In a draft class that is so heavy with talent at forward, what are the chances that Yzerman takes the second-best defenseman in the class at #4? It would certainly not be likely, but might be possible if he is set on shoring up the blue line for years to come. If top-ranked defenseman Jamie Drysdale is already off the board at #4 (which again is possible, but not likely), the possibility has to at least be considered.
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Jake Sanderson, who stands 6’1 and 185 pounds, is that aforementioned second-best defenseman in the class. Ranked anywhere between number five and 12 by most reputable ranking sources, Sanderson is known more for his ability to shut down opposing offenses. But, he’s also shown some offensive ability (two goals and 12 assists in 19 games) with the U.S. National Under-18 Team.
In a scouting report, Mike Morreale of nhl.com stated: “Sanderson is to the 2019-20 NTDP U-18 team what Jack Hughes was to it last season: its most valuable player. The son of former NHL forward Geoff Sanderson is a mobile puck mover with a dominant defensive mindset and steadily improving offensive game.”
Again, it seems unlikely that Yzerman would land on Sanderson for his pick at fourth overall. But, who thought that the team would select defenseman Moritz Seider with their sixth overall pick last year? Selecting one of the top defenseman in the class two years in a row would not only set them up for success at the blue line for years to come, but also allow the team to focus on shoring up other positions in the immediate future.
The only way I could imagine seeing this pick happen for Detroit is if Drysdale is taken in the top three (which there have been rumors of the Los Angeles Kings being interested in him). If that does happen, and Detroit continues to strive for fixing their blue line, they’d certainly be in good hands with Sanderson.
In case you missed our other potential Red Wings draft targets:
