Nate Danielson Sets Sights on Red Wings Roster Spot

Nate Danielson is not treating training camp as another audition for Grand Rapids.

"For sure," the center said of making the Red Wings' roster. "I mean, I want to come into Camp and definitely earn a spot. I mean, ultimately my goal is to be an impact player in the League this year and be someone who contributes. That's kind of my goal for the year."

Detroit's camp officially opens Thursday, Sept. 17. Danielson is among the 49 players on the Red Wings' camp roster after playing in two of three games at the 2026 NHL Prospects Tournament.

The ninth overall pick in 2023 opened last season with the Griffins, was recalled to Detroit and recorded two goals and five assists in 28 NHL games before returning to the AHL. A stress fracture in mid-February ended his season.

Danielson had three goals and 12 assists in 18 games with Grand Rapids last season. His first full AHL season produced 12 goals and 27 assists in 71 games.

He knows what he wants to sharpen.

"I feel like there's a lot of different things you can work on," Danielson said. "I think finishing is definitely something I kind of need to bear down on. I felt like last year, I lacked that at times."

Griffins coach Dan Watson, who ran Detroit's bench at the Prospects Tournament, said Danielson can sometimes be too responsible.

"His vision, the way he thinks the game, he's very responsible, maybe sometimes too responsible," Watson said. "And that sometimes can hurt you, but I just think his willingness to go to the net, his willingness to create some more offense around the net; that's what he was asked to do last year, and he started to do that with us before he got injured.

"So, hopefully he's been able to rehab himself, to feel stronger, get stronger, and have the ability to do that."