The night that Detroit Red Wings fans have been waiting for has finally arrived – it’s officially Draft night.
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They hold the 4th overall selection despite having held the worst overall record during the 2019-20 regular season. Regardless, GM Steve Yzerman is looking forward to being able to take the next step forward with the team rebuild with the player they select tonight.
Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press ranked each of the prospects that could be available for Detroit when it comes their turn to make their selection. Take a look below:
1. Marco Rossi
He is an incredibly gifted playmaker, a center with an eye for creative passes. Rossi (5-foot-9, 183 pounds/) led the Canadian Hockey League (the organization that encompasses the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League) with 81 assists and 120 points in 56 games. He’s an unselfish player who makes those around him better, and projects to slot in nicely on a line with Filip Zadina.
2. Jamie Drysdale
I had a hard time not putting him first because he’s the top-ranked defenseman in the draft by the NHL’s Central Scouting bureau, and projects as a futureNo. 1. Drysdale (5-11, 175) is a mobile puck mover with an eye for outlet passes and he’s good defensively, too. He shoots right, and the Wings already have offensively gifted right-side defensemen either in the lineup or in the system in Moritz Seider, Filip Hronek and Antti Tuomisto.
3. Cole Perfetti
He’s another highly skilled center. Perfetti (5-10, 177) produced 111 points (37 goals, 74 assists) in 61 games with Saginaw. He has great vision and is a threat to shoot and to pass. He’s a well-rounded high-hockey-IQ guy who could form a formidable 1-2 punch down the middle with Dylan Larkin.
4. Jake Sanderson
The rangy defender (6-2, 185) is a strong skater with sound defensive instincts and leadership qualities (he captained the USA Hockey National Team Development Program U-17 and U-18 teams the past two seasons). Sanderson shoots left, so he further appeals in shoring up that side of the defense. Potentially Sanderson, Seider and Hronek would power the Wings defense for the next decade-plus.
5. Alexander Holtz
The 18-year-old right wing played most of last season in Sweden’s top league, producing 16 points in 35 games with Djurgarden, best among players 18 and under in the SHL. Holtz (6-0, 192) is a bit unusual for a European in that he has a shoot-first mentality. He shoots right, which the Wings need, and he has a hard, accurate shot.
6. Lucas Raymond
The 18-year-old left wing (though he shoots right) also played most of 2019-20 in the SHL, registering 10 points in 33 games with Frolunda. Raymond (5-11, 170) is another high-hockey-IQ guy, plays with physicality, and is responsible in his own end.
7. Yaroslav Askarov
He’s the top-ranked goaltender in the draft, and the Wings do need someone to be their no. 1 guy, but I have hard time passing on a skater at fourth.
Red Wings fans, who would you like Steve Yzerman to select tonight?
– – Quotes via Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press Link – –
