Bleacher Report’s Hannah Stuart chose to “check in” on each and every one of the NHL’s 32 first-round draft picks from the 2023 NHL Draft, and as you probably know by now, Red Wings first-rounder Nate Danielson will be “turning pro” this upcoming season with an abundance of self-confidence:
#9 Nate Danielson, Detroit Red Wings: Nate Danielson had quite a run during the 23-24 season. While he started out his WHL season with the Brandon Wheat Kings, the trade deadline saw him heading to the Portland Winterhawks, with whom he would reach the WHL Championship before getting swept by the Moose Jaw Warriors. All told, he ended up with 67 points in 54 regular-season games. He also fit in a stint with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, and logged two games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, after the end of his WHL season.
Danielson made it to the final round of cuts during training camp with the Red Wings last season. If his performance at the team’s recent development camp is any indication, he clearly intends to come into training camp ready to push the envelope further and ensure he’s in conversation for one of those opening night spots. Whether he can convince general manager Steve Yzerman to take the chance is something we’ll all have to find out together in the fall.
Continued; I don’t know whether Danielson will end up as a center or a winger in the NHL, but his grit and playmaking abilities indicate to me that he’s likely to jump to the best league in the world sooner than later.
