The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a profile of Red Wings 1st round draft pick Nate Danielson this afternoon, and Kulfan focuses on #1 overall draft pick Connor Bedard’s endorsement of the man who went 9th overall last month in Nashville:
Kris Draper, the Wings’ assistant general manager/director of amateur scouting, heard an interview with top overall draft pick Connor Bedard. The subject was players who did a good job defending Bedard, the scoring phenom that was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks. The answer cemented everything Draper felt about Danielson.
“He said Danielson was one of the toughest players to play against,” Draper said. “That kind of stands out in an interview. When we heard that, it was something that put a little smile on our face.”
Bedard reaffirmed it during an interview with reporters before the draft.
“He was probably the guy that maybe gave me the hardest game,” Bedard said. “He’s so fast, so skilled. If you turn it over or something, he’s going to go down and do something. He’s a great player.”
Danielson and Bedard met at hockey camps in Canada as both were progressing into junior standouts. With both playing in the Western Hockey League, they faced each other often and were able to maintain contact and a friendship. Both, incidentally, were roommates at the draft in Nashville.
“I’m super happy for him,” Bedard said after hearing of Danielson going to the Wings. “We first met when I was 15 and he was 16. We did some training in Toronto and we hit it off right away, had a lot of fun together. He’s someone I’m really close with. To be able to be here with him and a lot of friends, and to hear the news that he got taken (by the Wings) is so incredible. He’s a special player and great person.”
