The Detroit Red Wings entered the 2026-27 season with several questions surrounding their younger forwards. Nine games into the schedule, injuries have forced the Red Wings to search for answers sooner than anticipated.

With Marco Kasper, J.T. Compher and Mason Appleton unavailable, Detroit has turned to several prospects who might otherwise have faced a more difficult path to regular playing time.

Among those receiving opportunities are Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard , Carter Mazur and Nate Danielson. For a team attempting to end its playoff drought, their performances could have implications beyond the opening month.

Finnie has been one of the Red Wings' more encouraging developments. Selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the 21-year-old has scored three goals while adding three assists for six points through nine games.

He's also posted a plus-7 rating while averaging 17:42 of ice time, an impressive workload for a player selected 201st overall.…