The Red Wings took a late-round flyer on German-born forward Kevin Bicker late last month in Nashville, picking the 6’1,” 176-pound Bicker with the 147th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
During the Red Wings’ 2023 Summer Development Camp, Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper spoke about the plucky, speedy Bicker’s abilities, as noted by Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:
“He can absolutely fly,” said Kris Draper, Detroit’s Assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting. “He’s a great skater. Played for Germany at the U-18s. That’s the first time I saw him play and all the sudden I saw this kid flying down the left wing and you’re like, ‘This kid can go.’”
NHL’s Central Scouting had him ranked 124th among European prospects and Red Line Report had him ranked 327th overall. Some scouting services projected him as a bottom six forward prospect. Some scouts liked him, but said there was a good chance he wouldn’t be drafted.
But the Red Wings liked his tools enough to use a fifth-round pick on him.
“Talked to a couple of Mannheim coaches and they were bringing him up (to the DEL),” Draper said. “…He’s a competitive kid. Those are the best assets. So, for us we’re able to get another skater. Anytime you have an opportunity to add some speed and there’s a defining element that sticks out and skating is definitely his.”
Allen continues, adding Dan Cleary’s take to the mix; Bicker is definitely scrawny, but from what I watched of him over the four days of skill drills and 3-on-3 tournament at development camp…
Bicker was talented enough to keep up with the Wings’ top prospects, he was speedy, and he had a bit of an asshole’s mentality when it came to dealing with physical challenges.
The Jungadler Mannheim product should be intriguing to watch as he tries to go pro with the DEL’s Lowen Frankfurt this upcoming season. I don’t see him playing a top-line role at this point, but as he attempts to establish himself as a pro, Bicker’s got “speedy, pesky grinder” written all over him.
