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Scott Wheeler just released his top 50 NHL drafted prospects https://theathletic.com/442466/2018/07/27/wheeler-the-top-50-drafted-nhl-prospects-ranking-2018-edition/ The bad news is we only have one player on that list. The good news is that player is ranked number 5. Filip Zadina - "I’m fairly confident the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators will grow to regret their Friday night in Dallas, at least quietly. Their loss is the Red Wings’ gain — and they needed it. Despite the team’s desperate need for a rebuild, Zadina is their lone prospect in the top 50. Though I will say this: I really liked their 2018 draft, from Zadina on down to Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren. Zadina, more than the three forwards ahead of him on this list, is at his best when the puck’s on his stick and he can create as a primary carrier and option. Both Pettersson and Svechnikov can be dominant off the puck, finishing off plays in a split second. Zadina is electrifying because he scores his goals with that extra touch before he releases it in order to change his angle, a darting lateral cut, or a deke." It still irks me to see Vilardi so highly regarded by most pundits, ranked number 13 on this list and Rasmussen not crack the top 50... Hopefully Ras really proves everyone wrong over the next couple years and becomes a legit top 6 winger / power-play specialist.

Because of the NTC.

yeh. It's just the way that line is worded, it made me chuckle. "Despite the team’s desperate need for a rebuild" The team is rebuilding. It's not a teardown, but it is indeed a rebuild. "Zadina is their lone prospect in the top 50." The team committed to a rebuild in the second half of the 2016-17 season; they've had two drafts in their new rebuild era. One of those drafts got them Zadina. Rasmussen could fit comfortably in this list. Could make a case for Hronek. Pundits are sophists. Hack frauds, the whole lot of them.

I do like Wysh but he, like many writers, along with their own personal and often very strict views/takes on what a team needs to do to rebuild and or win ( @kliq & @ChristopherReevesLegs ) Writers also attribute the "fixing" or "winning ways" of a team to one player. For example: Steve Yzerman to the end of our playoff/cup drought. A nice crutch to fall back on. Easily and mistakenly made, but easily built upon. (see below for more of this) BUT to @krsmith17's point -- in the very next sentence he "poo-poo's" the idea that any of our current forwards can make that impact. Dylan Larkin doesn't have a glimmer of hope in being a differential player for the Wings? We should already be moving on to Ras and Zadina. WTF. Dylan Larkin is exactly the type of player that could be the next Stevie Y for this team. A key, but not sole piece to the puzzle. ...but remind me? Did we make the playoffs EVERY YEAR after Yzerman arrived. ...and how far along did we get with just the acquisition of Steve Yzerman. Wasn't his ass gonna get traded at one point because he couldn't get it done? ...but no! Steve Yzerman is the ******* answer to all. God, I know he's like one of the most beloved sports figures in Detroit sport history (debatable -- I don't think he should be the most revered Wing.) ... and no disrespect, but let's not put all of our playoff history and success solely on the back of Steve Yzerman. There were a lot of other players that helped this team get over the hump. Some of them well over the age of 25 when it happened. ...and sure the league is changing and becoming younger ...but a roster made up solely of players 25-and-under (which seems to be the cornerstone of Wysh's rebuilding process) or one lone generational talent... is only gonna get you so far. I'm not saying that Holland doesn't have his work cut out for him, doesn't need to trade a player or two, and certainly, no most definitely, needs to change up the strategy when it comes to acquiring defensive talent. BUT. For every Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader -- which according to Wysh (and others) are terrible contracts and need to be jettisoned immediately for us to find success... for each of the aforementioned, remember we had a Doug Brown or Mathieu Dandenault or Bob Erry. (Examples. Solely examples. Understandably not the same players, type of player etc. Cap world vs. Non-Cap world. Etc. Sorry if I shat on your favorite player of '96 - '97.)

I like Wysh as a reporter. Engaging writer/personality, pretty smart guy, and very knowledgeable. But he's very much a fan (NJ) and I have gotten the impression over the years that he's never cared much for the Red Wings. I think there's some butt hurt from the 90s in him. I believe he was one of those guys that started calling for "the streak" to end in like 2011-12, and kept calling it every year despite always being wrong until 2016-17, but don't quote me. Anyway, it boils down to he thinks we should be buying-out all our big contracts, not signing any new ones, and committing to like a 10 year rebuild. Valid opinion, but I personally disagree.

