NHL Insider predicts when Detroit Red Wings fans might see key young draft picks

The Detroit Red Wings continue their transition under GM Steve Yzerman, who has continued to put his mark on the team as he enters his third season on the job since taking over for Ken Holland in 2019. 

And after his work in the recently completed 2021 NHL Draft, he turned his attention to free-agency. There are several new faces aboard in the Motor City, and among those include highly touted center Pius Suter, as well as defenseman Nick Leddy, Dearborn native Jordan Oesterle and former Red Wings enforcer Luke Witkowski, who returns to Detroit for a second tour of duty. And of course, perhaps his most notable acquisition this offseason was 2021 Calder Trophy finalist goaltender Alexander Nedeljkovic from the Carolina Hurricanes, who was subsequently signed to a two-year contract extension.

NHL.com Insider Dan Rosen recently put forth his weekly mailbag in which he takes questions from fans, and one inquiry was when Red Wings fans could expect to see the likes of draft picks like Lucas Raymond, Sebastien Cossa, and the highly touted Moritz Seider. 

Take a look at his response below: 

The Red Wings are at least two years, if not three, away from a renaissance. But that's not surprising. This was a five-year plan when Yzerman was hired as executive vice president and general manager April 19, 2019. They're two truncated seasons and three NHL Drafts into it.

Seider has the best chance of making an impact this season. The No. 6 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft should be penciled in as a top-six defenseman. He scored 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 49 games for Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League in 2019-20. He played for Rogle in the Swedish Hockey League last season, won the SHL Elite Prospects Award, and was named SHL Defenseman of the Year, scoring 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 41 games.

Raymond, the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is in the mix to earn a spot in Detroit's forward group, but the 19-year-old might not be ready and could be headed for Grand Rapids.

Cossa won't be in the NHL at least until the 2023-24 season figuring he has one more season with Edmonton in the Western Hockey League and then at least one in the AHL. The No. 15 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft is in line to be Detroit's goalie of the future, but Alex Nedeljkovic has the net after signing a two-year contract July 22, the same day he was traded to the Red Wings by the Hurricanes.