The Detroit Red Wings have signed former Northern Alberta Xtreme (NAX) student-athlete Nate Danielson to an NHL Entry Level Contract.
The Red Wings drafted Danielson in the first round, ninth overall at the 2023 NHL Draft. It was the third straight NHL Draft a former NAX forward was selected ninth overall as Dylan Guenther (Arizona Coyotes/2021) and Matthew Savoie (Buffalo Sabres/2022) both hold this honour.
Danielson spent the 2019/20 Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) U18 Prep season with NAX. The Red Deer, AB forward would finish third on his team and 11th in the league with 60 points in 27 games. That season Danielson would represent Team Canada at the Youth Olympics, tallying three points in four games as Canada captured a bronze medal.
Selected fifth overall at the 2019 Western Hockey League (WHL) Draft by the Brandon Wheat Kings, Danielson would join the team for the 2020/21 season, finishing with 15 points in 24 games. During the 2021/22 season Danielson would produce 23 goals and 34 assists in 53 WHL games.
This season Danielson was named co-captain of the Wheat Kings while recording team bests 33 goals, 45 assists and 78 points in 68 games. At the conclusion of the season he would be named to the WHL East Second All-Star Team.