overall, 2006
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 51 GP .. 2-7-9 .. +0 .. 25 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 79 GP .. 24-18-42 .. +12 .. 46 PIM
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Season: Last season, many (including myself) were ready to write Mursak off. A scorer and top flight offensive player in junior hockey posts just two goals as an AHL rookie, while being a frequent healthy scratch? It turns out, Mursak wasn't ready to write himself off. He gained a little more confidence from Curt Fraser, resulting in an opportunity to play on an actual scoring line. He started the season strong, but didn't really take off until he was paired with Tomas Tatar midseason. Mursak's speed and stickhandling ability makes him a threat to score every time he's on the ice, but the patience and two-way play he learned last year on the 4th line makes him a top prospect for the Red Wings. Mursak finished second on the team in goals with 24, and sputtered a bit down the stretch, but is poised to be a go-to player for Grand Rapids next season. He also represented his home country of Slovenia in the Division 1 World Championships, whose winners go on to play in the regular pool with the top countries. Helped out immensely by Mursak's five goals and seven points in five games, Slovenia achieved a promotion and will be in the top group for the first time in their history next season.
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Future: It isn't just players who learn lessons when they develop, bloggers do too. While nine points as an AHL rookie is certainly disappointing, I was about ready to write Mursak off, hence why he climbed 16 spots from the beginning of this season. He offers a great lesson in patience and is a great example to other prospects as to how paying your dues pays off -- he likely could have gone on to more money and much more ice time in Europe, but he wants to be a Red Wing. Mursak is primed for a third season for the Griffins, one that will be very crucial in earning a spot in Detroit some day. He will need a strong start so that, knock on wood, if Detroit runs into injury problems they will be more likely to call up someone like Mursak or Tatar instead of whoever next year's version of Kris Newbury is.
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6. Thomas McCollum, G (-2) [-1]
1st round, 30th overall, 2008
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Stats
08/09 .. Guelph (OHL) .. 31 GP .. 17-10-4 .. 2.23 GAA .. 92.6% .. 3 SO
08/09 .. USA (U20) .. 5 GP .. 3-2-0 .. 2.83 GAA .. 86.0% .. 1 SO
08/09 .. Brampton (OHL) .. 23 GP .. 17-6-0 .. 1.94 GAA .. 92.9% .. 4 SO
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 32 GP .. 10-16-2 .. 3.48 GAA .. 88.1% .. 0 SO
09/10 .. Toledo (ECHL) .. 4 GP .. 2-1-0 .. 4.48 GAA .. 86.4% .. 0 SO
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Season: The top ranked goalie heading into the 2008 NHL Entry Draft somehow landed with the Stanley Cup champions. Because of his late birthday, McCollum could play in the AHL season, instead of next season like most 2008 draft picks. That transition was very rough on him, and playing on a team as inconsistent as Grand Rapids helped neither goaltending prospect down there. McCollum started the season as the backup, and even spent some time with Detroit's "new-old" ECHL affiliate in Toledo (formerly the Toledo Storm, they were out of commission for two seasons), posting some not-so-great numbers. McCollum played decently until December, where he hit a three month rut where he was completely unable to find a win. He finally ended that streak and ended up starting most of the Griffins' games down the stretch.
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Future: With Daniel Larsson having grown tired of the AHL and booked it to Sweden, McCollum is officially to the guy down there. How long that "official" title lasts is unknown. With Jordan Pearce left as the only other goalie in the organization, it's very likely Detroit will sign a veteran journeyman type to at least be a tandem with McCollum in the AHL. While he found his game at the end of the season, goalies take much longer to adjust, so it's unrealistic to expect he will be able to handle the duties of the every day starter. However, he will need to show some signs of improvement. And with Larsson temporarily out of the picture (we'll talk more about him in his blurb), it accelerates McCollum to the official "goaltender-in-waiting," meaning there's a slim chance he could start a game or two the way Jimmy Howard did throughout his development. This is no guarantee though -- if he goes three months in between wins again and Detroit needs an emergency backup, it would probably be this unknown veteran they're sure to sign.
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7. Landon Ferraro, C (-) [-]
2nd round, 32nd overall, 2009
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Stats
08/09 .. Red Deer (WHL) .. 68 GP .. 37-18-55 .. -23 .. 99 PIM
09/10 .. Red Deer (WHL) .. 53 GP .. 16-30-46 .. -18 .. 55 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 2 GP .. 0-0-0 .. +0 .. 0 PIM
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Season: Detroit's top pick 12 months ago faced some adversity this season. He started by hurting his knee in Detroit's training camp, and the injury nagged him into his WHL season. After missing the team's first few games, he re-aggravated it by trying to come back too early and missed and even longer chunk while coming to Detroit to receive treatment. When he returned, he picked up where he left off as one of Red Deer's most dangerous scorers -- due to his big league speed (one of the fastest in the league), excellent shot, and smart touch around the net, though teammate and fellow Wings' prospect Willie Coetzee outproduced him, for the most part. Despite finishing the season averaging over a point-per-game, Ferraro's season finished on a down note as his work ethic was not where it needed to be in the playoffs. He was a healthy scratch in the team's final playoff game (they were swept, for the record), and the word on the street is that most fans are unhappy and want to see Ferraro dealt. I take this as more of a frustration with the team's struggles in general, but I do find concern in Ferraro's -18 rating after we heard that the -23 he put up the previous season was mostly due to Ferraro being told to look to score, as the only dangerous player on a very bad team.
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Future: The only thing clear about Ferraro's future is that it won't be in Red Deer. If health is not a factor, this will be Ferraro's last season in the WHL, making him an enticing option to contending teams looking to make a run at the WHL title and Memorial Cup. Unlike most star players in that position, it does seem like even if no contenders line up, Red Deer will trade him to the highest bidder. Despite the fact that I believe his coach, former Detroit draft pick Jesse Wallin, is solid, there's clearly a need for Ferraro to get to a new environment where he can kick his offense to the next gear and work on rounding out his defensive game before he heads to Grand Rapids.
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8. Mattias Ritola, LW (+8) [+6]
4th round, 103rd overall, 2005
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 66 GP .. 15-27-42 .. -13 .. 32 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 73 GP .. 19-23-42 .. -3 .. 50 PIM
09/10 .. Detroit (NHL) .. 5 GP .. 0-0-0 .. +0 .. 0 PIM
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Season: Ritola is a player I've never been completely comfortable with, as he looks very good when he suits up for Detroit, but doesn't usually stand out when he plays for Grand Rapids. After seeing him get somewhat of an extended visit with Detroit, and then seeing him become more assertive offensively in the AHL, I've officially come around. He's always been a player who works hard and has ton of offensive skill, but he doesn't show up very often on the scoresheet. Though his totals this season only match what he put up last season, his five games (plus one in the playoffs) with Detroit really makes me think that he has Jimmy Howard Syndrome (JHS) -- the same disease that I hope Jakub Kindl will contract. Ritola just looks better playing alongside players with his very high hockey IQ and creative talents, and those players are found more often in Detroit than they are in Grand Rapids.
