MLive’s Ansar Khan penned an article regarding the surreal nature of this year’s virtually-held NHL draft, and he spoke with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, as well as several top prospects, regarding the parties’ adaptation to a different kind of draft:
This year’s draft, originally scheduled for June 26-27 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, will be unlike any other, held virtually. The first round is Tuesday (7 p.m., NBC Sports Network) and Rounds 2 through 7 are on Wednesday (11:30 a.m., NHL Network). Front offices from 31 teams will be stationed in their home markets, making selections on a video conference while prospects are scattered throughout North America and Europe watching on TV and waiting for their phone to ring.
The Red Wings will select fourth overall in the first round. They have nine picks on the second day, including three in the second round and two in the third.
“We’re pretty well-organized and prepared to go for Tuesday evening,” Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said. “Most of our (scouts) will be scattered. All our guys in Europe will be home, all our guys in Canada will remain in Canada, apart from (chief amateur scout) Jesse Wallin. We’ll have everybody on a call throughout the entire process. We’re comfortable with how it’s going to operate.”
Prospects have had to wait more than three months for this, but it hasn’t dampened their enthusiasm.
“When the draft was pushed back a couple months it was kind of frustrating because that’s something you look forward to all year,” defenseman Jake Sanderson, a projected top-10 pick, said. “And even going to the draft, just being there with my teammates, that would have been super cool. Being drafted will be the same either way, very exciting.”
