krsmith17

I've always liked Helm on the wing, I think his speed makes him much more dangerous offensively on the boards than it does down the middle. For the same reason, I think Athanasiou would be much more effective as a winger at the NHL level. Both players are huge assets because of their speed and versatility. I don't think Helm should be going anywhere. I doubt it will take Svechnikov 4 years to crack the Red Wings lineup, but I don't think it will be a year either. My guess would be 2-3 years. He's not eligible to play in the AHL next season, so he will be sent back to the Q for another year. I would guess he will play at least one season in Grand Rapids the following year, then possibly make the Red Wings in the 2017-18 season. I think the '17-18 season is going to be a good one. New Arena for all these stud kids we're going to have coming up over the next few seasons...

One kid I was hoping we would draft (for personal reasons) but am absolutely shocked he didn't get drafted at all, is local kid Nathan Noel. He's a right handed winger, not overly big at 5'11", 172lbs. but he was ranked 54 by NHL Central Scouting. He was drafted 3rd overall in the Q two years ago and had very reasonable numbers. He scored just under a point per game with the Sea Dogs last season. How does he go undrafted through 7 rounds?...

I didn't want us to take a winger in the first round, but there isn't much question this kid was the right choice at 19. I was hoping Conner was going to drop to us (he almost did) but when I seen them going to the stage, indicating they were making the pick at 19, he was one of the top guys on my list. I still would have liked to move back and take Roy and Spencer but I'm quite okay with taking Svechnikov. I think he will be a really good player. I'm even more excited after reading he could potentially play center... Larkin, Svechnikov, Sheahan and Glendening down the middle sounds pretty good to me.

Overall a decent draft. I'm not a fan of our 3rd or 4th round picks, but 1st, and 5th - 7th were decent. I am surprised we didn't make a single trade though... 1 centers, 2 wingers, 2 defensemen and a goalie... Not what I was expecting at all but not terrible I suppose...

I'm not in any way saying that I know much of anything about any of the kids beyond the 2nd round, because I don't. But I do remember being excited about the Bertuzzi pick two years ago. I also remember being excited about the Holmstrom pick last year (I was also excited about Kadeykin). I'm not thrilled at all about some of these picks but I'll get over it...

darkmanx, I am one of Holland's biggest supporters and I have said several times that I'm not going to make too big of a judgement too early. I also stated what a great job he does at the draft table... I would never sit down with Holland and call him out for any of his picks, because he and his staff undoubtedly know a hell of a log more than me about any of these kids. Does that mean that fans that know very little about these guys can't debate amongst themselves whether or not they were good or bad picks? I don't like the picks, you do. Not a big deal. We'll find out in a few years whether or not they were good picks or not...

I don't have any scouting report on Van Pottelberghe. I honestly don't know much at all about either Paterson or Perry. But I do know that both will have a better shot at making an impact on the organization a hell of a lot sooner than this kid. Drafting a goalie over a defenseman makes zero sense to me. Whatever.

So Paterson and Perry don't have a shot at NHL duty but Van Pottelberghe absolutely does... Give me a break. Both of these kids have just as good a shot at being NHLers as this kid. Besides, we're going to need a backup within a few years if Howard is traded. That won't be any of these kids. It will be a free agent signing...

I didn't say McCollum should be or would be our backup. I'm saying that with Howard being traded being such a sure thing by fans, why wouldn't McCollum be thinking the exact same thing, and sign a new contract for the chance to emerge as the backup...

darkmanx, you say we can easily trade for a defender, but we can't trade for a backup or minor league goalie?...

Why is everyone assuming McCollum is gone? I wouldn't be at all surprised if he resigns and stays in Grand Rapids. All the fans are so sure that Howard is on his way out so why wouldn't McCollum be thinking the same thing? With Howard "100% on his way out" maybe Tommy Boy can make his way up as a backup to Mrazek. Also, why are Paterson and Perry not viewed as guys for Grand Rapids? And like I said, we have our number 1 in Detroit. Filling a backup / minor league role has to be the easiest to fill. There are always a dozen options in free agency every year...

Chase Pearson. Center.

