Prospect Standouts ft. Anton Johansson and Western Conference Preview - Sept. 23rd, 2026

Reports of the Red Wings preferring a bridge contract for Simon Edvinsson have this Detroit Red Wings podcast fuming, & Dylan Larkin's trade list reportedly grows to about 8 teams. Plus, a Hockeytown preseason recap and a full Eastern Conference (Atlantic & Metropolitan Divisions) preview. (00:00) - Intro Anton Johansson pranks the Winged Wheel Podcast! (05:50) - Preseason Wrap-Up Alex DeBrincat drops the gloves and then buries the overtime winner in a 3-2 win over the Sabres, while the finale against Columbus was forgettable hockey. Nate Danielson looked like a steady NHLer without the offensive bite, Marco Kasper got bumped to the fourth line in the finale and still put up two points, and nobody up front forced a tough roster decision. (14:50) - ASP & Anton Johansson Shine Axel Sandin-Pellikka walked the blue line with confidence and was a weapon on the flank with the man advantage, while Anton Johansson kept getting pucks through to the net and ran the point on a few power plays (despite their defensive warts). Also, why William Wallinder may end up in Grand Rapids or elsewhere. (21:15) - Andreas Englund Waiver Claim Detroit claims Andreas Englund off waivers from Calgary, a big depth defenseman that Todd McLellan praised for fitting the room. Where does he fit in with Jacob Bernard-Docker day-to-day and the young defensive core competing for spots whil Edvinsson remains unsigned? (26:30) - Edvinsson Bridge Deal Reports Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned, and reports suggest Detroit preferring a bridge contract. How big of a disaster would this be for the Red Wings, how much have they cost themselves by waiting this long, and who's to blame for another own-goal? (45:25) - Larkin Trade List Expands Elliotte Friedman reports Dylan Larkin's list has grown from three or four teams to about eight, none of them in Canada - and Washington is the only one that may make sense. Would a Protas, Cole Hutson, or Leonard be available? How does this affect the timeline of a Dylan Larkin trade? (1:04:05) - Eastern Conference Preview Full previews for the Metropolitan Division and Atlantic Division: standings predictions, offseason changes, & more. (1:43:15) - Overtime Patron questions on whether Edvinsson's agent should be shopping an offer sheet, one-to-ten grades for the offense, defense and goaltending so far, and Emmitt Finnie's switch-handed faceoff win. --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here: wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Get $100 in free fuel credit (after approval) with Mudflap! Sign up at muddy.com/wingedwheel #ad Go to TempoMeals.com/WINGEDWHEEL for 60% off your first box! #ad Join our PikSheet NHL Pick 'Em pool! https://piksheet.com/wingedwheel Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Max's Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7630652/2026/09/27/red-wings-simon-edvinsson-contract-offseason-nhl/ Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

This Detroit Red Wings podcast covers the excitement of Detroit's youth in a big preseason performance, & features a timely interview with defense prospect Anton Johansson. Hockeytown news & analysis covers Marco Kasper vs. Sidney Crosby, the roster battles taking shape, and a full Western Conference preview. (00:00) - Intro Brad is down and out, so Ryan and Evan have free reign. (05:50) - Preseason Game Recap The Wings get shut out by Columbus, then bounce back with a 7-4 win featuring Anton Johansson's 4 helpers and Axel Sandin Pellikka's first WWP-certified piss missile of the season. (13:40) - MBN & ASP Shine + Nate Danielson's Third-Line Case 2 more goals from Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Axel Sandin-Pellikka's confidence. Also, is Danielson's stock is rising? We make the case for letting him sink his claws into an NHL role. (24:50) - Waivers & Injury Update Who's been waived, who cleared, and what the 13th forward battle looks like. Carter Bear is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, while Dylan Larkin is back skating ahead of the preseason finale. (34:55) - Anton Johansson Interview The Swede joins the show to talk his four-assist preseason, his hockey family, getting a concussion from his future roommate, and development help from Nicklas Lidstrom back home. (49:20) - Western Conference Preview The Central and Pacific in one shot: the Avalanche stay on top, the Mammoth and Sharks push for a step forward, and nobody knows what to make of the Oilers. (1:40:20) - Overtime Your questions on which kid gives us the most hope, trophy picks, and the nine-defensemen logjam. --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here: wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Go to TempoMeals.com/WINGEDWHEEL for 60% off your first box! #ad Get $100 in free fuel credit (after approval) with Mudflap! Sign up at muddy.com/wingedwheel Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

