The NHL Draft is only a few weeks away. Here are the draft needs that the Red Wings should prioritize.
The NHL Draft is only a few weeks away. Here are the draft needs that the Red Wings should prioritize.
This year's NHL Draft will be a bit of a new experience for the Detroit Red Wings. They aren't likely to pick in the top 10 unless they move up to No. 5 in the draft lottery May 7. They also don't have as many across-the-board needs compared to past drafts — they can draft for specific niches a lot more than who's the best available, should they feel the desire.
So what exactly are the Red Wings' needs in June's draft, and how should they strategize?
At this point in the rebuild, with so many pieces of the lineup all but set, the Red Wings can draft based on their vision of how they want to contend. They can pick the kinds of luxury pieces that make contenders champions, that make talented teams dominant ones. This draft isn't about the needs of the next couple teams so much as the needs of a contender three or more years down the line. Detroit is in a fortunate position in this regard, a product of such a long rebuild featuring many top draft picks. With the rebuild coming to maturation, now it's about getting the right guys more so than the best guys.
Here are the areas the Red Wings should prioritize:
Top Priority: Shooting Winger
The Red Wings' traded to get Alex DeBrincat as their go-to gun on offense, but his hot-and-cold season left a lot to be desired. It might be a fluky year, or it might be a sign of future difficulties. Regardless, it shows that having one really good shooter on the roster isn't as useful for the Red Wings as having multiple options would be. In this year's draft, their top target should be a winger with an adept shot who can add to the offensive weaponry.
While some of this need has to do with distributing DeBrincat's scoring burden, it's also because his $7.875 million contract expires in 2026-27, right when this prospect should probably be expected to vie for an NHL role. Detroit might retain DeBrincat thereafter, or it might not — that's too far away to tell. But, having some sort of backup plan via a younger prospect is a way to prevent past Red Wings rosters' problems of not having a talented enough shooter to find some goals. And if they keep him, this will provide more scoring depth as previously mentioned. It's easier to shadow one shooter than it is to shadow two. More options will create more offense for both players as they spread opponents thin.
To get such a player, Detroit will probably have to use its first-round pick — talented shooters are usually a valuable draft commodity. At the No. 15 spot the Red Wings are most likely to pick at, I'm a big fan of U.S. NTDP product Cole Eiserman (yes, pronounced Yzerman). He's in striking distance of Cole Caufield's NTDP goal-scoring record at 126 goals. Eiserman might not be available at that point, especially with his shot power and accuracy, but he's someone who should be near the top of Detroit's draft board.
Second Priority: Playmaking Center
At his season-ending press conference, Steve Yzerman wasn't shy about pointing out his roster's weakness when it came to scoring centers. While the immediacy of this issue means it is probably best filled through free agency or a trade, drafting another offensive center presence might be a valuable bet if a skilled shooter isn't available.
In the pipeline, Nate Danielson is the top scoring center prospect, while Marco Kasper brings a defensive flavor to the mix. Yzerman expects these two to make the roster sometime soon, even if not guaranteed to be next season. But, extra offensive depth at center could help round out the future roster. It gives the Red Wings more line combinations to try out at full strength while providing better depth replacements if a scoring center gets hurt. Plus, if someone walks in free agency, this playmaking center could fill the hole and save Detroit the kind of moneybags it would need to shell out through free agency.
There might not be such a clear spot for this player in the lineup if Danielson and Kasper make the team long term. By 2026-27, the center depth chart could go something like:
1. Dylan Larkin
2. Nate Danielson
3. J.T. Compher/Andrew Copp
4. Marco Kasper
But with his speed and rush offense, Danielson could always play on the wing, and there will be a day when Compher and Copp's contracts expire.