Under Howard and Mrazek we have McCollum (if he re-signs), Paterson and Perry... How many goalies do we need? A backup / minor league goalie has got to be the easiest position to fill via free agency. I don't believe a goaltender was a need. Certainly not more so than defensemen... Yeah, we did pick a defenseman. But how often do 5'9" defenders make the NHL, let alone become an impact player? Like I said, I'm not going to judge too much too early, but at an initial look, so far I'm not at all impressed with out picks after Svechnikov...

I'm not going to judge too early on this draft because Holland and co. have proven successful at the draft table, but I'm not at all impressed so far either. Really haven't addressed and needs in my opinion. Big skilled Russian winger looks good, but undersized defenseman and a goaltender... Not impressed...

Not much. He doesn't interest me much...

I figured that's where he'd end up... Oh well...

number9's crystal ball says Mantha sucks and won't be a top 6 forward in the NHL. I would absolutely take that bet. How can he be "crapping the bed" after one (not even full) season? He's likely not going to be the next Rick Nash. What a total bust... How the hell do you read that and get that we're not taking a defenseman in the first round? There are more quality defenseman at around 19 than any other position, but because we're going to take the best player available, it won't be a defenseman... Okay...

I seen the quote from Tyler Wright, not Ryan Martin, but yes, I would still be absolutely shocked to see us take a goaltender in this draft. He also said, we could potentially move up in the draft, or move back in the draft, he also said that the main area they're targeting is defense, particularly right handed defensemen, and he also said, despite all of that, they will always take the best player available....

Ok, I never thought Mantha should have cracked the Wings lineup last season. I made that very clear on several occasions. He was absolutely overhyped by many on here. He is nowhere near as bad as you make him out to be though. He will definitely have a bounce back season and it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him put up a point per game or close to it. He's a very skilled young player, and he will get his game back on track, not a doubt in my mind. Who the hell is comparing him to Rick Nash? I think he still has the potential to be a Jeff Carter lite. Samsonov probably does have a lot more potential than either of those guys, but no way he's ready to start in the American League next season. McCollum may or may not be back with the Griffins next season, but I'd much prefer have him between the pipes than an 18 year old kid, as would management, I'm sure... We do not need a goaltender, and I will be absolutely shocked to see us break the trend of taking one every second season, to take two in back to back seasons. We still have Paterson and Perry that could become a decent American leaguer, which is all we should need for the next 10+ years with Mrazek in line to take over in the next year or so...

Yup, probably one of the worst transitions from junior to pro we've ever seen... I mean, 33 points in 62 games, what a bum this kid is... Who else do we have at wing? Nyquist, Tatar, Jurco, Pulkkinen, Abdelkader, Helm, Athanasiou (unless he plays center at the NHL level), Bertuzzi. Holmstrom, like Athanasiou is a center but could play wing at the NHL level. So you think Samsonov would be the starter in Grand Rapids next season? Now I know you're f***ing around... I'm well aware of the fact that we took all centers and a goalie in last years draft. Which is why we need to concentrate fully on the back end and we definitely do not need a goaltender.

I honestly have no idea if you're just trying to get a response or not but I'll humor you... I'm pretty sure you know just as well as anyone that we shouldn't be writing Mantha off after one season of pro. And either way, even without Mantha, we still have a s*** ton of young capable top 6 wingers... And I'm sure you're just trolling with the last comment... How the hell would drafting a goalie this year allow us to trade Howard?. Makes zero sense...

Pretty much every single mock draft I've seen has Kylington ahead of Carlsson despite the injury. I think I'd take Kylington between the two, although neither are my number one choice.

I don't get how a goalie is "needed"... We don't need a goalie and we don't need wingers. We NEED defense...

We definitely need to take a defenseman with our first pick, most likely first couple picks. I'd go with all defenseman with the exception of maybe one center mixed in there somewhere. I really don't want to see us take a goalie and I'd be surprised if we did to be honest...

I've heard numerous times in numerous different articles that Larkin was a Red Wings fan growing up, but he wasn't. He was a Leafs fan... This is him at last years Winter Classic in the Big House with his Leafs hat on... Also... 2:18