FloHockey’s Chris Peters weighed in on the Red Wings’ 2022 NHL Draft class, and he’s not enthralled by the Wings’ picks, giving Detroit a B- grade:
Detroit Red Wings:
Grade: B-
First rounder: Marco Kasper, C
Day 2 picks: Dylan James, LW; Dmitri Buchelnikov, LW; Anton Johansson, D; Amadeus Lombardi, C; Maximilian Kilpinen, LW; Tnias Mathurin, D; Owen Mehlenbacher, C; Brennan Ali, C
Analysis: The Red Wings traditionally have a list that’s a lot different than what you see in the public and it has worked out for them a number of times. I think Marco Kasper was a fine first pick as he fills a need and shouldn’t take long to get to the NHL. Their second-round picks were pretty solid, too, as James was a major contributor to the USHL champion Sioux City Musketeers and Buchelnikov was one of the most productive young players in Russia’s top U20 league. Outside of that, I think there are some real mid-round swings with players that are going to need some time to sort out what kind of players they can be. The Red Wings, however, have bought a lot of the benefit of the doubt with their recent draft history.
