This evening, the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan discusses the Red Wings’ decision to draft 20-year-old center Ondrej Becher with the 80th overall pick in this past June’s NHL Draft.
“It just looked like everything potentially that he had as a 17-, or 18-year-old kind of hit as a 19-year-old,” said Kris Draper, the Wings’ director of amateur scouting/assistant general manager, after the draft. “He got a great opportunity and took advantage of it and was comfortable in it. He certainly put up great numbers. His skating is something that when you watch him play, he has that extra gear. He’s just sort of starting to come into his own and starting to feel comfortable about the type of player that he could possibly be.”
Becher realizes there’s plenty of more work ahead.
“I have to work hard every day, more than even before,” Becher said at the conclusion of the Wings’ development camp earlier this month.
Becher exploded for 96 points (32 goals, 64 assists) for Prince George (WHL) last season, and also had an impressive world junior championship for his native Czechia, with 10 points (seven assists) in seven games.
Considering Becher had 38 points for Prince George the season before, it was a monumental offensive improvement for a 6-foot-1, 184-pound center who many scouts actually grade out better defensively. Becher felt concentrating on the defensive end this past season helped him achieve success all over the ice.
“I start(ed) playing more defensively, so I become two-way player now,” Becher said. “I wasn’t a two-way player before. I try to improve in defensive zone, and I did. That’s why I am here now.”
Continued; as Kulfan notes, the Red Wings aren’t quite sure where Becher will play this upcoming season. The WHL’s Prince George Cougars can only have 3 20-year-old players on their roster, so Becher may be traded to another WHL team, or he may end up playing for Grand Rapids or Toledo.