As for fits, I think Michael Hage could be a valuable pick. Due to a shoulder injury last season, he slipped in a lot of draft boards and is projected as a top-25 prospect, but his overall talent might be a bit higher than his rating. I've watched Hage play here and there as part of my coverage of Michigan, where he will play next season, and I've always been impressed by the way he can create offensively without cheating on defense. This could help him in a depth offense role early in his career, where he might not get top six minutes so easily. I also think Hage's offensive talent will only skyrocket with the Michigan program developing him, and he could be worth far more than where he's drafted. If the Red Wings can't get a natural shooter, they should prioritize a scoring center like Hage.
Third Priority: Defensive Depth
The Red Wings' top four of the future is all but constructed with Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and Axel Sandin Pellikka as core figures. But one day, they're all going to get paid, and if they're as successful as Detroit wants them to be, they're going to make a lot of money. The resulting cap hit could put the Red Wings in a bind, but relief from some younger defensemen could really help them out.
As for the defensive archetype of this pick, I think someone who plays physical could be the best fit. It's how Yzerman is building his blue line with Seider and Edvinsson, after all, and I don't think he plans to stray away from this. The Red Wings also don't need another pure scoring defenseman when they've got one that looks to be quite talented from the early indicators of Sandin Pellikka. Too many cooks in the kitchen can be a problem. I think there's a lot of value in someone who can play on the second or third pairing, and do so to a very high level. The cap crunch of this blue line will be felt down the line, but a delayed ELC for this prospect could be very valuable for a Red Wings team that should be contending by the time they're in the NHL.
Exactly who this pick is largely depends on who is available. If the Red Wings can't get a shooter or a playmaker with their first round pick, I really like Adam Jiricek, whose draft value was diminished by an injury to start the World Junior Championships that mean so much for draft evaluations. He's a physical, 5-on-5 and PK defenseman who can plug in anywhere on the blue line. I'm also a fan of Carter Yakemchuk, who has a bit of a penalty problem but whose snarly physical play provides a lot of value nonetheless. Later draft picks depend on who is available, but I think some sort of D pickup later in the draft could be quite valuable.
Later Picks: Depth Goaltending, Defensive Forwards
Late in the draft, the Red Wings can really try to swing on some players, but I think the best outcome happens if they try to bolster organizational depth. It doesn't mean a whole lot for me to say that Detroit should just pick players with high upside — who the hell else would they take? But, I do think that specifically trying to draft a goalie and maybe a couple defensive forwards who they think have a lot of potential could be really valuable.
I put depth goaltending in this list for the reason that the Red Wings have two starter-caliber prospects in Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine, but putting one as the backup might not work out long term. It's rare that two really talented goaltenders stay on a team long term (Boston is the exception with Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman, but just how long that lasts remains to be seen). Especially when both earn their first big contracts, that might price the Red Wings out. As much as goaltending is a commodity in today's NHL and probably that of the future, the best value isn't found from hording two starters, should both prospects pan out. Better value is gained from picking one starter and moving the other for more talent elsewhere that can play all 82 games.
I think that picking a goaltender who could be a good backup is a safe bet that could help the Red Wings later in their contention window. It takes a long time to develop goaltenders, and this pick will be heavy on delayed gratification, but I think someone who could back up either Cossa or Augustine in the future makes sense later in the draft. The Red Wings have other goalie prospects in Carter Gylander and Jan Bednar who could fit that mold, too, but I think adding a good depth goalie prospect makes a lot of sense late in this draft, especially from an age and contract perspective.
As for defensive forwards, I say this because having a competent bottom six is crucial for a contending team, and some of the Red Wings' bottom six pieces won't be around forever. Players who can kill penalties and block a lot of shots could be good assets here. In this regard, I think players who can skate well are the most important. We've seen with other Red Wings prospects like Michigan State forward Red Savage how good defensive tools can't really make up for subpar skating. The Red Wings can polish other skills and tendencies, but good skating is the foundation of really good defensive hockey that can make a difference at the NHL level.
The Red Wings are fortunate to be in a position where they can draft for their needs, especially those when they are contending. However, it's still important that they get this draft right. By prioritizing the right needs, Detroit can make the most of its situation.
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