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Future: Ritola's new contract shines some light on his future. It's a three-year deal -- meaning he is committed to staying in North America, and Detroit is committed to giving him a chance to become an NHL player. However, the first year of that deal is a two-way deal, indicating that Detroit is likely considering sending him down to the AHL despite the fact that he has to clear waivers. He' s a talented player, but they can likely get him through waivers at the beginning of the season, given that most teams will be looking at the veteran talent available at that time to plug those last few holes, and not try to fill it with another unproven rookie. Ritola does have a chance at an NHL job, depending on what kind of contracts (if any) the Wings give to the likes of Patrick Eaves, Drew Miller, and Derek Meech. One thing for certain is that, worse case scenario, Ritola will be the team's top injury call-up. The player who filled that role last season, Justin Abdelkader, ended up spending 50 games in Detroit before seeing the AHL, so Ritola has a good chance at wearing a lot of red and white next season.
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9. Joakim Andersson, C (+1) [-1]
3rd round, 88th overall, 2007
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Stats
08/09 .. Vastra Frolunda HC (SEL) .. 49 GP .. 6-6-12 .. +3 .. 22 PIM
08/09 .. Boras HC (SWE-2) .. 4 GP .. 2-2-4 .. +1 .. 2 PIM
08/09 .. Sweden (U20) .. 6 GP .. 2-4-6 .. +7 .. 6 PIM
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 1 GP .. 0-1-1 .. +0 .. 2 PIM
09/10 .. Vastra Frolunda HC (SEL) .. 55 GP .. 6-12-18 .. +6 .. 42 PIM
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Season: Andersson doesn't get a lot of hype, but he might just be the "next wave" of the "next wave" of the Grind Line (with Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves being the first of that wave). Drafted in 2007, he's spent the past three seasons toiling away in Sweden, with this season as his first without any time loaned to other clubs. Andersson is a solid checking line center who's also able to chip in offensively. The knock on him, skating, has been much improved since he has been drafted. He also has great size and is not afraid to get involved physically.
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Future: After initially impressing enough to work his way into the 2008-09 version of Grand Rapids' playoff lineup, Andersson elected to stay with Frolunda for one more season. Now, he is armed with a three-year entry level contract and can likely step into the Griffins' lineup right away and make a big impact. While his offensive game isn't stellar, he is creative and could be a 2nd or 3rd line center for the team next year. His upside at the NHL level is more of that of a bottom six forward, but seeing as the Griffins need some offense, he will have the chance to prove himself in that area too.
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10. Cory Emmerton, C (-2) [-1]
2nd round, 41st overall, 2006
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 69 GP .. 10-25-35 .. -9 .. 18 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 76 GP .. 12-25-37 .. +0 .. 22 PIM
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Season: Emmerton is a very creative and gifted two-way center, but the problem with him is he's becoming very okay with this. He fits in very nicely at the AHL level -- he should be standing out. He was Detroit's top pick in 2006, coming out of the OHL as a gifted playmaker with a big shot. That offense hasn't entirely translated into the AHL, but he has the ability to make Curt Fraser's decision to keep him off the powerplay an inexcusable one. Instead, he doesn't get too involved in the offense. However, Detroit is very high on Emmerton and they view him as a future NHL player. The crunch time minutes that Emmerton logs as well as the big penalty kill minutes are valuable, but Emmerton can do more with his game.
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Future: Like Jan Mursak, Emmerton is entering his third professional season, meaning he will need to clear waivers in 2011-12. That is generally the benchmark for players to get to the NHL. Some take longer, for sure, but a top prospect should need about three seasons so they don't need to be exposed to the rest of the league to take off your hands through the waiver wire. Unlike Mursak, Emmerton hasn't really found his stride at the AHL level yet. His defensive game is valuable, but Detroit drafted him as a scorer. If he can find his offensive game, he could finally find himself with an NHL future.
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11. Brian Lashoff, D (+4) [+1]
Signed as a free agent, September 2008
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Stats
08/09 .. Barrie (OHL) .. 25 GP .. 1-12-13 .. -3 .. 19 PIM
08/09 .. Kingston (OHL) .. 35 GP .. 6-13-19 .. -1 .. 32 PIM
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 6 GP .. 1-4-5 .. +1 .. 0 PIM
09/10 .. Kingston (OHL) .. 58 GP .. 6-21-27 .. -10 .. 71 PIM
09/10 .. USA (WJC) .. 7 GP .. 0-2-2 .. 4 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 6 GP .. 0-2-2 .. +5 .. 2 PIM
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Season: Despite a very impressive showing in an AHL tryout last season, due to his 1990 birth year, Lashoff had to spend this season in the OHL, where he captained the Kingston Frontenacs. Though Kingston was better than last year, Lashoff's numbers didn't show it, but he did log major minutes on their blueline. Paired with 2010 top ten pick Erik Gudbranson, when he was healthy, Lashoff was a clear leader on the Kingston blueline from the get go, serving as the team's captain. Lashoff also helped United States win gold at the World Junior Championship. He played sparingly when the tournament began, but earned more and more ice time as it went on, eventually facing the task of shutting down Taylor Hall in the gold medal game. From there, he finished his season in the OHL and moved on to another successful tryout with Grand Rapids.
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Future: I really feel that Lashoff has the same symptoms in the OHL that I saw in Jimmy Howard and now Jakub Kindl in the AHL. His teammates, and Lashoff played on an average team, but posted only average numbers, just aren't up to his skill level. Lashoff makes a much better professional prospect than junior prospect, because of his mobility and puck moving ability. He'll get that chance now, as the once undrafted free agent will finally begin the three-year entry level deal he signed in September of 2008. This ranking is very generous for a player with his output in junior hockey, but I believe it's fair if he can make the impact I think he's capable of. Lashoff should be able to step comfortably into a top four role for the Griffins next season.
