The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an afternoon notebook today, discussing Dylan Larkin’s status (could it take all summer and into the fall for the Wings to trade him? Of course it could!), and some possible picks for the Red Wings when the 47th overall pick is called in round 2 on Saturday morning:
There are certain players who could drop to where the Wings pick Saturday, at No. 47 overall, and would appear to be Yzerman’s type of prospects. Here are several to keep an eye on:
▶ William Hakansson: The 6-foot-4, 218-pound defenseman is a physical, stay-at-home type, who isn’t likely to produce much offense but could develop into the shutdown defenseman every team consistently searches for. He played in the Swedish men’s league, a rare thing for an 18-year-old.
▶ Adam Valentini: The 5-10, 185-pound Valentini had 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games at Michigan. A center who players bigger than his size and is relentless on the forecheck, the Wings would gladly give Valentini time to grow into a complete player.
▶ Victor Plante: Yes, Max’s younger brother. Victor is 5-foot-10, 163-pounds and will join Max at Minnesota-Duluth this season. Victor showed promising offensive potential last season at the Plymouth Township-based United States National Team Development Program, with 21 goals and 48 points in 57 games.
▶ Mathis Preston: The 5-foot-11, 176-pound winger is projected to be a late first-rounder in some mock drafts, but most have him falling into the second round because of inconsistency and inability to drive the play. Preston had 18 goals between two teams last season in the WHL.
Everybody I’ve read thinks that the Wings will pick Valentini if he’s available. I’d like to see Victor Plante join his brother, or see the Wings reunite Carter Bear and Everett Silvertips linemate Matias Vanhanen…
But all three players are 5’10,” and I believe that Detroit needs to add a power forward or three in this year’s draft. Size and snarl are hard to find in the Wings’ developmental pipeline, and I happen to believe that the Wings need both categories…
And here are the Wings’ 7 picks for tomorrow (the 2nd through 7th rounds will begin at 11 AM EDT, televised on the NHL Network and Sportsnet):
47, 79, 108, 143, 175, 196, 207.
