Of disparate Red Wings-related note this morning:
1. In draft-related news, MLive’s Ansar Khan examined the 6th overall draft picks made between 2000 and 2018, and the quality of player picked in 6th place varies greatly;
2. Three NHL.com writers engaged in a mock draft this morning…
6. Detroit Red Wings
[Adam] Kimelman — Quintin Hughes, D, Michigan (BIG10): His ability to control the game far exceeds any questions about his size (5-9, 170). He’s a dazzling skater and puck-handler with a hard, accurate shot from the point. The Red Wings should be able to stay in-state to fill a major need.
[Mike G.] Morreale — Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas Jr. (SWE-JR): Boqvist (5-11, 168) is a skilled right-shot defenseman with excellent vision and on-ice awareness with a very good understanding of the game. He is a finesse-type player, but at times has shown a willingness to play a bigger game. He has a tremendous shot and a big upside with proper development.
[Guillaume] Lepage — Bouchard: The right-shot defenseman showed this season that he can be a leader on a young London team. The Red Wings won’t pass on the opportunity to select a defenseman this talented.
As did the Sporting News’s Steve Kournianos:
6. Detroit Red Wings: Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston Univ. (Hockey East)
It’s no secret: The Wings need an impact player on defense. And if this draft were not as deep with the position as in previous years, then drafting for need with a pick as high as sixth overall could be justified. Nevertheless, you simply can’t pass on a specimen like Tkachuk, who has wheels, creates plays under difficult conditions and is wired to compete hard from start to finish.
3. In the prospect department, DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner spoke with Dennis Cholowski for his latest “Red and White Authority” podcast:
4. And in the present-day-player department, DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji examined Mike Green’s 2017-18 season “numbers”:
100 – On Feb. 13 in a 2-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, Green recorded an assist on Frans Nielsen‘s game-winner. It marked the 100th point for Green in a Detroit uniform.
27 – Green led the team in time on ice at 22:04 for the season but went above and beyond with a 27-minute effort on Oct. 28 at the Florida Panthers. That is the most for any Wing in a single game this past season. Green had three shots and was plus-1 in that game.
4 – When Green assisted on all four goals in the 4-2 victory over Minnesota in the opening game at Little Caesars Arena on Oct. 5, it was the first time a Wings defenseman had four assists in a game since Niklas Kronwall on Dec. 19, 2007. Only Anthony Mantha (March 6 at Boston) and Henrik Zetterberg (Feb. 9 at the New York Islanders and Oct. 13 at the Vegas Golden Knights) had four-point games this season.
Quin Hughes at 6 seems like a few spots too early based on the scouting reports I’ve seen. If Evan Bouchard is still on the board I think it’d be foolish to pass him over.
I’m with you. Bouchard has some semblance of size, I remember reading that he is actually quite strong.
Wouldn’t that be a nice addition to Hronek and Cholowski, smooth skating, offensive d-men not known for their muscle?
Is the knock against Bouchard is he a slower skater then the rest of the top D prospects?
I could see Montreal taking Bouchard just because he sounds French Canadian.
Yes, skating is the one common theme I see being his weakness. can’t say for sure if its foot speed, agility, ability to turn, etc.
Hughes might have a higher ceiling offensively then Bouchard which is why he might be taken higher. For sure Bouchard is closer to being NHL ready now but it seems AZ needs some puck movers. I could also see AZ taking Tkachuk if he’s around. Tkachuk has that family connection and if he’s still around at #5……