If Dallas had taken Veleno at 13, or whatever position he was "supposed to go at" he would be on that list. Rasmussen not making the list is also extremely suspect. Just like with draft rankings, most of these ranks are likely super inaccurate relative to where these players actually turn out in the league. But it's fun to look at and cool to see Zadina so high up.

Despite the team’s desperate need for a rebuild, Zadina is their lone prospect in the top 50. Only because you stupidly omitted Rasmussen. But ok.

https://www.detroitnews.com/picture-gallery/sports/nhl/red-wings/2018/06/19/red-wings-draft-picks-10-biggest-misses/36170953/ The usual suspects. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nhl/red-wings/2018/07/26/jonatan-berggren-hopeful-becoming-latest-detroit-red-wings-draft-steal/842423002/ “A couple of teams came up and said they were planning to take him right after us,” said Hakan Andersson, the Wings’ director of European scouting. “Montreal was one of them.” “Oh yes, because of all the Swedes (on the roster),” said Berggren, after a development camp practice last month. “The Wings were my favorite team when I was a child. Zetterberg was my favorite player. I haven’t met him yet. “I’m happy to be a Red Wing.” Many analysts and scouts compare Berggren to Nashville forward Viktor Arvidsson, who played on the same Swedish junior team, has an identical build, and plays a similar style. Arvidsson had 29 goals and 61 points for Nashville this season, so if Berggren progresses to that level, the Wings would be entirely pleased.

GUYS ENOUGH WITH THE ANIME JOKES ALREADY

something something something hokage... something something ninjas.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/redwings tl;dr One or two or all three of Kronwall, Howard, Nyquist could be coming off the books next summer. http://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/2019/ufa/ tl;dr Doughty, Karlsson, Panarin, Couture, Duchene, Eberle, Seguin, Skinner, Wheeler, Ekman-Larsson, Myers, Brassard, McDonagh, Johansson, Pacioretty, Stralman, Zuccarello, Hjalmarsson, Simmonds, Silfverberg, Lee, E. Staal, Gourde. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/columnist/allen/2018/03/30/jack-hughes-nhl-draft-prospect/473721002/ tl;dr "Added Vanbiesbrouck: 'I do believe (Hughes) is in the category with Matthews and Eichel, and he might be able to set his own category.'" HYPE!

This was so witty, even I felt like it was above my level.

Pretty blunt, but I don't entirely disagree. A lot of those old players and cap space he speaks of will be mostly gone in the next two seasons though. I also think we have a lot of very nice pieces coming (at forward), but we definitely need to work on the defense. Still no blue chip prospects in the system on the back end.

Yup this is the one that always reminds me of Datsyuk's big coast to coast on the Preds It's literally almost the exact same play. Could arguably be AA's #1 highlight.

What they need for player development is King Kai.

... and Veleno... Nah, not surprised Veleno isn't there, but he WILL be on this list in his draft +1 year, unlike Rasmussen... I agree though, I think Rasmussen should probably be there ahead of a couple guys on this list. I'm okay with him being underrated though, and like I said, hopefully he proves a lot of people wrong, including Scott f***ing Wheeler...

Well you tried, but maybe you didn't JO to enough of the fat men, cause you did a terrible job. Statistically AA did much worse than Kocur in their first seasons. It's not even close actually. AA had a measly 28 penalty minutes in his first season. Kocur had 377. AA is never going to be the player that Kocur was.

Holland's already got a conditional pick set aside to get him back, don't worry.

I'm right on board with all this partner. Despite all the arguments from straw men in this thread, AA is actually probably the player I'm most excited to watch this coming season.

Larkin has done everything you can expect from a kid that's not on a McDavid level. He is absolutely the future of this team. There is nothing about him to not like. He is the ONE guy on this team who deserves a long term deal. If he wants 6 x 6, give it to him. He'll be worth every penny in one way or another.

Real talk: the Wings' official slogan for the 2018-19 season should be "WE GO HAM!" With a picture of Helm crashing into that Isles goalie or whatever. I'd buy that t-shirt.

Canadian Political Propaganda. Ban him!

Red Wings Hire Naurato For Player Development Role Didn't see this posted yet. I was expecting to pop in here and see a buncha crappy anime jokes, what with ya'll and ur silly cartoons.

I'm so excited! He was captain of the Force (my local USHL team) and he is quite the fighter and all around good guy. He was a d-man here, but was offensively capable. Good Michigan boy. I always hoped he'd play for us.