The 2022 NHL Draft begins this evening at 7 PM EDT in Montreal, and ESPN’s going to air coverage of the 1st round tonight; tomorrow morning at 11 AM, rounds 2 through 7 take place, and coverage will shift over to Sportsnet, the NHL Network and ESPN+.
The Red Wings will pick 8th overall this evening, and then 40th, 52nd, 73rd, 105th, 113rd, 129th, 137th, 201st and 212th on Friday.
This morning, MLive’s Ansar Khan notes that the in-person event feels like a return to what passes for “normal” for much of the league, as Wings GM Steve Yzerman noted in his pre-draft address:
“Certainly, [this year we have] a little bit more familiarity with all the players,” Yzerman said. “Two years ago, we’re all excited about the U-18s and watching these kids in the playoffs throughout all the junior leagues, and then everybody is shut down, so we missed an important part of the season. Last year some of the kids didn’t even play. It was really challenging.
“This year it was somewhat a return to normalcy. Russian players were hard to assess and evaluate because it was difficult to get in there early in the season and then you really weren’t getting in there at all. Apart from that, it’s been for the most part a much more normal season.”
Yzerman said there is some concern about drafting Russians due to the war with Ukraine.
“The usual concerns are there and throw in the uncertainty of what’s going on in Russia and there’s a little bit of uncertainty of what players can and can’t do,” he said. “Will they be available now or anytime in the future? It’s just another level of uncertainty to the drafting of Russian players.”
Khan notes the names running through the rumor mill at present…
Yzerman said the Red Wings will select the best player available regardless of position. The organization has a greater need for forwards, particularly centers. Possibilities at No. 8 include centers Cutter Gauthier (U.S. National Team Development Program), Marco Kasper (Rogle, Sweden) and Matt Savoie (Winnipeg, WHL) and wingers Jonathan Lekkerimaki (Djurgarden, Sweden) and Joakim Kemell (Winnipeg, WHL).
“We’re preparing our lists as we normally would, and we’ll continue with the same kind of strategy or plan that we always have,” Yzerman said. “Ultimately, we want to draft really good prospects and make sure they’re good kids and go from there.”
Detroit Hockey Now’s Nate Brown wonders aloud whether Yzerman might make a trade to add to the Wings’ stock of 1st round picks (perhaps to drop back a few picks and snag Mt. Clemens’ Frank Nazar?)…
Speculation exists about opposing players being available both via trade or even in free agency. Yzerman has a lot of draft capital and though it’s unlikely he’ll part with it, the Red Wings are in a different spot than in previous seasons.
In other words, if it makes sense for the “Yzerplan,” it’ll get done. Be it acquiring pricey contracts to pick up draft picks, making trades, or being active in free agency.
“We watched the positive impact some of our younger guys had this year,” Yzerman said. “We’d like to add to that and continue to move forward.”
And while we never know who the Wings are leaning toward picking, the Free Press’s Tony Garcia takes note of the fact that Rogle center Marco Kasper has been repeatedly linked to the Wings over the course of several mock drafts:
ESPN: C Marco Kasper, Rögle (Sweden): The Red Wings have been viewed as a team that needs help on defense, but ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski sees them grabbing a forward in Marco Kasper.
Kasper, 18, just finished his first professional season in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), with seven goals and four assists in 46 regular-season games.
Kasper was elected captain of Austria’s World Junior Championship team and played in two games before the tournament was canceled in December. Standing 6 feet 2 and 187 pounds, he’s known for his speed and agility and is seen as someone with a high floor.
“The words ‘consensus choice’ and ‘Steve Yzerman’ don’t usually coexist,” Wyshynski wrote. “That said, too many pundits and insiders see this match between a versatile, high-character Austrian center and the Red Wings for us not to concede the choice here.
“He’s a terrific competitor, albeit with a lower ceiling than some of the other options available here.”
Garcia continues from behind the paywall;
If the Wings are able to land him, I’d like to see the team go after Winnipeg Ice center Matt Savoie, size issues included, but I’ll be happy with whoever they pick. You’ve got to pick the player you believe has the highest overall ceiling, and is the best self-improver, and Detroit’s done its homework this year.