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12. Adam Almqvist, D (+2) [+21]
7th round, 210th overall, 2009
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Stats
08/09 .. HV71 (J20) .. 41 GP .. 8-28-36 .. 44 PIM
08/09 .. Sweden (U18) .. 14 GP .. 1-3-4 .. 10 PIM
09/10 .. HV71 (J20) .. 15 GP .. 5-29-34 .. +14 .. 14 PIM
09/10 .. Sweden (U18) .. 4 GP .. 2-2-4 .. 2 PIM
09/10 .. HV71 (SEL) .. 28 GP .. 2-6-8 .. +11 .. 10 PIM
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Season: In my few years of ranking prospects, no new draft pick has made the strides in a year that Almqvist made this season. Almqvist started the season hilariously productive, putting up 34 points in 15 games with HV-71's J20 team. To clarify, all senior league clubs (in the top Swedish league, the SEL) have junior teams, and Almqvist played on the one for 20 year olds. His team didn't lose a single game while he was down there, but he left once injuries opened up a spot in the SEL. He was expected to spend a few games there and then be loaned to second-tier Sweden -- where he would be more challenged than in the J20 league, but not to the point where he could dominate. Almqvist had other plans, as he impressed enough to stick on HV-71 all season long. He produced eight points in 28 games, and then 11 more in 16 playoff games as HV-71 won the SEL title. When it was all said and done, Almqvist was playing 20-25 minutes a night on the team's top pairing with former NHLer Janne Niinimaa -- a pretty good feat for an 18-year-old first round pick, let alone a seventh.
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Future: Future? Bright. Almqvist could not have possibly had a better season, and his ranking reflects that. He came just as he was billed -- skilled, with hockey sense through the roof. Most will cite the fact that he's on the smaller end, but he is the same size that Niklas Kronwall was at this age (though he is not known for big open ice hits, sorry). Almqvist should be able to stick in the SEL all season long, and should be a near lock for Sweden's team at the World Junior Championships in Buffalo next winter. 
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13. Daniel Larsson, G (-8) [-10]
3rd round, 92nd overall, 2006
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 40 GP .. 22-12-2 .. 2.76 GAA .. 90.7% .. 5 SO
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 53 GP .. 23-24-2 .. 2.85 GAA .. 90.3% .. 1 SO
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Season: All things considered, Larsson had a pretty strong season. Grand Rapids struggled more overall, and the team's overall defense is more to blame than both the struggles of Larsson and Thomas McCollum. Unlike last season when he split time with Jimmy Howard, Larsson was primarily the starting goalie all year in Grand Rapids. McCollum was given time early in the season, but hit a wall midseason as Larsson took over the bulk of the starts. Once the Griffins were out of the playoff picture and McCollum picked up his game, Larsson saw a lot of bench. This was difficult as he had statistically outperformed Howard last season as a rookie. He didn't get a chance in the NHL due to the Wings needing every point they could get down the stretch. Combining that with small salaries of the AHL, and Larsson signed a two-year deal with Swedish club HV-71 instead of re-signing with Detroit.
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Future: Larsson's ranking reflects the decision about his future. What doesn't totally kill it is the fact that he has an out-clause after the first year, if, say, Chris Osgood retires and the Wings need a backup goalie for Howard in 2011-12. How willing the Wings would be to give that job to a goalie with no NHL experience is another story. Either way, Larsson is still a talented netminder and is a top ten prospect in this organization if he stays in the AHL. Going to Sweden doesn't necessarily make him any worse -- the SEL is actually a better league than the AHL, in the opinion of most -- but the Wings history with getting players back from Europe is not good. Larsson still says playing in the NHL is his goal, but for now he gets a demotion and a resounding "we'll see."
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14. Andrej Nestrasil, RW (-2) [-1]
3rd round, 75th overall, 2009
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Stats
08/09 .. Victoriaville (QMJHL) .. 66 GP .. 20-35-57 .. -2 .. 67 PIM
09/10 .. Victoriaville (QMJHL) .. 50 GP .. 16-35-51 .. +4 .. 40 PIM
09/10 .. Czech Republic (WJC) .. 6 GP .. 1-6-7 .. 4 PIM
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Season: Nestrasil is the pick from the 2009 draft that many called the "free pick." Detroit traded down from pick 29 to 32, nabbing Landon Ferraro as well as the pick used to select Nestrasil. The Wings considered him first round talent in terms of offensive skill, and hoped that he would have a breakout offensive season in the QMJHL because of that. He started off on the right foot, alongside fellow Czech Tomas Kubalik (CBJ) tearing it up for Victoriaville, among the league's top 20 scorers for most of the first half of the season. Victoriaville was very active at the trade deadline, adding several veteran players as they unsuccessfully tried to load up for a long playoff run. This severely cut into Nestrasil's ice time, and he slumped through the second half of the season, and into the playoffs -- posting just six points in 16 playoff games. The brightest spot for Nestrasil was his performance with the Czech Republic at the World Junior Championships, where he logged major minutes as one of the most offensively gifted players on the team.
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Future: Following the season, completing a trade that they made at the aforementioned busy deadline, nestrasil was traded from Victoriaville to PEI, where he'll suit up for his third junior season. Nestrasil will need a contract following next season, and could play himself out of it if he does not take the next step as a scorer in the QMJHL. He'll also reprise his role with the Czech Republic at the WJC.
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15. Logan Pyett, D (+2) [+12]
7th round, 212th overall, 2006
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 61 GP .. 3-11-14 .. -1 .. 12 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 80 GP .. 9-21-30 .. +7 .. 41 PIM
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Season: After a strong junior career, Pyett had a very slow start to professional hockey last season. Much like Jan Mursak, Pyett played sparingly when he was in the lineup and was out completely when amateur tryouts like Brian Lashoff and Joakim Andersson (in Mursak's case) came into the lineup late into the season. For that reason, he was buried on the pre-season rankings. Pyett came alive this season, though, and worked his way back up the depth charts an into Detroit's long-term plans. Pyett was very productive offensively, doubling his totals from last season, but also worked to refine his defensive game in order to make himself a legitimate top four defenseman. Pyett is undersized, but plays a style of puck possession hockey that would fit well in Detroit, so he will likely get a long look at training camp for the future.
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Future: With Jakub Kindl in the NHL and Sergei Kolosov a restricted free agent who may or may not have been qualified, Pyett could be the most experienced returning prospect. This makes the coming season a very important one for him. He'll have plenty of competition with rookies like Brendan Smith and Brian Lashoff as well as second-year pros but not quite AHL regulars like Sebastien Piche and Travis Ehrhardt all searching for ice time. Pyett is entering the last year of his entry-level contract, and will need to build off his strong sophomore season to stick around in the organization.
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16. Willie Coetzee, LW (+2) [NR]
Signed as a free agent, September 2009
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Stats
08/09 .. Red Deer (WHL) .. 72 GP .. 18-24-42 .. -9 .. 42 PIM
09/10 .. Red Deer (WHL) .. 72 GP .. 29-52-81 .. +10 .. 32 PIM
==============================================
Season: Coetzee earned a contract after training camp, some thought because he was a linemate and friend of Landon Ferraro. That wasn't the case, though, quickly proving he earned a contract on his own merit with 81 points in 72 games. He started the season on a torrid pace, staying in the top five WHL scorers for a time. He slipped down to a three-way tie for 16th by the end of the season, but still remained the top scoring player on the mediocre Red Deer Rebels. Coetzee is known for his great release, but still has strides to go for his defensive game.
