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UPDATE
The Red Wings have signed restricted free agent center Joakim Andersson to a one-year, $815,000 contract.
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The check is in the mail.
You make your own breaks.
We’re going to take the best player available.
Stop us if you’ve heard it all before, especially that last one.
A lot of teams will be saying that today from the NHL entry draft, including from the Detroit Red Wings.
The Wings, who pick 19th overall, acknowledge that their plan is to take the player they feel is the best available on the board at that time, whether it be a center, winger or defenseman, a left-hand shot or a right-hand shot, a large small or a diminutive player.
“At No. 19, we’ve definitely got some options,… Detroit director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said. “We’re confident we’re going to get two pretty good players at 19 and 73.…
At last year’s draft, the Wings made centers their center of attention, looking to bolster an area where they felt they were lacking. Not a single defenseman was taken by Detroit during the seven rounds of selections.
“Last year we didn’t really target centers,… Wright said. “At that point (in the draft) the depth of defense went away. We’re excited about the bigger centers. Just because they’re centers doesn’t mean they’ll be a center at the next level.…
About the only area where the Wings see a shortage within the organization, and it’s been well documented, is right-handed shooting defenseman, but that doesn’t mean such players will become a priority this weekend.
“I don’t think we’re really going to target specific needs,… Wright said. “But if you never draft right-handed defensemen you’re not going to have right-handed defensemen.
“If there’s one area we’re looking at, that’s it. But we want good players regardless.…
The Wings have also put an emphasis on size in their last two draft classes, but aren’t ruling out going small if they think a player is capable. They signed undersized defenseman Joe Hicketts last fall after he was passed over in the NHL draft.
“It just worked out that way,… Wright said of selecting bigger players. “Small players are still good players. I don’t think you can discredit them just because of size.
“If they’ve got a big heart and can compete, they can find a way.…
Players who could potentially be there for Detroit at No. 19 pretty much cover the board of possibilities, from Farjestad centre Joel Erkisson-Ek, to Cape Breton left-winger Evgeny Svechinov or Togliatti right-winger Denis Guryanov. If the Wings decide to go for a defensemen, Everett’s Noel Juulsen and Frolunda’s Jacob Larsson are intriguing options.
Wright also didn’t rule out taking a goaltender at some point, though not likely at 19.
“It’s a fairly deep goalie draft,… Wright said. “You try to add a goalie if it’s the right pick at the right time. I think goalies are a little harder to judge as far as development.
“If you have too many goalies that are good, that’s a good problem to have.…
The Wings are also willing to listen to trade offers that would involve them swapping first-round picks and moving down in the draft, especially if they can recoup the second-round pick they dealt to Dallas in the Erik Cole trade.
“For sure, especially with no second (round pick) this year,… Wright said. “It’s obviously an option. We’re going through every scenario as far as moving back and picking up extra picks.
“I’m not opposed to moving up either. Were not going to leave any option closed. I’m OK with moving back.
“It’s a very good draft. Once you get out of the top 10-12 players there’s a group of players that could go into the second round and be successful players – at all three positions.…
The other reason why the Wings can entertain such an option is because they are currently so rich in young prospects.
“I really like our depth,… Wright said. “You get all excited about prospects but at the same time they haven’t played a game in the league. Young kids need to develop and get better.
“I think we’ve got a cluster of really good prospects. We have to continue to develop them. Until they’ve been regular NHL players they have to prove it every day.…
If you’re keeping track at home, besides 19 and 73, the Wings are also slated to pick at 110, 140, 170 and 200.
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