The Red Wings are sending some serious firepower to the World Championships, and it's time to get excited about what this means for the team's future. Team USA just announced its preliminary roster for the tournament in Switzerland (May 15-31), and two Detroit standouts made the cut: defenseman Justin Faulk and top forward prospect Max Plante.
Faulk, who joined the Red Wings just before the NHL trade deadline in a deal with the St. Louis Blues, is expected to anchor Detroit's second defensive pairing next season. Plante, meanwhile, is coming off a monster year at Minnesota-Duluth—he won the 2026 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's best player after posting a jaw-dropping 25 goals and 27 assists in just 40 games. That's the kind of production that makes scouts drool.
The preliminary roster is stacked, headlined by Florida Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, who helped Team USA win Olympic gold in 2026. But the real story here is the depth of Red Wings representation. Faulk and Plante join defenseman Albert Johansson and forward Lucas Raymond, who will suit up for Sweden. That's four players from the Detroit organization heading to the international stage—a clear sign that the Wings' pipeline is humming.
This tournament carries extra weight: Team USA is defending the gold medal it won at the 2025 World Championships, the Americans' first at the event since 1933. (They also won Olympic gold in 1960, which technically made them world champions that year, but this is different.) For Faulk and Plante, it's a chance to prove they belong on the big stage.
Plante, the son of former NHLer Derek Plante, was a second-round pick (47th overall) in 2024. He had a chance to turn pro this spring—the Red Wings wanted to sign him—but he chose to return to Minnesota-Duluth for another season. Why? To play alongside his older brother Zam (a Penguins draft pick) and younger brother Victor, who will join the Bulldogs as a freshman next fall. Family first, but make no mistake: this kid's NHL arrival is only a matter of time.
With the World Championships kicking off in mid-May, Red Wings fans will have plenty of reasons to watch. Whether it's Faulk's steady presence on the blue line or Plante's electric scoring touch, Detroit's talent is on display—and that's always a good look for the Winged Wheel.