==============================================
Future: Although last year was his first year eligible for the NHL draft, his 1990 birth year makes him eligible to play in the AHL. It sounds as though he will get a long look at Grand Rapids, but given his somewhat late development, it would not be surprising if Detroit determines that top minutes in the WHL are more worthwhile than bottom six minutes in the AHL. However, if he's returned to the Rebels, he will likely be without Ferraro who seems to be on the outs. Instead, he'd probably frequently be paired with potential 2011 top ten pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.
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17. Max Nicastro, D (-4) [+0]
3rd round, 91st overall, 2008
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Chicago (USHL) .. 57 GP .. 9-22-31 .. 84 PIM
09/10 .. Boston U. (HE) .. 37 GP .. 3-12-15 .. 26 PIM
==============================================
Season: Nicastro's fall isn't as representative of his struggles but rather the group ahead of him just having very impressive seasons, opposed to Nicastro's average one. He was a freshman at Boston University this season, a perennial contender in the NCAA and the defending champions from the year before. They lost some talent on their blueline, but still boasted an impressive group that didn't make Nicastro finding early ice time a guarantee. He did anyway, playing in all but one game, playing regularly at even strength and even given the chance to quarterback the second powerplay unit. Nicastro was also the final cut on what eventually became the gold medal winning United States squad. That must have been disappointing, but if he made it, it likely would have been Brian Lashoff left off. Nicastro did advance further in the process than some though, even edging out his former defensive partner with the USHL's Chicago Steel in John Moore, a first round draft pick of Columbus.
==============================================
Future: Everything is on track here -- it would have been downright freakish for a two-way defenseman like Nicastro to put up any higher numbers than he managed this season on a blueline that deep. Fortunately for him, due to the graduation of Erik Gryba (PIT), and NHL contracts signed by Kevin Shattenkirk and Colby Cohen (both COL), leaving Nicastro and the very offensive-minded David Warsofsky (STL) as the elder statesmen on the Terrier blueline heading into next season -- more ice time than most sophomores get on such recognized programs. Additionally, three of the team's top four scoring forwards have moved on (due to NHL contracts, graduation, and team dismissal), so BU may be in for a rare down season. Development-wise, this leaves an excellent opportunity for Nicastro to seize both a larger role and a leadership role, something that could accelerate him back closer to the top ten.
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18. Dick Axelsson, LW (-7) [-12]
2nd round, 62nd overall, 2006
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Sweden (INT) .. 3 GP .. 0-1-1 .. 2 PIM
08/09 .. Djurgardens IF (SEL) .. 18 GP .. 5-7-12 .. -1 .. 10 PIM
08/09 .. Farjestads BK (SEL) .. 21 GP .. 6-12-18 .. +4 .. 32 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 17 GP .. 2-3-5 .. +1 .. 6 PIM
09/10 .. Farjestads BK (SEL) .. 15 GP .. 6-4-10 .. +2 .. 24 PIM
==============================================
Season: Sigh, where do we begin? After burning the first year of his entry-level contract by staying in Sweden, Axelsson finally headed to the farm to begin this season. Since I've hashed out the details on this so many times before, the short version of what happened is this: like most of the Griffins, and especially Griffins prospects, Axelsson struggled to find the net early in the season. While trying to find line combinations, sticking with his philosophy of leaning on veteran players instead of rookies, Axelsson found himself on a line with Kris Newbury and Jamie Tardif, not exactly the two most gifted offensive players. After a few benchings, Axelsson got sick of the low ice time, scarce AHL crowds, and likely poor salary and picked up and left for Sweden in a move that upset Detroit fans much worse than it upset Detroit management. He returned to Farjestads BK, where he racked up 10 points in 15 games -- still very solid numbers for a young prospect in Sweden.
==============================================
Future: What doesn't back up my theory that Axelsson would still want to play for Detroit some day is the fact that he's now decided to stay in Sweden for one more season. It's uncertain as to whether or not Detroit will even bring him to camp now, given that he's gone from "I'll think about reporting to the AHL" to "I've signed a two year deal in Sweden." Taking into account this is his last season on the aforementioned AHL contract, and it's likely he's done as a Detroit prospect. Still, he's at 18 because of talent alone -- Axelsson is one of just a small handful of prospects (possibly up with only Jan Mursak and Tomas Tatar) as players who scream "top six forward" (there's a few more who have that ability, but could also develop into checkers). Detroit is really going to have to be happy with his upcoming season to even consider keeping him in the system, as likely the one way they can get him over is to lure him with the chance to be an NHLer or, at least, an early call-up. While it's likely that won't happen given Axelsson's history of having one thing go terribly wrong every season, I don't support the sentiment of "good riddance" to him. He's a talented player and it's a shame the Wings are on the brink of losing him.
==============================================

19. Nick Jensen, D (+5) [+9]
5th round, 150th overall, 2009
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Green Bay (USHL) .. 52 GP .. 5-17-22 .. +34 .. 27 PIM
09/10 .. Green Bay (USHL) .. 53 GP .. 6-21-27 .. +36 .. 35 PIM
==============================================
Season: The story on Jensen is that he was so sure he wasn't going to be drafted, he was driving from Texas back to Minnesota the morning of the draft and decided to just sleep through the second day of it. That is, before a phone call from Detroit woke him up. Jensen played his second season for the powerhouse Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL. Starting slowly, with just eight assists in his first 21 games. His offensive game picked up in the second half, ironically, just after the time that I was able to interview him on behalf of Winging it in Motown. He made the USHL All-Star Game despite his reputation for being more of a minute-munching defensive guy, with a hard shot and good puck-moving ability. He was among league leaders in +/- after solely leading the league last season. By the end of the season, he was regarded as one of the top defensemen in the USHL, playing upwards of 25-30 minutes a night. He helped Green Bay capture the Clark Cup as USHL champions, erasing a 2-0 deficit to win the series 3-2 over the Fargo Force.
==============================================
Future: Now a seasoned USHL veteran, it's time for Jensen to move on to a new challenge. He's known for a while that he would be playing for St. Cloud State next season, joining a program that gets stronger by the season. As far as ice time goes, he gets much of the same treatment as Max Nicastro -- I don't expect that he'll play huge minutes, but he should be able to acclimate himself as the year goes on and post decent numbers. He will be teammates with fellow Wings prospect Nick Oslund, who will be a senior. The Huskies are graduating two defensemen this year, including two of the only three to score a powerplay goal all season, so Jensen will have the potential to log minutes in all kinds of situations from the get go.
