Fresh off a Hobey Baker win, the elite prospect returns to Duluth to chase a title with his brothers before potentially joining Detroit’s playoff push next spring.
After capturing the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player, the Detroit Red Wings have every reason to be thrilled with what they've seen out of Max Plante, a 2024 second-round pick who has quickly grown into the franchise's most exciting prospect.
The 20-year-old Minnesota native has continued to blossom at the NCAA level while playing at the University of Minnesota-Duluth alongside older brother Zam, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect selected in the fifth round back in 2022.
This fall, the Plante trio gets even bigger, as youngest brother Victor joins the Bulldogs as an incoming freshman after the Red Wings selected him with the very same 47th overall pick in the 2026 draft that they used on Max two years earlier, a striking bit of symmetry for a family already deeply woven into UMD and NHL draft history.
Max was excellent right out of the gate at the NCAA level, posting nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points in 23 games as a freshman before an even bigger breakout this past season.
As a sophomore, he exploded for 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points in just 40 games, the most by a Bulldog since 2011-12, earning him National Collegiate Hockey Conference Player of the Year honors and, ultimately, the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA men's hockey.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Naturally, fans in Detroit would love to see Plante make the jump to the pro ranks sooner rather than later, and he figures to be part of that conversation at Red Wings training camp.
However, Plante has already made his plans for this season clear in that he'll be heading back to Duluth for his junior year, in large part so he can finally share the ice with both of his brothers at the same time, a chance to chase something he hasn't yet achieved in a national championship.
Plante has stayed in close contact with the organization throughout the process, and Detroit appears comfortable letting his development play out on his own timeline. That leaves the door open for Plante to potentially sign with the Red Wings following the conclusion of next season's NCAA campaign, with a scenario where he joins Detroit down the stretch, possibly in the middle of a playoff push, well within the realm of possibility.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
