The Detroit Red Wings drafted G Trey Augustine, D Andrew Gibson, and Brady Cleveland in the Second Round
The Detroit Red Wings entered the second round in the unique position of having three consecutive picks: numbers 41, 42, and 43.
With the first of those selections, Steve Yzerman and company snagged Trey Augustine, a goaltender from the USNTDP.
Augustine has plenty of ties to the state of Michigan beyond playing for the NTDP in Plymouth; he was born in South Lyon and will play for Michigan State (and his former NTDP coach Adam Nightingale) next season. At MSU, he will play alongside fellow Red Wing prospect Red Savage, who transferred to East Lansing this off-season after two seasons with Miami Ohio. Augustine lost just one game in regulation this year.
With the second of those picks, Detroit chose defenseman Andrew Gibson of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Gibson struggled with Team Canada at U-18 Worlds this spring, but he has some appealing tools—perhaps most of all his rush defense. He will be something of a project, but, without a doubt, Yzerman grabbed Gibson before his projected draft slot for a reason. He has good hockey sense, and he can kill plays—two skills that could keep him in the NHL for a long time.
Detroit elected to deal pick 43 to Nashville for picks 47 and 147. With that 47th selection, the Red Wings selected Brady Cleveland, another NTDP player. Cleveland is a hulking, physical defenseman who will play for the University of Wisconsin next year.
Cleveland won't bring much offense, but he might be the most physical defenseman in this draft class. If Axel Sandin Pellikka represented a departure from Steve Yzerman's typical preference for defenders, Cleveland and Gibson represent a return to type: Big and physical.