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20. Brent Raedeke, C (-1) [+6]
Signed as a free agent, September 2008
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Edmonton (WHL) .. 71 GP .. 20-36-56 .. -13 .. 80 PIM
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 2 GP .. 0-0-0 .. -1 .. 0 PIM
09/10 .. Edmonton (WHL) .. 39 GP .. 17-14-31 .. +4 .. 60 PIM
09/10 .. Brandon (WHL) .. 33 GP .. 7-18-25 .. +12 .. 35 PIM
==============================================
Season: One of three Detroit free agent finds in the top 20, Raedeke emerged as one of the top two-way centers in the WHL. He started the season on one of the lowliest teams in the league, the Edmonton Oil Kings, and was on pace to beat his offensive highs from the previous season as Edmonton hovered around the lowest scoring teams in the league (they finished last). He got good news in the middle of the season, that he would be traded to the Brandon Wheat Kings, a contending team that was hosting the Memorial Cup, therefore guaranteed a bid to it and had been building their team accordingly to try to win on home ice. They were bounced in the playoffs by the Calgary Hitmen, but got their revenge, beating them in the Memorial Cup to advance to the final, where they were promptly got destroyed by Windsor Spitfires 9-1.
==============================================
Future: Raedeke was signed at the same time Brian Lashoff was, and is a 1990-born player. This means he can play in Grand Rapids next season, something that will likely happen given his strong two-way play and big league speed. However, it will likely be a bit of an adjustment period as he battles alongside the other potential rookie Griffins -- Joakim Andersson and Willie Coetzee.
==============================================

21. Gleason Fournier, D (+0) [-1]
3rd round, 90th overall, 2009
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Rimouski (QMJHL) .. 66 GP .. 3-25-28 .. -6 .. 64 PIM
09/10 .. Rimouski (QMJHL) .. 58 GP .. 13-27-50 .. +4 .. 76 PIM
==============================================
Season: Despite being the fourth player picked by Detroit in the 2009 draft, Fournier is the sixth ranked, just one spot above seventh. That doesn't at all mean he's struggling, but it's an overall reflection of how strong that draft is looking just 12 months out. The book on Fournier was that he was raw. He's an excellent skater with good puck moving skills, but need some serious time in the gym as well as work in his own zone. Given that his Rimouski Oceanic team hosted the Memorial Cup last season (so like I said with Brent Raedeke, this means the team tried to load up for a run that season), Fournier was regarded as "the future" on that stacked team, as they believe he can be one of the top offensive defensemen in the league. His numbers showcased that this season, as he was among the Q's top point-getters while showing improved defensive play.
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Future: Fournier's still a bit of a project. His next season will be a big one. He's likely to get a contract, but with a number of 2009 picks in that same boat (Landon Ferraro, Andrej Nestrasil, possibly Adam Almqvist, with Mitchell Callahan and Tomas Tatar already having landed them), it's possible he could play his way out of that. He'll need to take that next step and continue to be one of the top point-getting defenseman while proving valuable in his own end as well.
==============================================

22. Mitchell Callahan, RW (+3) [+8]
6th round, 180th overall, 2009
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Kelowna (WHL) .. 70 GP .. 14-13-27 .. +11 .. 188 PIM
09/10 .. Kelowna (WHL) .. 72 GP .. 20-27-47 .. -1 .. 165 PIM
==============================================
Season: Callahan's been a fan favorite as a prospect since he was drafted, with many fans having liked the peak they got at the game he offers, courtesy of HockeyFights.com. The Kelowna Rockets were the WHL champions last season, and while he chipped in 14 goals as a rookie, he was only a 4th line player who played sparingly in the playoffs. This season, he was looked to be more of a contributor on the top two lines and he did that, hitting the 20 goal mark while still adding the physical element. He learned that he didn't have to fight everyone all the time, but still didn't hesitate to drop the gloves when needed. Detroit was impressed, signing Callahan to an entry-level contract last month.
==============================================
Future: Despite the contract, Callahan will have to play in the WHL again next season because of his age. Still, it's a shot of confidence to a player from a non-traditional hockey market (California) who was a walk-on at Kelowna to start the 2008-09 season. Offense won't be a huge concern for him at the next level, but the quickest way for him to make the Red Wings is to prove that he's capable of chipping in the timely goal, and the best way to do that is to continue to build on his offensive numbers with the Rockets. He's also still in the slow process of adding weight. He won't be much more than a middleweight, but as of right now he's still a little undersized.
==============================================

23. Francis Pare, RW (-3) [-5]
Signed as a free agent, April 2009
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 63 GP .. 24-24-48 .. +23 .. 14 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 77 GP .. 16-23-39 .. +19 .. 20 PIM
==============================================
Season: Pare's season started very slow -- it took him over two months to net his first goal of the season. He battled illness at the beginning of the season and was the victim of line shuffling and reduced ice time early on. Once he got going, which included four goals in five games and an AHL Player of the Week award, he was red hot, scoring 14 points in 16 games in late December and into January. He cooled off a little after that, especially into the month of March when Grand Rapids as a whole actually started coming together offensively, and again finished first on the team in +/- with his impressive +19. Plus-minus is a stat best read when you look how it's relative to the rest of the team -- and Pare was one of just two players (Jan Mursak the other) to have double digit plusses, while most of the team was in the minus column.
==============================================
Future: It was a bit of a disappointing season for Pare, who was one of the more consistent scorers in Grand Rapids as a rookie. His numbers took a step back outside of his streak in the middle of the season. Overall, he didn't look like the creative playmaking forward he was as a rookie. Now entering the second of his two-year deal, the former QMJHL MVP will need to take a significant step forward offensively to stay on Detroit's radar.
==============================================

24. Sergei Kolosov, D (-2) [+0]
5th round, 151st overall, 2004
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 70 GP .. 4-7-11 .. -4 .. 36 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 66 GP .. 2-6-8 .. -7 .. 29 PIM
09/10 .. Belarus (OLY) .. 4 GP .. 0-0-0 .. 0 PIM
09/10 .. Belarus (WC) .. 6 GP .. 0-0-0 .. 2 PIM
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Season: It's pretty rare that an Olympian falls on this list, but that's what happens when you have a defenseman from Belarus who has professional experience in the system. Kolosov earned a contract after long being considered a long shot for that position, but he parlayed it into a successful first year season in Grand Rapids. Hoping to build off the ice time he secured there, Kolosov's point totals slightly dipped, but overall his -7 rating was one of the more consistent ratings on a team that just could not win. The real highlight came when he got the chance to play in the Olympics, courtesy of a long look from Belarus' assistant coach, Dave Lewis. He never factored in on the scoresheet, but he didn't look too out of place playing against NHLers.
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Future: Kolosov is currently a restricted free agent, but he did receive a qualifying offer. His NHL prospects are uncertain. He is a steady skater who doesn't take stupid penalties, and his puck moving is not bad for a defensive defenseman. However, Detroit's blueline is already crowded, and with prospects like Brian Lashoff and Brendan Smith entering Grand Rapids, it's uncertain as to whether or not Kolosov will ever get an NHL look. For that reason, it's difficult to say whether or not he'll even be back in the AHL next season. He could certainly use another year there, but it seems like it's only a matter of time before the KHL comes knocking and he leaves for more money and a bigger role.
