Red Wings' Holland says making the lineup will be hard for Mantha, Larkin

The start of the 2015-16 season is still over three months away and already things aren't looking good for a couple Detroit Red Wings hopefuls.

Forwards Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin are projected to be studs at the NHL level, but as general manager Ken Holland sees it, they won't get the opportunity next season.

"Realistically, I think (Mantha's) going to have to come in – it's going to be a struggle for him to make the team," Holland told George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press. "You gotta come in and take the job. We've probably got 14, 15, 16 forwards that we think, legitimately, are going to be competing for a spot on the team. I'm not even sure if Anthony's in that group."

Larkin, like Mantha is a first-round pick – selected 15th overall in 2014 – and like Mantha, Holland doesn't see Larkin cracking the squad next season.

"Same thing," Holland said. "My take on Larkin is he's gotta be in our top 12. Coach (Jeff) Blashill's gotta say to me, as we're putting the team together, 'I want him in the lineup.' He's not going to be a 13th, 14th forward."

All things considered, the Red Wings have been notorious for letting their prospects grow in the American Hockey League. So it looks as though the organization will be sticking to their game plan.