Every player on the Detroit Red Wings roster for the club’s upcoming NHL Rookie Tournament has carved their own path to get to this destination. They’ve all written a unique hockey story along the way.
Here’s a look at just a few of these tales.
Christensen Went on a Championship Run
Defenseman Justice Christensen signed an AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He also played in last year’s rookie series against the Dallas Stars, back then as a free agent.
Christensen is a hockey world champion, which in itself isn’t necessarily unique among the NHL prospects that will be on display at this tourney. That is, until you learn how he won his world title.
In the summer of 2025, Christensen, then a defenseman with the WHL Prince Albert Raiders, captained Canada to the World U20 ball hockey gold medal. He talked about his other hockey passion in an interview on the Raiders’ Facebook page.
“There’s similarities for sure,” Christensen said. “But it is a little bit slower and [you need] a little bit more patience waiting for those plays to open up, because you’re moving a little slower.”
Red Wings Prey on Predators
Winger Jesse Kiiskinen and center Sutter Muzzatti were both acquired by the Red Wings in separate trades with the Nashville Predators. Adding to this oddity is that both players were selected by the Predators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
Nashville made Kiiskinen the 68th selection of that draft. Then, with the 143rd pick, the Predators took Muzzatti.
Muzzatti is the son of former Michigan State goalie Jason Muzzatti. Trey Augustine, also a former Michigan State goalie, is one of two Detroit goalies playing in this tournament.
The Dominator is Not His Dominant Idol
Czech netminder Michal Orsulak was Christensen’s teammate with the WHL Raiders last season. The Red Wings tabbed him 79th overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
You might think that a budding Czech goalie prospect would direct his adulation toward The Dominator, Czech icon and former Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek. But that isn’t the case with Orsulak.
“I’m trying to like be [Toronto’s Sergei] Bobrovsky, but it’s like, it’s hard style, because he is, in my opinion, [the] best goalie,” Orsulak said on the CHL website.
It’s A [Red Wings] Family Affair
Both Kienan Draper and Noah Dower Nilsson were connected to the Red Wings long before they were part of the organization.
Forward Draper is the son of ex-Red Wings player Kris Draper, currently a Detroit assistant GM and the club’s director of amateur scouting.
Center/winger Dower Nilsson was a 2023 Detroit draft pick. Two years earlier, his older brother Liam was a Red Wings draftee.
The Best In His State
There’s an old saying that everyone coming to a pro camp is arriving from a place where they were the best player.
In Myles Brosnan’s case, that’s the absolute truth. And he’s got the hardware to prove it.
The defenseman was presented with the 2026 John Carlton Memorial Trophy by the Boston Bruins. The annual award goes to the player deemed to be the most outstanding high school senior boys hockey player in Massachusetts.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
