With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, the Red Wings almost certainly would have selected LW Alexis Lafrenière, out of Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL. Lafrenière is regarded as a “can’t miss” prospect who will likely become a perennial All-Star.
That being said, despite having the second-highest probability of all NHL teams to land the No. 1 pick, the Red Wings ended up dropping to No. 4 in the NHL Draft Lottery, which was held on Friday night.
So, now that the Red Wings have the No. 4 overall pick, what should they do with it?
I believe Red Wings’ GM Steve Yzerman should seriously consider drafting who could become the NHL’s next great goaltender, Yaroslav Askarov.
Askarov, who is still just 18-years-old, is thought of as the best Russian goaltender to enter the NHL Draft since Andrei Vasilevsky.
Though Askarov struggled in the World Juniors, he has had a great season in the VHL (.920 save percentage in 18 games), which is the second-highest men’s league in Russia.
A goaltender is arguably the one player on a hockey team that can steal a game (and a playoff series)and the Red Wings definitely need a franchise netminder as they move into the future.
Though goalies are rarely selected with a top 5 pick in the NHL Draft, I believe Yzerman should strongly consider Askarov with the No. 4 overall pick.
