The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a fine profile of Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper, and it’s not behind a paywall as of 6:15 AM:
“It’s been 30 years since I’ve been part of this organization and it’s something I take a ton of pride in,” Draper said. “The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most important things in my life, it’s been like that for years. I want to be a big part of us getting back into the playoffs and then from there, being Cup contenders to being Cup champions again. I want the players in this dressing room to go through what I went through as a player. It’s something I’ve never forgotten. Once the season ended and we went into the playoffs, it was different around here. Detroit Red Wings fans are absolutely incredible, but it goes next level come playoff time, and I want that group in that dressing room to go through what we were able to go through and then they’re going to understand what playoff hockey means in Detroit.”
As soon as he retired, Draper, like Yzerman had done in 2006 when he retired, shifted to the front office. Anyone who watched The Office and followed the career path of Dwight Schrute would appreciate the fact Draper started out as assistant to the general manager under Ken Holland.
“I was officially special assistant and then I asked Ken if we could drop the special,” Draper said. “Ken was very gracious with the title. I wasn’t in charge of anything, really. I just went and watched hockey games and put reports in and I don’t know if anybody read them. That was the role there.
“And then when Stevie came in, putting me in charge of the draft and director of amateur scouting and running a staff, and that was something that was totally different. It was a great opportunity for me to be around Ken and learn everything in all areas of the game. That was special and I appreciate that, to be able to walk out of the Detroit Red Wings room into the Detroit Red Wings front office was something that Ken gave me that opportunity and that’s a big reason why I’m sitting here.”
