Danielson Quietly Putting Case Together for Regular Red Wings Spot

September 26, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While the NHL’s newly implemented four-game preseason schedule has had its ups and downs, one of the more definite benefits of the shortened schedule has fallen to the league’s next generation of players. Veterans with more than 100 games of experience only get two games to play in the preseason, which has left plenty of ice time for prospects like Red Wings center Nate Danielson.

However, while the young centerman’s impact isn’t showing as obviously on the stat-sheet, there’s no doubt that Danielson has shown far more than he did even in last year’s training camp when he was projected to make the opening night roster for the Red Wings.

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Opportunity knocking for Danielson

Training camp saw Danielson’s name take a back seat in the headlines to some of the Red Wings other highly touted prospects like defenseman Anton Johansson and winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard as the two former SHL products have been lighting up the scoreboard.

However, aside from the Red Wings’ exhibition matchup against the Buffalo Sabres, Danielson has frequently been the center winning puck battles and facilitating the offense on Brandsegg-Nygard’s line.

🚨BRANDSEGG-NYGARD!!!🚨

Beautiful pass by Nate Danielson to set up MBN for the first goal of the preseason for the Red Wings and now we have a tie game!!!#LGRW #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/nLyGBUbH1Q

— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) September 22, 2026

Head coach Todd McLellan shook his lines up a little bit going into their third exhibition match. while debuting his projected top line of Andrew Copp, Alex DeBrincat and Lucas Raymond. For Danielson, that meant taking over Viktor Arvidsson’s role on the top power play unit.

“For the majority of those guys, they’ve been able to play at least two, some have already played three games. That’s what we’ve tried to offer them, the best opportunity possible.” McLellan said.

Practice what’s being preached

Danielson has been noticeable in other ways too. His competitiveness and puck moving skills have allowed the Red Wings to stay in the o-zone well past their welcome.

I agree. Pass from Mo is in his skates he takes it well. Pulls the puck out of a battle down low gets it to the point for a shot and then draws a penalty #LGRW https://t.co/n8on2cywdk pic.twitter.com/7a59wNbOMG
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 25, 2026

The Red Wings didn’t technically score on the ensuing power play, but the penalty draw allowed the team to put enough pressure on Buffalo’s lines that they did actually put the puck through 12 seconds after the power play ended. For Danielson, keeping his spot on the roster will not only be about staying healthy this year but continuing to do the little things right that translate into actual stat-line impact.

“If our forecheck is heavier and harder, we spend more time in the O-zone, less in ours.” Said McLellan at the beginning of training camp. “If we’re able to go back and win pucks along the boards and play in areas that aren’t comfortable and do it better than we have in the past, we spend less time in our zone.”

The Red Wings are thin down the center of their forward corps, and having Danielson making significant contributions even in limited ice time will be key to making sure the team is competitive throughout the year.

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