The Red Wings selected a 20-year-old in Prince George Cougars forward Ondrej Becher this past June in Las Vegas, taking a flyer on the young Czech with the 80th overall draft pick.
Becher blossomed with the Cougars this past season, posting 32 goals and 64 assists for 96 points in 58 games played–as well as 19 playoff points in 15 games played–and while Becher can return to his WHL team as an “overager,” he may end up playing for Grand Rapids or Toledo.
The Free Press’s Helene St. James explains why the Wings drafted this older player in a draft that’s usually for 18 and 19-year-olds:
“I got to see Bechs play past few world juniors,” assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said during the team’s early July development camp. “Obviously he has skills. We’ll see what transpires here in terms of where he is going to go play.”
Becher himself wasn’t sure where he will play this coming season, but wherever it is, he knows that, “I have to work hard every day, more than even before.”
A lanky 6 feet 2 and 187 pounds, Becher has spent the past two seasons playing with the Prince George Cougars. He had an OK first season, with 16 goals and 22 assists in 63 games, plus three points in three playoff games.
This past season, though, he had almost as many goals (32) as he had points the previous year (38) and also picked up 64 assists in 58 games, giving him a 1.65 points-per-game average. In the playoffs, he posted 19 points in 15 games. It turned out that when Becher committed to his own end of the ice, he was much more effective in the opponent’s end.
“I think I start playing more defensively, so I become two-way player,” he said. “I wasn’t two-way player before. I try to improve in defensive zone and I think I did. I think that’s why I am here now.”
Continued; Becher’s playing situation is a little complicated due to his age, but there’s no harm in utilizing a middle-of-the-draft pick on a player that amateur scouts believe might become a high-scorer. The Wings need as many scorers as they can get.