==============================================

25. Bryan Rufenach, D (+3) [+7]
7th round, 208th overall, 2007
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Clarkson (ECAC) .. 34 GP .. 9-9-18 .. 32 PIM
09/10 .. Clarkson (ECAC) .. 34 GP .. 5-15-20 .. 53 PIM
==============================================
Season: Rufenach just closed out his junior season with the Clarkson Golden Knights. A talented offensive defenseman, he led the team's blueline in scoring and is often named among the best offensive defensemen in the conference. His puck-rushing ability is what has always impressed me, but his defensive play has always been the knock. Two points more than his sophomore season, but he hasn't quite hit the level where his points have caught up to his talent level.
==============================================
Future: The team's final pick in 2007 has one more season to prove that he deserves a contract. To do so, his offensive numbers will need to take a significant jump forward, which is difficult as Clarkson may be among the worst teams in the conference again. It may not matter if his defensive game doesn't improve though, as he was always known as one-dimensional and he's had to work at fixing that over the past three seasons.
==============================================

26. Jordan Owens, LW (NR) [NR]
Acquired from NY Rangers, March 2010
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Hartford (AHL) .. 67 GP .. 12-25-37 .. +17 .. 66 PIM
09/10 .. Hartford (AHL) .. 50 GP .. 6-13-19 .. +8 .. 53 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 17 GP .. 1-4-5 .. -1 .. 22 PIM
==============================================
Season: Owens is the team's newest prospect, outside of the folks who were just recently drafted. Detroit acquired him from the NY Rangers in exchange for Kris Newbury, and Owens fits the prospect criteria based on age and the fact that Detroit knew what they were getting into when they picked up somebody who still had another year on his contract. Owens was actually in the mix for a 4th line job with the Rangers last season after a couple strong seasons with the Hartford Wolf*Pack, but he didn't make it, and his offensive numbers lagged once he returned to the AHL. After he joined Grand Rapids, his numbers weren't much better, though he was playing a 3rd or 4th line role.
==============================================
Future: Owens has one more year left on his contract, and one year to impress the Detroit brass. He'll definitely have a chance to, as one of the more experienced members of a team who desperately need leaders as well as scorers. Owens has proved in the past he has the ability to chip in more offense than he did last season, so there may be an opening on the second line should he find some offensive touch. If not, his relentless work ethic and willingness to drop the gloves from time to time will still leave him with a role to fill in the AHL.
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27. Travis Ehrhardt, D (+0) [+7]
Signed as a free agent, September 2009
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Portland (WHL) .. 68 GP .. 9-28-37 .. -30 .. 109 PIM
09/10 .. Toledo (ECHL) .. 3 GP .. 1-1-2 .. +4 .. 0 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 42 GP .. 0-5-5 .. -9 .. 38 PIM
==============================================
Season: Ehrhardt earned a contract before the season after two straight prospect camps where he stood out. Ehrhardt is an excellent skater, and was a leader who could be counted on for solid play at both ends of the ice during his career in the WHL. His first season of professional hockey was not as smooth, as playing time was somewhat limited for him. He only spent three games with Toledo in the ECHL, but he was a regular healthy scratch for Grand Rapids and only played on the third pairing when he did get in the lineup. He looked timid at times, and his game was more tailored to that of a stay-at-home defenseman and not the mobile two-way player he looked like in the WHL.
==============================================
Future: Ehrhardt signed a three-year deal prior to the season, so he has two more to land a regular AHL job. With the slew of rookie defenseman heading into Grand Rapids this season, not to mention another second year pro in Sebastien Piche, this summer is important for Ehrhardt, or else he's doomed to get lost in the shuffle. He has the makings of a steady #6 defenseman, but isn't going to get there playing every other game.
==============================================

28. Jordan Pearce, G (+4) [+1]
Signed as a free agent, April 2009
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Notre Dame (CCHA) .. 39 GP .. 30-6-3 .. 1.68 GAA .. 93.1% .. 8 SO
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 1 GP .. 0-1-0 .. 5.11 GAA .. 86.8% .. 0 SO
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 5 GP .. 1-2-0 .. 3.82 GAA .. 87.5% .. 0 SO
09/10 .. Toledo (ECHL) .. 37 GP .. 15-16-2 .. 3.63 GAA .. 89.1% .. 2 SO
==============================================
Season: Notre Dame's former standout goaltender is another new addition to the Wings prospect system. Being a few years older than Thomas McCollum, I expected he might be able to compete with him for the backup job behind Daniel Larsson. Instead, Pearce spent all but five games of this past season with Toledo in the ECHL, splitting time with Alec Richards (CHI) early in the season for playing time. Pearce struggled mightily early in the season, in a league that is fairly unkind to goaltender's statistics because of high scoring. As the season went on, Pearce drew more and more starts, slashing his GAA from the 4.00 that it hovered around and boosting his save percentage back into the realm of respectability.
==============================================
Future: Pearce has one more season on the contract he signed to attempt professional hockey. Larsson's decision to go to Sweden opens up a spot in Grand Rapids for him, but it seems as if Detroit prefers signing a veteran goalie to tandem with McCollum, since neither McCollum nor Pearce looked especially consistent in their time in the league. Pearce will likely end up back in Toledo, with a better chance of getting some time in the AHL should he find his second half consistency. If not, Pearce will likely head back to school, as he was a promising student who was considering med school before Detroit gave him a chance to play professional hockey.
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29. Sebastien Piche, D (+0) [-7]
Signed as a free agent, April 2009
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Rimouski (QMJHL) .. 62 GP .. 23-49-72 .. 69 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 9 GP .. 0-0-0 .. -1 .. 4 PIM
09/10 .. Toledo (ECHL) .. 46 GP .. 5-23-28 .. +6 .. 67 PIM
==============================================
Season: Piche joined Detroit at the end of last season after a promising overage season in the QMJHL, where he racked up well over a point-per-game as one of the top offensive defensemen in the league. This does tend to happen with overage players in major junior hockey, so I don't think anyone expected this kind of prolific scoring from Piche as a first year pro. He was expected to make a little more of a push for a regular spot in Grand Rapids, but he played all of nine games there -- all early in the season -- before being shipped off to the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye. He found his offensive touch again here, but was never able to work his way back up to the AHL.
==============================================
Future: Piche has two more years on his entry-level deal, and it will be important for him to establish himself as an AHL player in that time. Because of the crowded blueline going into Grand Rapids this season, there's no guarantee he sticks there, but his offensive style and great skating ability should make him an asset to a team that struggled to produce offense last season.
