The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with several hockey experts regarding the state of the Red Wings’ rebuilding effort, and they suggested that the rebuild is still very much “under construction“:
“For sure I still think they’re going to get caved in next season,” said Ryan Kennedy, associate senior writer and draft prospect expert at The Hockey News. “And that’s fine. You’re getting a top-10 pick and you give kids the ice time and experience, and tell them, ‘This is where we are, and this is where you need to be.’ It’s going to be a transitional year.”
What everyone has liked about Yzerman’s first two drafts as Wings’ general manager is the sheer quantity of picks he’s acquired and the type of players he’s been drafting.
The Wings drafted 12 players in this week’s Entry Draft. A persistent theme was skilled, smart hockey players who have a high ceiling of potential.
“You’re getting a lot of skill, smart kids, who can handle the puck,” Kennedy said. “That’s a pretty fair assessment.”
E.J. Hradek, senior reporter at NHL Network, liked Yzerman’s strategy in this draft.
“You have to hope your scouting staff is good and having all those picks in a good draft is good, and by all accounts, this was a pretty good draft,” Hradek said.
