On June 21st, the 57th NHL Entry Draft will get underway at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
http://gty.im/1138141369
Unfortunately, due to some bad luck in the Draft Lottery, our Detroit Red Wings, who finished with the fourth-worst record in the NHL, have the No. 6 pick in the first round.
So, the question is, who will the Red Wings select at No. 6? Will they go offense, or will they luck out and have a solid defender drop into their lap?
It’s time to find out the answer to that question.
With the sixth pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, the Detroit Red Wings select Bowen Byram.
http://gty.im/1139399310
Byram is the top-rated defenseman in the 2019 NHL Draft and you can bet Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings front office, not to mention the fans, will be jumping for joy if he falls to No. 6.
Though he is only 17 (will be 18 by the time the draft is held), Byram already has the skating ability to play in the NHL and he could end up playing at a high level for a long time.
From Elite Prospects:
An exceptionally gifted defenceman that knows his strengths and plays by them. He possesses elite skating ability and is at his best when playing high energy, up-tempo hockey. He handles the puck well and is able to keep control of it under pressure. He makes calculated decisions that consistently shift momentum in his team’s favor. His creativity in the offensive zone speaks to his confidence in his ability to be a game-changer. Defensively astute, he actively takes away lanes and limits options for the oncoming opposition. All-in-all, Bowen Byram is a workhorse that understands how to take advantage of turnovers and shift the pace of play in his favor in all three zones. (Curtis Joe, EP 2019)
Byram could easily go No. 5 to the Los Angeles Kings, but I just have a feeling he will slip to the Red Wings, who will not hesitate to make the pick.
