The Detroit Red Wings drafted a total of eleven players over the course of Days 1 and 2 of the 2023 NHL Draft. Here are the takes/grades the Red Wings received from several experts:
Yahoo Sports’ Ian Kennedy gives the Wings a great grade for both their draft picks and the Yamamoto/Kostin trade..
Detroit Red Wings: A
The Red Wings didn’t get Alex DeBrincat (yet) as was rumored, but they added so much organizational depth that it’s an undeniable win for Detroit. Some questioned how high the Red Wings reached for Nate Danielson, but there’s no denying he’s one of the most complete, polished players in the draft. Even if his ceiling is lower, so is his risk.Getting Axel Sandin Pellikka at 17 was a steal, followed by taking Trey Augustine, Brady Cleveland, Noah Dower Nilsson, and Andrew Gibson. To top it all off, Detroit got a pair of low-risk, high-reward young wingers in Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin for nothing. Both have upside and Detroit has had success with reclamation projects (see Robby Fabbri and Jake Walman.
Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis gives the Wings a solid “B“…
Detroit Red Wings (B)
Key picks: Nate Danielson (C), Axel Sandin Pellikka (D), Trey Augustine (G)
At each of their first three picks, they got close to the best player available at each position. They reached a bit to snag Andrew Gibson and Brady Cleveland, but I like Noah Dower Nilsson and his potential. Kevin Bicker was a decent fifth-round pick, a German player who’s ready to go full-time pro.
And FloHockey’s Chris Peters also issues with a B-range grade for the Wings…
Detroit Red Wings
Letter Grade: B+
First rounders: Nate Danielson, C; Axel Sandin Pellikka, D
Day 2 picks: Trey Augustine, G; Andrew Gibson, D; Brady Cleveland, D; Noah Dower Nilsson, LW; Larry Keenan, D; Jack Phelan, D; Kevin Bicker, LW, Rudy Guimond, G; Emmitt Finnie, C.
Analysis: The Red Wings seemed to go safe here, especially early. They’ve got a lot of players that may not get you super excited, but I think a lot of them will play in the league. Nate Danielson is a safe pick who doesn’t have many or any elite traits but does a lot of little things well. Sandin Pellikka is more exciting in the range they got him because he’s got such tremendous puck-moving ability. Trey Augustine is great to add depth behind Sebastian Cossa. Andrew Gibson and Brady Cleveland can really defend and Noah Dower Nilsson seems to only be scratching the surface of his full potential. Detroit is deeper, they have more options in their system, but I don’t think they really went for game-breakers here and I wonder if they’ll look back on that with some regret. Still, it’s an above-average class.
And The Athletic’s Corey Pronman concurs…
Anyone who read my work in the lead-up to the draft knew I was going to endorse the Nate Danielson pick at No. 9. I think he’s excellent and will have a long, productive NHL career. Axel Sandin Pellikka is a good defenseman who complements the young defensemen in Detroit with the offense he provides. The three second-round picks have chances to play. Brady Cleveland was the most interesting as a trade-down. He’s a unique prospect due to his size, skating and elite physicality but he lacks offense. Detroit was chasing a type there and they’re hard to find. They probably get two players in their first-round picks, and in Trey Augustine they get much-needed goalie depth for their future.
And Scott Wheeler suggests that the Red Wings remain “overtime losers“…
I had mixed feelings about the Red Wings’ draft. On total value, they did well. Part of that is because of how many high picks they had (two firsts in the top 20 and back-to-back picks in the early 40s).
Nate Danielson is a well-liked player who is going to be a good middle-six NHL centre and was going to go in the picks shortly after the Red Wings’ if they didn’t take him, even if I think it was a bit rich for me. I liked the Axel Sandin Pellikka pick. He was my top-ranked defenceman in this draft after David Reinbacher and he gives them a different look than what they already have on defence in the NHL and within their pool.
Trey Augustine was also my top-ranked goalie, so I didn’t mind them taking him at No. 41 at all. And while Andrew Gibson was the final cut for my list this year, I’ve written that he was going to be a second-round pick (I do think he’s got some work to do to make good on being picked as high as he was, but he has gotten better rapidly year over year throughout his young career).
The selection of Brady Cleveland at No. 47 was a head-scratcher for me. I’ve watched a ton of Cleveland and he’s not a player who was ever in serious consideration for my list. Though he’s massive and a strong athlete overall, he’s got one of the choppiest strides I’ve ever seen in a defenceman at this level.
My favourite pick of theirs on Day 2, both for sentimental reasons (they already have his brother!) and in terms of the value I think they got, might have been the selection of Noah Dower Nilsson. Nilsson has legit talent and finesse to his profile and torched Sweden’s J20 level this year, making high-skill plays on a nightly basis.
Larry Keenan in the fourth round also works for me. He’s a toolsy defender who skates really well and could be something by the time he’s done at college.
I don’t think any of their four picks in Rounds 5-7 have a shot, although Kevin Bicker is semi-interesting as the top German forward prospect in a weak class. They’re going to get two NHL players out of their firsts and I like the Sandin Pellikka, Augustine and Dower Nilsson picks enough to not be too critical of the Cleveland pick and some of the upside I think they left on the table taking Danielson at No. 9. I thought about going overtime winners here on the whole.
Finally, EP Rinkside’s David St. Louis and Mitch Brown gave the Wings a “B-“:
If you swapped the two first-round picks from Detroit, the Red Wings’ draft would likely be viewed more favourably. Nate Danielson at No. 9 was a reach for us. However, we still give the Red Wings the benefit of the doubt because they have demonstrated the ability to improve the tactical game of talented prospects and transform them into well-rounded players. Axel Sandin Pellikka is a clear bet on upside, and Andrew Gibson and Brady Cleveland possess the physicality and defensive skills that can enhance Sandin Pellikka’s game.
While Gibson may lack flash and could potentially become a bottom-pairing shutdown type, Cleveland was considered more of a late-round project due to the refinement needed in his game. Nevertheless, Detroit balanced their less exciting pick by selecting Trey Augustine, our top-ranked goalie prospect with starter potential, and Noah Dower Nilsson, who delivered impressive performances in Junior hockey. Among their late-round choices, Kevin Bicker stands out as the most intriguing prospect.