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30. Stephen Johnston, C (-4) [-11] No longer Detroit property
6th round, 181st overall, 2008
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Belleville (OHL) .. 58 GP .. 14-22-36 .. +18 .. 38 PIM
09/10 .. Belleville (OHL) .. 18 GP .. 6-4-10 .. -3 .. 16 PIM
09/10 .. Windsor (OHL) .. 18 GP .. 4-5-9 .. -3 .. 19 PIM
==============================================
Season: I had high hopes that this would be Johnston's breakout season. Not because he showed much promise last season, but because players with size and speed traditionally have a much easier time becoming impact players in the OHL. Unfortunately, an injury derailed any chances of that early in the season, when Johnston was a member of the Belleville Bulls. He was involved in a midseason blockbuster trade that sent him to the Windsor Spitfires, the defending Memorial Cup champions who were the favorites to win it again. This was a great chance for Johnston to earn a huge opportunity and enjoy inflated numbers playing with some of the most talented players in the OHL. He got hurt again, and when he played he was only a spare part on the 4th line, though Windsor did win their second straight Memorial Cup.
==============================================
Future: Johnston is officially done as a Wing prospect. Detroit had until June 1st to sign him, and they elected to let him go. He re-entered the draft and was unselected. It seems as though he will return to Windsor for an overage season, though he could be moved if Windsor gets any overage players back from NHL teams who would prefer their players to take another long OHL playoff run instead of playing spare minutes in the AHL. Since he wasn't signed this month, he obviously won't be on this list going forward.
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31. Julien Cayer, LW (-1) [-6]
5th round, 151st overall, 2008
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Clarkson (ECAC) .. 29 GP .. 4-6-10 .. 30 PIM
09/10 .. Clarkson (ECAC) .. 22 GP .. 2-3-5 .. 16 PIM
==============================================
Season: Cayer sounded like he could have all the makings of a power forward. At the very least, it looked like his size and scoring ability at lower levels would make him an impact college player. Unfortunately, Cayer took a step back from his freshman season. Injuries took a toll, but Cayer was also a healthy scratch from time to time on what was a bottom feeding team. His numbers took a step back, and they weren't impressive enough to begin with.
==============================================
Future: Clarkson is only graduating one forward -- their leading scorer -- so it's no guarantee that Cayer will have a larger role. As a junior, he will need to make a serious push to showing that he was worth an NHL draft pick, or else he'll be doomed to spend his final two years very close to the bottom of this list.
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32. Anton Axelsson, LW (+3) [+3] No longer Detroit property
6th round, 192nd overall, 2004
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Timra IK (SEL) .. 52 GP .. 6-9-15 .. -3 .. 0 PIM
09/10 .. Timra IK (SEL) .. 51 GP .. 5-6-11 .. -19 .. 6 PIM
==============================================
Season: An SEL regular for several seasons now, Detroit only held on to Axelsson's rights because there was no transfer agreement. At one point, they seemed interested in bringing him to North America, but several seasons later he's still in Sweden and his numbers have taken a hit. Particularly in the second half of the season, his plus-minus was dropping like a rock -- bad news for a player who's game is built on two-way play.
==============================================
Future: Axelsson is no longer Detroit property. With Sweden sigining a transfer agreement with the NHL, older picks like Axelsson faced a quick deadline to sign. Based on his age and lack of advancement in Sweden, Detroit officially let him go. He supposedly turned down North America at some point in his career, so it seems very unlikely he will head across the pond even if his offensive game finally breaks out.
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33. Nick Oslund, RW (+1) [+5]
7th round, 191st overall, 2006
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. St. Cloud State (WCHA) .. 35 GP .. 4-3-7 .. 26 PIM
09/10 .. St. Cloud State (WCHA) .. 43 GP .. 4-5-9 .. 24 PIM
==============================================
Season: Consistency is an aspect of Oslund's game that should be applauded. For the third straight season, he recorded four goals. Unfortunately, as a player with good size and solid skating ability, it's disappointing. Oslund's veteran status should have led to a bigger role on the team, but he seems to have found a niche on the 4th line, throwing his weight around and killing penalties. Unfortunately, there are many players in college hockey doing the same thing and producing offensive numbers, making Oslund a questionable NHL prospect.
==============================================
Future: Oslund has been nothing more than a depth player in three years at St. Cloud, though he is well-liked and will likely have some sort of leadership role this season. Oslund continues to impress at Detroit's prospects camp because he looks like has the tools to develop into a higher impact player, at least at the college level. He's got one year left to prove that to Detroit's brass, and could be a candidate to break out given that seniors typically take on bigger roles, as the oldest players in the league. A 2009 Detroit draft pick, Nick Jensen, will cross paths with Oslund as a freshman under Oslund's senior leadership.
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34. Gennady Stolyarov, LW (+3) [+2]
8th round, 257th overall, 2004
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. Moscow Dynamo (KHL) .. 3 GP .. 0-0-0 .. -4 .. 4 PIM
08/09 .. Astana Barys (KHL) .. 41 GP .. 12-9-21 .. +12 .. 24 PIM
09/10 .. HC MVD (KHL) .. 1 GP .. 0-0-0 .. +0 .. 0 PIM
==============================================
Season: Not much to report here. After a breakout last year season, Stolyarov injured his shoulder in the summer and it required surgery. He was targeted for a January return, but he just never came back. He played one game two months later, but was never seen after that in the regular season. He did appear in 15 postseason games, recording just three assists. Unfortunately, it's very hard to find information on the KHL so I can't really say if he was limited because of his injury, or if the team was just too deep to use him in a scoring role.
==============================================
Future: Stolyarov is the victim of a strange circumstance. As any good Jiri Hudler fan knows, the legendary club Moscow Dynamo faced financial issues and folded. This only lasted a few days, as they eventually combined with HC MVD into a "superclub" called OHK Dynamo Moskva. Stolyarov is under contract with that club, so he's penciled into the lineup for next season. He should be healthy, so it will be a big season for the "skilled but lazy" player. He turns 24 next month, and he was drafted six years ago, so next season will be the last I consider him a prospect even though Detroit has no deadline to sign him.
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35. Johan Ryno, LW (-4) [-19] No longer Detroit property
5th round, 137th overall, 2005
-----------
Stats
08/09 .. AIK (SWE-2) .. 21 GP .. 5-8-13 .. -1 .. 18 PIM
09/10 .. AIK (SWE-2) .. 47 GP .. 9-11-20 .. +7 .. 34 PIM
==============================================
Season: The third of a three-year entry level contract, the Wings were hoping to get one last crack at getting Ryno to stay in North America. That never materialized. Despite a training camp where he showed an improved but still lacking skating ability and solid offensive instincts, Ryno bolted back to Sweden as soon as he was assigned to the minors, essentially ending his time as a much maligned Wings prospect. To make matters worse, he started off terribly unproductive before a stronger second half, where he helped AIK achieve a promotion from SWE-2 to the SEL. However, it's debatable how much he actually helped, because AIK release Ryno as soon as they were promoted because they don't feel he is an SEL player.
