Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright weighed in on the Red Wings’ draft stead after the team learned that it would pick 6th overall in the first round via Saturday’s draft lottery:
“As pretty much everyone has said, this is a very strong draft,” said Tyler Wright, the Wings’ director of amateur scouting. “We’re excited. We think we’re going to get a real good player at six. We would have liked to be in the mix (for the top three), but that’s the way it goes.”
The draft lottery was held in Toronto with picks 4-15 announced before Game 2 between the Vegas Golden Knights and San Jose Sharks. The league revealed the top three picks during the second intermission.
The Buffalo Sabres had the best odds to get the No. 1 pick and were successful. They get the chance to draft defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, who has been everyone’s top-ranked player all season.
The Carolina Hurricanes were slotted to pick 11th but moved up to second. With the fourth-worst record, the Montreal Canadiens had the best odds to get the sixth pick but moved up to third. The Ottawa Senators fell to fourth. The Arizona Coyotes have the fifth pick.
“Obviously Dahlin has separated himself,” Wright said. “But there is a good mix of scoring wingers, size, competitiveness, big defensemen, some smaller defensemen. I think it’s pretty interchangeable once you get 2-3-4-5 and then 6-7-8-9. If you had a magic ball and looked at everyone’s draft list, it would be different. That speaks to the depth of this draft in a good way.”
Wakiji and Wright continue, and Wright weighs in regarding his firsthand knowledge of the pressure placed upon a player picked high in the draft.
So….what are you gonna do to get into the top 5? Since its a higher class of player, and there are 7 picks in the first three rounds….
You don’t usually see just picks used to trade up. However, Buffalo isn’t competing next year even with adding Dahlin to that roster. They say it’s a deep draft. If I were Holland, I would offer my 2 1st’s, (6,29) a 2nd (34) and 2 of the 3rd’s. We even have another extra 2nd next year if needed. With all of those picks gone we would still have a 1st,2nd and 3rd each year. Rasmussen and the Russia, who’s name I’m not spelling will be added to the roster. Both talented wingers. We need an awesome defenseman not more depth. Our depth is already decent.
Not enough for Dahlin. Not even close. Add Larkin or else I’m hanging up.
I can see buffalo making this move, but what if you can move up a couple spots cheaper if ya like Bouchard?
Realistically, Kenny doesnt want to give up futures, especially in that quantity.
This all reminds me of the RG3 trade in the NFL…
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7668243/washington-redskins-acquire-no-2-overall-pick-st-louis-rams
Oh man. RG3 would have transformed the NFL. His injury was a tragedy…..reminds me a little of Lenny Bias.
I, too, do not see KH moving up nor do I see any of the top 5 moving their picks……except maybe Bergevin. He’s that bad. Do the wings’ have any french speaking players? That’s about all it would take and they’d get to keep the #6 pick too.
True. Detroit is nothing but depth and need that game changing player. That player should probably be a front of the house player though. The Wings also lack that truly scary player who can take over a game. Maybe that guy is Dahlin but how often do you see just a Dman transform a bad team into a good team.
As for Buffalo, they are probably just a goalie and a few support pieces away from being a playoff team with Dahlin.