DobberHockey’s Evan Sabourin discusses the Red Wings’ 2023 NHL Draft haul for a “32 in 32” article for DobberProspects.com this morning:
Draft Review: After missing out on the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season — an eternity for Red Wings fans after qualifying for the 25 previous ones — General Manager Steve Yzerman showed up to the 2023 draft in Nashville armed to the teeth with 11 picks. That included five picks in the top 43. Many analysts predicted that the Wings would try to upgrade the current team by dealing some of those picks for a productive goal scorer but that didn’t materialize during the draft. Yzerman left Nashville with 11 new prospects as the team’s rebuild continues.
Detroit has now picked in the top ten for seven consecutive years after not having a pick that high since they drafted Martin Lapointe at number ten in 1991. Their playoff drought is the longest in team history since the 1970’s and the second longest active streak in the NHL today behind only the Buffalo Sabres. But cheer up Wings fans, “The Captain” is cooking. He continues to build through the draft while setting up the Wings future for the long haul. Two weeks after the draft, Yzerman landed former 40-goal scorer Alex DeBrincat in a trade with the Ottawa Senators and then signed the Michigan native to a four-year, team-friendly extension. This was the bold move that the team desperately needed after finishing 24th in scoring last season.
The Wings wasted no time in going off the board early with the ninth-overall pick, center Nate Danielson. Not many analysts projected Danielson going that early. The 6-2 center from the Brandon Wheat Kings is a jack-of-all-trades type of player. Size and strength were key attributes that Detroit has been looking for, and the team feels they got that with the 18-year-old. After the pick, Yzerman talked to ESPN about the selection: “We’re still in a rebuilding phase, we’re still in a collecting assets through the draft…we’re still there…. we’re not at a point where we feel like, hey we can really go for it so to speak. We’re progressing and I hope to be there sooner than later.” On Day Two of the draft, Yzerman swung a deal with his old friend — Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland — and acquired forwards Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin for future considerations. Yamamoto was subsequently bought out of his contract, while Kostin signed a two-year deal with the club. More on that coming up.
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