The Grand Rapids Griffins are making some tough roster decisions as they push deeper into the AHL Calder Cup playoffs, and three Detroit Red Wings draft picks are the ones heading out.

The Griffins have released forward Noah Dower Nilsson from his professional tryout (PTO) and forward Kienan Draper from his amateur tryout (ATO). Meanwhile, the Red Wings have reassigned forward Jesse Kiiskinen to HPK in Finland's Liiga.

Draper, the son of Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper, was Detroit's 187th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 24-year-old right-winger just wrapped up a four-year college career at the University of Michigan, where he made it to the Frozen Four before joining the Griffins for a quick taste of pro hockey. He played two regular-season AHL games with Grand Rapids.

"It was a quick turnaround from Vegas at the Frozen Four to coming here, but it's been a great experience," Draper said. "I got to go on the road for that last road trip of the regular season and come and see what that looks like. And then being around for this home playoff stretch has been unreal, too. Every guy's been so, so great, all the staff."

Draper has already signed a two-year AHL contract with the Griffins that kicks off with the 2026-27 season, so this isn't goodbye—it's just a pause for now.

Kiiskinen, acquired in a 2024 trade with the Nashville Predators, arrived in Grand Rapids after HPK was eliminated from the Finnish playoffs. The 20-year-old right-winger was getting his first taste of North American pro hockey, and his three-year entry-level deal with the Red Wings begins this fall.

"Of course, I'm really excited to be here and see what the game is like," Kiiskinen said. "And of course I'd like to be ready to play now, but I'm..."

For the Griffins, these moves are all about tightening the roster for a deep playoff run. For these three prospects, it's a valuable learning experience—and a sign of what's to come as they develop within the Red Wings system.