MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings 2020 draft pick Alex Cotton, an “overager” defenseman who blossomed after being passed over in the 2019 draft:
Cotton was Detroit’s ninth pick, selected 132nd overall. He said the Red Wings were the first team that talked to him during the season and they kept in touch throughout the year.
“I knew they had a lot of interest and it’s a perfect spot for me,” he said.
Still, after being bypassed in the 2019 draft, Cotton took nothing for granted.
“Being drafted this year was such an unbelievable feeling when I saw my name, all my emotions kind of flew out of me at the same time,” Cotton said. “Not getting picked last year kind of motivated me even more to go this year.”
Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper saw highlights of some of Cotton’s goals and called his big year “exciting.”
“Alex was a good interview, had a real good self-assessment of where he’s at as a hockey player and what he needs to improve on and that’s impressive for an 18-, 19-year-old kid,” Draper said. “He’s that defenseman that has the ability to produce offense.”
