2026 NHL Prospect Tournament beneficial on several fronts for Red Wings’ young talent

DETROIT -- The way Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Dan Watson sees it, what the Detroit Red Wings’ up-and-comers absorb off the ice during the 2026 NHL Prospect Tournament at BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena is just as beneficial as what happens on it.

“That’s part of the experience of the Prospect Tournament -- get all the young prospects together, get a feel for each other,” Watson said following Detroit’s 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday night. “Get their game under their belt before they get into main camp, start to build some chemistry and build some of that culture within the locker room here. We’ve already started that with this group, so it’s exciting for these guys to come over, learn new things and figure out what the pro hockey lifestyle is going to be.”

Forward Jesse Kiiskinen, for example, has enjoyed acclimating to the organizational culture. That’s been an ongoing process for the 21-year-old, one that started near the end of the 2025-26 season, when Kiiskinen joined Grand Rapids and made his American Hockey League debut on April 11.

“It’s a big part of this tournament, just off-ice stuff,” Kiiskinen said. “Getting used to how things work here, what kind of people are here, getting to know the new guys. It’s a lot to learn in a little bit of time, especially figuring out how we come together as a team. This has been really good.”

According to Watson, he wants Kiiskinen and the rest of the young group to “feel comfortable with the player they already are” throughout this four-team tournament.

“We want to play with a little bit of structure, that’s for sure,” Watson said. “It’s also an opportunity for these guys to learn what they’re going to learn next week in main camp too. They get a headstart on that. With that said, they’re here for a reason. We don’t want to take away how they play, who they are. We want them to go show their best selves. You can’t handcuff them. We’re going to let them make mistakes. That’s what this tournament is about, and how do they correct those mistakes? How do they get back and how do they defend? What’s their work ethic like? So, there’s structure involved.”

Watson is set to begin his fourth season as head coach of the Griffins but has been with the Red Wings organization for the past 16 seasons, holding multiple roles with the ECHL's Toledo Walleye since its inception. All that experience has helped Watson become an effective communicator with players throughout their development — something Kiiskinen and his teammates have appreciated.

“I like the way he shares information with us,” Kiiskinen said about Watson. “It makes it easy to understand. He’s really clear about what we need to do and what he wants us to do. His character is really strong. When he’s talking, everybody is listening.”

Forward Théo Rochette, who signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings this summer, said Watson has delivered a consistent message with the group these past few days.

“Show what we’re capable of,” Rochette said. “Play hard, play fast, move the puck…simple things that we always say. We still get to know each other. It’s a short tournament, so we got to do the simple things and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

As far as how he would describe himself as a player, Rochette said he brings offensive instincts and knows where he needs to improve.

“I think I’m good around the net, either making plays or shooting the puck,” the 24-year-old said. “I feel like I, obviously, still need to work on my physical (strength), also on my defensive game. I think I’m responsible, but still some details to work on.”

All Red Wings games in the 2026 NHL Prospect Tournament will be streamed live on DetroitRedWings.com, free to watch for fans in the Red Wings’ television territory (state of Michigan + Lucas County, OH).