Training Camp has wrapped & Todd McLellan is back. This Detroit Red Wings podcast digs into Larkin trade talk after reports that ownership balked at a futures-based return. Hockeytown news & analysis covers Larkin somber press conference, McLellan's blunt praise for the kids over the veterans, & a potential roster moves heading into the preseason.. (00:00) - Intro and The Toddfather Speaks McLellan says the young players outworked the vets and it "wasn't even close" - a quote machine planting seeds for a younger lineup. (05:15) - Ownership vs. the Futures Trade The report that Chris Ilitch didn't like Steve Yzerman's assessment of a Larkin return, why a win-now deal doesn't exist, and how a futures package could still be flipped for help sooner than you'd think. (27:50) - Larkin Press Conference Takeaways Dylan Larkin's presser answers, the "it's personal" explanation & lack of information, the three-team list problem, and why the whole thing may have made the situation worse. (36:10) - Jersey Updates and Detroit Sportsnet Info The "Trash Patch" is gone as the Red Wings bring in DQS as the newest jersey sponsor. Also, the Centennial jersey stays in the rotation, and updates on how to catch DSN broadcasts as Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond head into their 30th season together. (40:30) - Simon Edvinsson Contract Watch No Edvinsson extension yet with preseason days away - what the holdup means and why missing reps matters in a shortened camp. (51:20) - Projected Red Wings Lines & the Kids Camp lines take shape with Andrew Copp centering the top unit, plus which young forwards are penciled in and who has to play their way onto the roster. Is MBN a lock? Can Carter Bear make a splash? Is Nate Danielson in the driver's seat? Also, NHL news including Connor Hellebuyck's suspension. (1:00:50) - Overtime Your questions on Larkin's trade value, the Trey Augustine timeline, the Connor Hellebuyck suspension parallel, and more. --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here: wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Refresh your wardrobe with Quince - go to Quince.com/WINGEDWHEEL for free shipping and 365-day returns! This episode is brought to you by Hims. Visit hims.com/wingedwheel for your personalized hair loss treatment options. Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

Horcoff takes over - kind of! This Detroit Red Wings podcast reacts to Shawn Horcoff officially being named interim GM, plus a Red Wings injury update on Dylan Larkin on the eve of training camp. Hockeytown news & analysis breaks down the botched GM search, Simon Edvinsson's contract negotiations, and what a front office roster shakeup could actually look like. (00:00) - Intro The Horcoff era begins as we return to 2 episodes per week! (04:45) - Horcoff Named Interim GM How a two-month search with an outside firm ended with the guy already in the building, and why the process was fumbled even if the result works out. (15:45) - Full Authority & Hockey Ops Changes Horcoff commits to reshuffling hockey operations and adding new voices: how much can realistically change this late, and what ownership's "more progressive" directive means. (23:40) - Edvinsson & DeBrincat Contracts Simon Edvinsson contract talks are underway with the new seven-year max in effect. Plus, why an Alex DeBrincat extension got a lot more expensive as the summer went on. (34:30) - Larkin Injury & Training Camp Dylan Larkin's off-ice injury keeps him off the ice to start camp - the optics, the timing, and how the trade request hangs over everything. (47:30) - Around the NHL Quinn Hughes continues to remain unextended in Minnesota, and a flood of signings resets the contract market league-wide. Plus, Fantilli, Hellebuyck, Nikishin, & others unsigned or holding out of camp. (1:04:55) - Overtime Offer sheet ideas, whether Moritz Seider should be named captain, and which prospects trend up this season. --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here:  wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings This episode is brought to you by Hims. Visit hims.com/wingedwheel for your personalized hair loss treatment options. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince - go to Quince.com/WINGEDWHEEL for free shipping and 365-day returns! Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

This Detroit Red Wings podcast tackles the GM search dragging into training camp & Dylan Larkin stripped of the captaincy amidst his trade request. Hockeytown news & analysis covers Simon Edvinsson's contract limbo, prospect tournament standouts, & a franchise running out of runway to get this right. (00:00) - Intro Seven days later, still no GM - and Ryan now owes a random listener $100. (05:35) - GM Search Update Jeff Greenberg pulls out of the running, and reporting suggests the Red Wings asked for permission to interview candidates they never actually talked to. Why this process has become a mess with training camp a blink away. (27:50) - Larkin Captaincy News Dylan Larkin stripped of the C as he and the team release statements: he'll report to camp, and it seems like the trade request stands. What the boos at Little Caesars Arena will mean for him and his teammates. (42:00) - Prospect Tournament Takeaways Carter Bear looked like the best player on the ice against Dallas. Meanwhile, Nate Danielson's quiet game only raises the pressure heading into camp. (47:45) - Edvinsson and DeBrincat Simon Edvinsson is paying for his own increased insurance just to play at camp without a contract. Alex DeBrincat says he wants to stay - why signing both is the easiest win this organization has left. (50:55) - Kreider to Montreal Chris Kreider's contract termination lands him with the Canadiens, of all teams. (54:50) - Overtime Your questions: playoffs or a top-five pick, whether the trade list ever expands, and giving Sean Horcoff the interim keys. --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here:  wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Go to TempoMeals.com/WINGEDWHEEL for 60% off your first box! #ad Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

This Detroit Red Wings podcast is back as the GM & President of Hockey Operations search is still not done, but a hire could come any day. Hockeytown news & analysis covers Simon Edvinsson's contract situation vs. Zeev Buium ahead of the Sept. 15 deadline, plus a Larkin trade and more that a new GM would have to handle in short order. (00:00) - Intro and End of the WWP Offseason? We call our shot on when the new GM gets announced. (06:05) - GM Search Update Where the search stands, why external candidates seem to be the focus after moving on from Steve Yzerman, and why the timing of all this has been brutal for the front office reset. (22:50) - Roster Decisions Looming Whoever gets hired walks into a pile of lineup & personnel calls with almost no runway before camp opens. (25:25) - Zeev Buium's Contract & What It Means for Edvinsson An eight-year mega deal out west props up Simon Edvinsson's contract floor - we break down where his number likely lands and whether Detroit lost its leverage. (39:45) - Max Plante Named Captain & Tolvanen Signs Max Plante gets the C at Minnesota-Duluth, and we lament a cheap depth signing the Wings missed out on with nobody in the chair to make the call. (43:55) - NHL 27 Player Models The player likenesses are, once again, a crime scene. John Gibson's family wouldn't recognize him. (46:55) - Overtime Your questions on the GM search silver linings, offer sheet hypotheticals, and whether this team can go on a dumb early-season run. --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here:  wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Go to TempoMeals.com/WINGEDWHEEL for 60% off your first box! #ad This episode is brought to you by Hims. Visit hims.com/wingedwheel for your personalized hair loss treatment options. Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

This Detroit Red Wings podcast welcomes top-ranked Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine for his first-ever interview on the show ahead of training camp! Hockeytown news & analysis covers the GM search candidates, Simon Edvinsson's unsigned contract, & Cale Makar's record-setting deal in Colorado. (00:00) - Intro & Episode Preview (05:40) - Trey Augustine Interview The goalie prospect on signing his entry-level contract, his thoughts on the Sebastian Cossa trade, his Michigan State years, back-to-back World Juniors golds, his ATO with the Grand Rapids Griffins, growing up watching Pavel Datsyuk at the Joe, and why he's going into camp on a mission. (35:30) - Red Wings Notes GM Search Update Jeff Kealty, Brett Peterson, and Scott White among the reported external interviews: what each candidate brings and why the lack of retreads is encouraging. Also notes on Eddie Genborg and the looming Mason/Lucas Raymond nightmare continuing on national broadcasts. (51:30) - Makar's Record Contract, Quinn Hughes' Contract & Hellebuyck Trade Request The richest deal in NHL history at $20.4 million AAV and what a blank-check superstar market means going forward. Minnesota's cap crunch just got scarier, and Connor Hellebuyck goes public in Winnipeg, plus how both situations ripple back to Detroit's Dylan Larkin trade rumors. (1:04:55) - Overtime: Patron Questions When to hit the panic button on the Edvinsson contract, deadline returns for expiring deals, and which Canadian city would get the next expansion team (or rather why almost none will anytime soon). --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here:  wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Refresh your wardrobe with Quince - go to Quince.com/WINGEDWHEEL for free shipping and 365-day returns! This episode is brought to you by Hims. Visit hims.com/wingedwheel for your personalized hair loss treatment options. Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more!

This (now all-dad) Detroit Red Wings podcast clears the air on the GM search as interviews are officially underway in Detroit. Hockeytown news & analysis digs into Red Wings franchise defenseman Moritz Seider taking center stage, jersey rumors, & more on Larkin. (00:00) - Intro & Big News Ryan's back after welcoming baby Theo, and Evan finally made his ace. The two biggest stories of the offseason, ranked correctly. (07:05) - GM Search Update Conflicting reports floated around this week about the Detroit Red Wings' search for Steve Yzerman's replacement. What we report: the interview process has started, internal and external candidates are in the mix, and the lean appears to be external. Plus what "full hockey ops autonomy" actually means, where Steve Yzerman fits now, and why the Montreal model keeps coming up. (31:35) - Seider Front and Center, and DeBrincat with a Letter? Moritz Seider handles the European media tour like a pro - captaincy soft launch? (35:10) - Larkin Situation & Fan Fallout How the room is really reacting, whether he plays if he reports to camp, and why winning is the only thing that could potentially repair this. (45:05) - Around the NHL Fanatics hometown remix jerseys are coming for all 32 teams, and the league is on track to award a $2 billion franchise to Texas with Atlanta and Phoenix jockeying next. (54:25) - Overtime Patron questions on Marco Kasper's slow starts, the sad state of the center depth chart, expansion's effect on the league, and goalie parent nightmares. --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here:  wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Refresh your wardrobe with Quince - go to Quince.com/WINGEDWHEEL for free shipping and 365-day returns! Go to TempoMeals.com/WINGEDWHEEL for 60% off your first box! #ad Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more! Roast of Chris Osgood Auction: https://e.givesmart.com/events/Oyk/i/

This Detroit Red Wings podcast (without Ryan, forgive the different feel!) asks the question nobody wants to answer: what does this season actually look like if Dylan Larkin stays in Detroit? Hockeytown news & analysis covers the GM search, ownership's autonomy pitch, the Steven Stamkos report, & the barren wasteland of Red Wings free agency options still available. (00:00) - Intro Ryan-less episode means Brad and Evan hold down the fort. Forgive any changes in sound quality or editing in the meantime! (03:40) - The Larkin Reconciliation Scenario If Dylan Larkin rescinds his trade request, how loud do the boos get on opening night? We walk through the good outcomes, the ugly ones, and why the Steve Yzerman connection makes forgiveness harder for a lot of fans. (21:35) - How Long Could This Drag On? If no deal materializes by November, does the trade list finally expand? The pressure of playing every home game in front of a hostile crowd changes things fast. (27:45) - GM Search & Ownership Autonomy Why is ownership hammering the "full autonomy" narrative to candidates? We break down what that pitch might be telling us, and why the only open GM job in hockey shouldn't need this much selling. (35:10) - The Stamkos Report Did ownership really say no to signing Steven Stamkos in the summer of 2024? If true, it's a bigger red flag than the money. (42:05) - Remaining Free Agents Sifting through the ruins of the market. Eeli Tolvanen still being unsigned being a head-scratcher and more. (49:30) - Overtime 36-team realignment scenarios, whether preseason games are worth attending, which teams finish below Detroit, and a CBA idea for penalizing trade requests.  --- WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here:  wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings Go to TempoMeals.com/WINGEDWHEEL  for 60% off your first box! #ad This episode is brought to you by Hims. Visit hims.com/wingedwheel for your personalized hair loss treatment options. Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more! Roast of Chris Osgood Auction: https://e.givesmart.com/events/Oyk/i/

This Detroit Red Wings podcast digs into the GM & President of Hockey Operations search, from the outside firm running it to the candidates in play for Yzerman's seat. Hockeytown news & analysis also covers organizational paths, NHL expansion buzz, and more. (00:00) - Intro & Announcements WWP Night at the LCA dates announced! Get your tickets for the Nov. 21st game here:  wingedwheelpodcast.com/redwings (04:30) - GM Search: Outside Firm Chris Ilitch turns to an external search firm to find Steve Yzerman's replacement - why that signals a real front-office shakeup rather than an internal anointment, and what it means for Sean Horcoff's chances. (13:20) - Autonomy and Making Detroit a Destination Full hockey ops autonomy, vast resources, and the destination question. Can Detroit be a desired location for players again? (27:10) - GM Candidates and Pro Scouting Fixes Jeff Greenberg, Sam Ventura, Tyler Dellow, and the Tigers connection, plus why pro scouting might be the single most important department to overhaul. The Moneyball problem: right player archetype, wrong players. (45:15) - Around the NHL: Expansion & Quinn Hughes Houston looks like a layup, Atlanta is a bigger question, and Quinn Hughes remains unsigned - tinfoil hat theories included. (55:05) - Overtime: Patron Questions Option A or Option B for the next GM, Axel Sandin Pellikka's development, which prospects need to pop, and whether the March curse finally dies. --- This episode is brought to you by Hims. Visit hims.com/wingedwheel for your personalized hair loss treatment options. Support the show: Patreon.com/WingedWheelPodcast Head over to wingedwheelpodcast.com to find all the ways to listen, how to support the show, and so much more! Max Bultman's Article: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7479170/2026/07/30/red-wings-gm-steve-yzerman-candidates-search/