With the World Juniors and half of the 2024-25 season in the books, it's time to take stock of the Detroit Red Wings' prospect pool.

Young players are contributing during the Detroit Red Wings’ rise under coach Todd McLellan. It’s also a positive sign for the future. Developing in a winning environment is a win-win situation.

In 16 games since McLellan took over, the Red Wings are 11-4-1, riding a three-game win streak as they prepare to head to western Canada on Wednesday. It’s not unusual to see a midseason coaching change bring better results in the NHL, but now more than 30 days in, the Red Wings’ surge has lasted longer than a simple adrenaline rush.

As the Detroit ... to aggravate Simon Edvinsson included ripping off Edvinsson's helmet. Officials called Tkachuk for roughing - removing opponent's helmet, putting the Wings on a power play.

As the Detroit Red Wings ... Veleno got his stick on Edvinsson's rebound and managed to send the puck bar down despite being off balance to make it 2-2. More:Red Wings-Todd McLellan honeymoon ...

The Red Wings are in good shape, cap-wise. Their top players (Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond) are locked up to long-term contracts through 2031 and 2032, and Alex DeBrincat has two more years on his deal after this season.

Developing a prospect is difficult. First, a team needs to research and select the right player according to the qualifiers they decide to use. Then, they need to put together a plan for that player to become the best they can be.

Observations on an excellent night for Cam Talbot, Detroit's painful path to a 2–0 victory, and another impressive night for youngsters Marco Kasper and Albert Johansson

The Red Wings started the first game of their four game road trip in Edmonton, facing a returning Stuart Skinner and Connor McDavid in his second game back from suspension.

Cam Talbot made 28 saves and the host Detroit Red Wings handed the Tampa Bay Lightning their first shutout loss of the season, 2-0, on Saturday.

A rebuild in the NHL can be a grueling process. With the patience needed to develop prospects, and decide whether to add or subtract to the team and what each offseason has to offer, there aren’t many situations for a team to be in that are more stressful than this.