This morning, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler “re-drafts” the class of 2022, suggesting that the Red Wings should have picked Columbus prospect defenseman Denton Mateychuk instead of Marco Kasper with the 8th overall pick:
8. Detroit Red Wings: LHD Denton Mateychuk
Actual draft pick: No. 12 (change: +4) to Columbus
My final ranking: No. 13 (change: +5)I still don’t think people realize how good Mateychuk is. The 5-foot-11/6-foot defenseman has had a tougher time cutting through in recent years, but Mateychuk has been one of the very best players in his age group for as long as I’ve watched him. He stepped right out of junior and into being a top D in the AHL and one of the best rookie D in the NHL right away last year.
He was drafted where Josh Morrissey was and had a better first pro season. I don’t think a similar path as a 30-something point D who breaks out for more in his late-20s like Morrissey is out of the question here, and moving on from David Jiricek cleared the path for him to continue to be prioritized (though it was already pretty clear that he’d leapfrogged Jiricek even before the trade). I’d listen to arguments for Mateychuk behind the next few players on this list, but I’d stop there. At his floor, I think we’re probably looking at a better version of what Rasmus Sandin is on a good Capitals team.
10. Anaheim Ducks: C Marco Kasper
Actual draft pick: No. 8 (change: -2) to Detroit
My final ranking: No. 24 (change: +14)I think all of Nazar, Nemec, Mateychuk, Rinzel, Kasper, Kulich and Snuggerud could probably be sorted any way you like from No. 6-12 in a re-draft. I’m sure the Red Wings would just take him again at No. 8, too. Kasper was always going to become a real solid, effective NHL player. In a weaker draft, I should have given that more value. If the me of 2025 were back in 2022, I would have had him higher even without hindsight. I might not have landed on him at No. 8 today still, but he would have been in the ballpark.
Continued (paywall); the Red Wings definitely need to add a top-four defenseman, but Kasper has been such a perfect fit in the 2nd line center’s spot that I would not hesitate to pick Kasper instead of Mateychuk.
