Top Red Wings prospects are lighting it up overseas

There wasn't much for new Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman to work with when he returned to the franchise that he led out of the abyss during his playing career.

Former general manager Ken Holland had left the prospect cupboard completely bare, often mortgaging the future by trading young talent away for over-the-hill veteran players in an attempt to keep the postseason streak alive.

And while the Red Wings eventually maintained that streak for 25 years, they had no realistic chance at winning the Stanley Cup for the final few years of that run.

But in the 6 years that Yzerman has been back in town on the job as general manager, he's rebuilt Detroit's prospect pool into one of the best in the National Hockey League.

This year, fans are getting a good look at Marco Kasper and Simon Edvinsson, both of whom have become regulars in the lineup, and it won't be long before defensive prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka arrives in North America for next year.

In the meantime, several other prospects continue their strong play as they continue their development overseas.

Fans had better get used to seeing names like Liam Dower Nilsson (picked 134th overall in 2021 NHL Entry Draft ), Dmitry Buchelnikov (picked 52nd overall in 2022 NHL Entry Draft), Emmitt Finnie (picked 201st in 2023 NHL Entry Draft) and Jesse Kiiskinen (acquired from Nashville Predators during summer).

Three of them are leading their current respective leagues in points, while Finnie is 9th overall among all WHL players with 64 points (26G, 38A) in 41 games.

Just look at the dangles from Finnie during a recent game: