EP Rinkside’s J.D. Burke and Cam Robinson offered a set of 2023 NHL Draft “Odds and Ends” this afternoon, and they noted that Red Wings 9th overall pick Nate Danielson remains a somewhat “polarizing” prospect:
Going into last week, it seemed that Nate Danielson was the most extreme example of the divergence between public and team side scouts in this year’s draft – the team side in the pro camp and most in the public sharing a less enthusiastic appraisal of his game.
When the Detroit Red Wings stepped up to the podium to take him with the ninth overall pick, it seemed to confirm that. Now, we’re not so certain.
“It was a little surprising to see him go at nine, but one of my scouts had him in that range,” one executive said. “He was a little polarizing, but there were people that were high on him.”
As we continued to talk with people for this piece, their opinion of that pick seemed to align with that – that Danielson was divisive rather than universally revered.
“No, I wasn’t surprised to see him go at nine. He’s terrific,” one scout said.
On the opposite end of the spectrum: “We just don’t understand why some clubs value safe, middle-of-the-lineup players that early,” another scout told EP Rinkside. “You can find those players in trades, free agency, and the (waiver) wire. If you trust your pro scouts, they can get you those players. The job is to find difference makers early in the draft”
Danielson is going to be a fascinating prospect to track in the coming years. The Red Wings had to swing on upside in that spot, because it’s not likely that they’ll be in that range again in the coming years, and they still need a game-breaking talent in their NHL lineup. Clearly, they see him as that guy.
Continued (paywall); after three viewings, I’m not worried about Danielson, but it’s early yet for the 18-year-old.
