Pronman, Bultman reflect upon Detroit’s draft needs, possible paths forward

Of draft-related note this morning, per The Athletic:

1. Corey Pronman discusses the most pressing draft needs of each and every one of the NHL’s 31 teams, including the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings: Talent

Detroit had 23 fewer points than the second-lowest team in the league. It had a strong albeit not incredible farm system. It has some good players, like Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Filip Hronek, Filip Zadina and Moritz Seider. Even though the Red Wings have some great pieces, they need a lot more – at every position. The pressing need for this organization is good players.

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2. And Max Bultman posted an extensive article discussing the paths by which the Red Wings might take steps forward while drafting a center, a scoring winger and a defenseman.

Here’s Bultman’s take (or part of it) regarding the Red Wings’ organizational path forward should they draft a two-way center, such as Cole Perfetti:

If Perfetti can stick at center and play at a top-line level, it would check a major box for the Red Wings, giving them another high-end pivot to pair with Dylan Larkin.

The appeal of having multiple first-line centers is obvious when looking at recent championship teams, and with Perfetti’s offensive ability and Larkin’s two-way prowess topping its depth chart, Detroit may have the makings of a real 1-2 punch.

Add in recent first-round picks Joe Veleno and Michael Rasmussen behind them, and center could be a major area of strength for the Red Wings — so much so that they could consider flexing one of those latter two to the wing, to avoid relegating one to the fourth line.

Either way, though, Detroit will still have major questions to answer at nearly every other position, with the need for at least one more top-six (but ideally first-line caliber) winger, and potentially two more top-four defensemen (including a No. 1), depending on whether someone from deeper in its existing prospect pool emerges. And, of course, it needs a goaltender of the future.

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The message from both Pronman and Bultman is clear and is accurate–that the Red Wings still need to bring more top prospects into the fold if they are to turn the team around over the course of multiple seasons to come.

I’m sure you already understood this, but it’s interesting to read two respected writers’ takes on the situation. At this point, some three-or-so weeks ahead of the draft, the exercise of examining multiple perspectives helps each and every one of us would-be-GM’s understand the how’s and why’s of Detroit’s possible draft choices.