The Athletic’s Max Bultman penned a superb article this morning, issuing 12 thoughts about the Red Wings’ 12 2020 NHL draft picks. Among his comments:
Perhaps the feel-good pick of the day came with the first pick of Round 7, when the Red Wings selected Kienan Draper, Kris’ son. Draper plays for Chilliwack in the BCHL, where he had a four-point game over the weekend.
Kienan said afterward that he and his dad had talked about the possibility beforehand, and that he would have been happy to be picked by any team.
“But to be picked by my hometown team is really awesome,” he said.
“A couple of our scouts — one in Ontario who followed Kienan at St. Andrew’s College last year, and one of our scouts in the West who was following him in Chilliwack this year — they were pushing pretty hard,” Yzerman said.
Yzerman and Kris Draper discussed the possibility recently, and Yzerman first asked him, “Are you sure you want to put your son in that position?” before telling him, “Your obligation is (to) do what you think is the right thing for the Detroit Red Wings, and I trust your judgment.”
“And I know that he did that,” Yzerman said.
Continued (paywall)…
