Follow me on Twitter Follow @TheJeremyLaura
â¦@DetroitRedWingsâ© â¦@HockeyBuzzâ© Detroits 2020 draft class pic.twitter.com/O2nDZCJiw9
— Stuttering Guitarist (@TheJeremyLaura) July 18, 2023
Detroit posted an article that seemed to indicate that both Kasper and Edvinsson have a chance of making the team, but neither are being guaranteed a spot. They’ll have to stand out and take it. Hopefully Edvinsson’s healing is going well and he can get in the mix soon into the year.
Yesterday we looked at 2019, Yzerman’s first draft as Detroit’s GM. From that draft Seider has been the standout with Soderblom making a decent impression on the 3rd line before injury derailed his year. He finished the year playing in Grand Rapids posting near identical numbers but with a team that needed (and made) some changes. I do expect Soderblom to get a look in camp so long as summer training has him ready to go.
Today we’re looking at the 2020 draft and its impact on the club. Lucas Raymond looked good on a line with Larkin and Bertuzzi in his first season, but the second season saw teams looking for him. Even with more physical play directed at the right shot winger, he put together 17 goals and 28 assists in 74 games compared to 23 goals and 34 assists in his rookie season. What I’ve appreciated about Raymond is his attitude. He seems to be “that guy… that wants to be out there and be part of positive movement as the team has gone through serious deconstruction and rebuilding.
William Wallinder, left shot 6’4… D played just one game for Grand Rapids last year but is showing to be on the roster for this upcoming season. Last year he put up 26 points (7 goals, 19 assists) in 50 games in the SHL. He has signed his ELC. Another kid that I have to crane my neck to see. 6’1… was considered somewhat tall in 1995 but some of these kids make me feel pretty short.
Theodor Niederbach was drafted and 51 and seemed to start to find his game with Modo last season with 7 goals and 11 assists in 31 games compared to 1 goal in 17 games with Rogle. The 5’11… right shooting centerman looks to be starting the season with Modo again. Shy of some sort of breakout campaign, it is hard to project where he will land.
Cross Hanas, selected at 55, is a 6’1… left shooting winger/center who played in just 30 games for Grand Rapids last year. He signed his ELC, and posted 9 goals and 8 assists in those 30 appearances.
Donovan Sebrango, picked at 63 was traded to Ottawa as there’s a new cat in town who Detroit hopes will add to the scoring ledger.
Eemil Viro was drafted at #70 overall and spend most of last year in Grand Rapids (with 5 games played in Toledo). Signed by Detroit, he posted 8 points in 48 games in GR( 1G 7a) and 3 assists in Toledo in 5 games. The 6’ left shot defenseman will have another shot to make an impact with the Griffins this year.
Sam Stange will continue (at this point) to develop at the University of Wisconsin this year. The 6’ RW was picked at 97
Jan Bednar, a 6’4… goalie is expected to play in GR this year after posting a .901 SV % and 3.00 GAA in Toledo in 3 games. Not signed to an ELC at this point.
Alex Cotton, selected at 132, scored 46 points (11g 35 A) in Finland last year and will start the year with Vasterviks IK in Sweden. At 6’2…, this right shot defenseman certainly seemed to find a scoring touch in his development last year. It would be a nice surprise if he can stand out in another year of playing. Status - unsigned.
Kyle Aucoin, a 5’11… Dman was selected at 156 and will continue his development at Harvard. With a bloodline that carries some weight in the NHL, the first 2 years at Harvard saw him post just 2 assists in each outing (30 and 24 games respectively)
Kienan Draper, a 6’ right shot RW was selected at 187 with his dad Kris in attendance as head of scouting. He joined the team at the University of Michigan scoring just 1 goal in 23 games.
Chase Bradley was Detroit’s final pick in 2020 at #203. The 5’11… left shot LW scored 20 points (10g 10a) in 35 games for the University of Connecticut. It’s not listed on his elite prospects page where he’ll be playing this year.
Well, that’s the catch up from the 2020 draft. So far, only Raymond has seen NHL ice time and one of 3 players from the draft to sign their ELC. Alex Cotton seems to be worth keeping an eye on at this point, but it feels like the heard is thinning on this draft class. We’ll see if anyone has a standout season this coming fall.