The Red Wings’ second pick of the first round is defenseman Eemil Viro, picked 70th overall. The Wings made a trade down…
The #RedWings have traded the 65th pick in the #NHLDraft to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for picks 70 and 132. #DRWDraft— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 7, 2020
At #70, Red Wings select Eemil Viro (D). #LGRW— Red Wings Prospects (@DRWProspects) October 7, 2020
With the 70th pick in the 2020 #NHLDraft, the #RedWings select D Eemil Viro.#DRWDraft x #LGRW— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 7, 2020
https://t.co/FXhu5Gv2S8— Sarah Lindenau (@Lindy72) October 7, 2020
#RedWings Eemil Viro: https://t.co/vtqhKer3YF— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 7, 2020
#RedWings take defenseman Eemil Viro (6-0, 165) from TPS (Finland) at No. 70 in third round. Left shooter.— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 7, 2020
Some high praise for new Red Wings pick Emil Viro in this @coreypronman story from August: https://t.co/LKiZ0JCs5d— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) October 7, 2020
Viro seems like a promising two-way defenseman with smart hockey IQ and offensive awareness— Sarah Lindenau (@Lindy72) October 7, 2020
Dobber Prospects on #RedWings Eemil Viro: https://t.co/SvYmLQ89aB— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 7, 2020
And if there is no play to break up, Eemil strategically places his stick into your kidneys.— Sarah Lindenau (@Lindy72) October 7, 2020
https://t.co/zSlw1LTyZg— Sarah Lindenau (@Lindy72) October 7, 2020
https://t.co/RdttQdTMhS— Sarah Lindenau (@Lindy72) October 7, 2020
Finnish Jr Hockey on #RedWings Eemil Viro: https://t.co/hbpslYG7zB— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 7, 2020
Craig Button’s Analysis
“Very good sense and feel with a calm and poise in his play. Makes plays under pressure with his skating and puck skills. May not be a prolific offensive producer but he’s solid.”
Projection: No. 3 Two-Way Defenceman
Comparable: Jonas Brodin— Sarah Lindenau (@Lindy72) October 7, 2020
#RedWings Eemil Viro || Slow Motion • Liiga Highlights https://t.co/JGzL6A5EKX via @YouTube— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 7, 2020
https://t.co/AbRadWYvIm— Sarah Lindenau (@Lindy72) October 7, 2020
Great pick by the Wings at 70 by taking Finnish puck manager Eemil Viro. Very smooth, calm, and calculated. Skating in all directions very impressive. pic.twitter.com/e4gsR0XpJw— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) October 7, 2020
Welcome to Detroit, Eemil‼️#DRWDraft x @LabattUSA pic.twitter.com/genlkVyN6X— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 7, 2020
Viro, per CBS Sports:
Viro was drafted 70th overall by the Red Wings at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft on Wednesday.
Viro’s numbers this past season were misleading. The Finnish rearguard, who played this entire season in Finland’s top league as a 17-year-old, managed zero goals and three helpers in 29 games for TPS. Toss those statistics aside. Viro has legitimate offensive abilities. He’s an excellent skater who uses his speed to join the rush. He is also a smooth, creative playmaker. The biggest concern regarding Viro is his ability to defend. It’s a work in progress. The fact Viro got reps in one of the best leagues in the world at such a young age should only help him down the line but it’s going to be multiple seasons before he is potentially ready to help the Wings.
Update: Here’s MLive’s Ansar Khan on Viro:
Viro (6-0, 165) spent the majority of last season in the Finnish Elite League (29 games, no goals, three assists). While with the junior club, he recorded one goal and five assists in 15 games.
Red Line Report said of Viro: “He’s an excellent four-way skater with a smooth, fluid stride and terrific lateral agility. Handles the puck well and aggressively forces the play at the offensive end, but his decision-making and overall hockey sense are mediocre, limiting his upside. Can skate the puck out of danger and initiate strong rushes. Makes nice spin moves down low to gain separation from forechecking pressure, and then has the vision to hit wingers on the breakout. Makes smart stretch passes on quick transition plays to start breakaways and dangerous rushes, but also has a tendency to force passes into the wrong spots. Can be smart and instinctive, or a mistake waiting to happen. For such a good skater, does not control gaps well against the rush — gets caught watching the puck and gets walked down by slick puck-handlers. We like the overall tools.”
Here’s 97.1 The Ticket’s Will Burchfield on Viro:
Viro is a particularly intriguing prospect. Ranked No. 16 among the draft’s European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, he spent a good portion of last season playing in the top professional league in Finland.
“He can skate well, plays bigger than his size, and has proven able against men at an age when most are figuring out how to excel against juniors,” according to EliteProspects.com.
TSN’s Craig Button, former general manager of the Flames, had Viro ranked as the No. 32 prospect overall entering the draft. The Red Wings got him nearly 40 picks later.
In training this summer with Finland’s U-20 team, Viro stood out as one of the best players on the ice.
“He was our best defenseman,” the team’s head coach told The Athletic. “He was better than the older players … He’s good defensively, he’s skillful, he’s a very good skater. He will play in the NHL someday.”