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Future: Ryno did not receive a qualifying offer, so he is officially no longer Red Wings property and is an unrestricted free agent. He signed on with Oskarshamn, where he had his most productive SWE-2 season in 2005-06 with 23 points in 34 games. Ryno likely won't attract much more NHL attention since he just turned 24, but with more consistency and an improved skating ability, he could find himself in the SEL in a few seasons.
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36. Jamie Tardif, RW (+2) [+1]
Signed as a free agent, April 2009
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 55 GP .. 9-9-18 .. -1 .. 43 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 77 GP .. 16-17-33 .. -9 .. 90 PIM
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Season: Tardif assumed a big role in Grand Rapids from early in the season. He served as the team's captain, started the season on the first line right wing, and scored an early season hat trick. He played in all situations and was known for dropping the gloves from time to time. He was unable to sustain his offensive consistency and bounced around the lineup a lot, frequently ending up on the 3rd and 4th lines. He hit a midseason slump, as most of the Griffins did, but padded his stats a little late in the season as the Griffins made a late playoff push that ultimately fell short.
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Future: Tardif was given a qualifying offer, so while he hasn't signed yet, it seems likely that Tardif will be back for a 5th season with Grand Rapids. Given his age and the role he's used in, I'm no longer going to consider him a prospects since he seems to be settling more into the minor league depth role. He has never shown much high end offensive ability, relying more on his work ethic and strength in front of the net to be effective. The Wings have a few younger prospects in the AHL who offer this package with a little more upside, so it seems unlikely that Tardif will get an NHL look any time soon.
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37. Ryan Oulahen, C (-1) [-6] No longer Detroit property
5th round, 164th overall, 2003
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 73 GP .. 19-12-31 .. +7 .. 31 PIM
09/10 .. DID NOT PLAY
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Season: Like Gennady Stolyarov, there isn't much to report. Oulahen was having a solid season for Grand Rapids in 2008/09 before suffering a gruesome hip injury that was supposed to keep him out until January or February this year. Detroit re-signed him to a one-year deal last summer, indicating that they thought he might have a chance at playing. Late in the season, he began skating again, but he never appeared in any game action in what would have been his 5th AHL season.
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Future: This season, Detroit choice to let Oulahen go, letting the oldest prospect in terms of draft year become a free agent after a career of developing him in the OHL and then AHL. Oulahen did look like a promising bottom six player at one point, but never showed enough in the AHL to warrant a call up. He did serve as a leader on the team for a few seasons and had a solid enough shot to chip in some offense. His best bet now will be to try to catch on with another AHL team where he may be able to play a bigger role, provided his hip is fully healed and he is able to regain his once impressive skating ability.
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38. Evan McGrath, C (-15) [-23] No longer Detroit property
4th round, 128th overall, 2004
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Stats
08/09 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 68 GP .. 17-30-47 .. +12 .. 24 PIM
09/10 .. Grand Rapids (AHL) .. 57 GP .. 8-11-19 .. -18 .. 25 PIM
09/10 .. Syracuse (AHL) .. 15 GP .. 4-2-6 .. -5 .. 2 PIM
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Season: Years ago, McGrath was considered a top ten prospect in the organization. Not by just me either, by most media publications. He was an 100 point scorer in the OHL and someone who quickly worked up from a rookie season that required some ECHL time into a 40-50 point player at the AHL. After his best AHL season last year, McGrath crashed quickly this season, struggling to produce offense and being a minus player in seemingly every game. He was frequently held out of the lineup until Detroit ultimately loaned him to Columbus' AHL affiliate in Syracuse. His numbers didn't improve much here, but it did paint a picture that McGrath would no longer be in the organization come the summer.
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Future: McGrath's story is the reason for hesitating celebrating a draft pick like Teemu Pulkkinen. Both former consensus first round picks who slipped in the rankings throughout the year to the late first/early second area before Detroit scooped them up -- in the same round, too. Sometimes when they fall, they fall for a reason. McGrath rebounded and made something of himself as a pro -- even making a pretty strong impression at two straight training camps. He'll likely have trouble landing an NHL contract elsewhere even though he showed a lot of promise elsewhere. The best he can hope for is a camp invite and hopefully a new environment where he can find his old game -- because at times last year, he didn't even look like an AHL player worth keepin garound.
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39. Jesper Samuelsson, LW (-6) [-16]
7th round, 211th overall, 2008
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Stats
08/09 .. Timra IK (SEL) .. 40 GP .. 2-1-3 .. -3 .. 10 PIM
08/09 .. Timra IK (J20) .. 4 GP .. 2-0-2 .. -1 .. 2 PIM
08/09 .. IF Sundsvall (SWE-2) .. 13 GP .. 1-5-6 .. -6 .. 38 PIM
09/10 .. Timra IK (SEL) .. 23 GP .. 0-1-1 .. +0 .. 8 PIM
09/10 .. IF Sundsvall (SWE-2) .. 35 GP .. 3-13-16 .. -12 .. 36 PIM
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Season: There was a lot of hype for Samuelsson, drafted out of Timra one pick away from where Henrik Zetterberg was, with the same club. Many assumed Detroit found a steal, but after two SEL seasons, Samuelsson has only scarce 4th line minutes and four points to show for Detroit's faith in him. This season he spent even more time in SWE-2 with Sundsvall, struggling to score goals there and taking a big plus-minus hit on a bad defensive team. 
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Future: Samuelsson falls hard in this ranking, and may not even be Detroit's property anymore. The main reason he falls is he's essentially given up -- choosing to sign with his old SWE-3 club, Vita Hasten instead of trying to stick in the SEL or even in SWE-2 in order to prove he belongs in the SEL. Fans of Swedish hockey will tell you there is a big gap in talent between SWE-2 and SWE-3, and it's not a serious league for those with NHL aspirations. It seems likely that Samuelsson will be able to produce eye-opening numbers at this level, like the 62 points in 40 games he put up to get himself drafted. The story with him was that Hakan Andersson saw him play before scouting an SEL practice, and that's the only reason he even knew who Samuelsson was. Unfortunately, it looks as if Hakan may have swung for the fences and missed on this one, as Samuelsson has resigned himself to a career in this league. With the transfer agreement in place now, Samuelsson should have had a deadline to sign this summer since it's been two years since he was drafted. Only Stephen Johnston and Anton Axelsson were mentioned as players Detroit lost rights to, so it seems likely that an extension was given on European players for next summer. Unless Samuelsson has a change of heart and plays among challenging competition, he'll be out the door next summer.
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