Is this the year?

[grsbmd 0]

It hasn't happened since 1992, but I'm thinking this might finally be the year that the Wings use their first round pick to select a forward. Their group of defensive prospects is really deep, and they don't seem to have many potential top forwards in the pipeline. What do you guys think?

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

i wouldnt mind, allthough the general consencious from experts say that the draft drops off quickly after the first top 7-8 with 5 of them being forwards

[DYags 0]

I think they will, it only makes sense. We have crazy depth in defense and two talented goaltenders behind ozzie. I'm not at all sold on Kopecky, I think he'd be more useful as trade bait.. sign a forward Kenny! Get it done!

[edicius 3,269]

I've heard that this is a pretty deep draft, top 15 potentially NHL-ready players, so who knows?

[Ti-girl 0]

Tyler Ennis.

[rick zombo 3,739]

Hard to say.

It's clear they like to build the team from the blue-line out. So don't be surprised if it's a D prospect.

But they could stand to invest in a physical North American forward. Or a scoring (right) winger.

And of course more goalie depth would be good.

I think they'll stick to organizational philosophy and simply draft the player they deem as the best available guy at #30. Regardless of position.

Edited June 8, 2008 by rick zombo

[Feldmarschall 9]

Thread title reminds me of those crappy "Is this the year?" ads the NHL ran. I had to watch the parody on YouTube just now. Thanks much, OP.

[tony 3]

im gonna guess and say we trade out of the first round

[Superman54 91]

I really hope we do. Wings already have more then enough depth on Defense, so it would be wise to use this one on a forward IMO

[B.B. 0]

One would think so, but it is hard to predict. We are drafting so late in the first round that the player will probably not be able to come in and contribute immediately, and will most likely need 4 to 5 years to develop. So, in 4 to 5 years, who is to say that we will have more depth defensively than we do offensively?

But, looking at our prospects, the two things we need are tough, big, physical defensemen, and a power forward. Defensively, other than Erricson and potentially Quincey, we do not have any tough physical D-men in our system (unless you count Kolosov, but he may or may not be re-signed next year), and with both of those players about to wear out their stay in GR, we need to replenish the system in that department.

Offensively, Mursak, Ritolla, Emmerton, and Axellson are potential top-6 forwards, and we have checking line guys in Helm, Abs who will be on our team for years. The one thing we lack is that power forward that every teams covet, and only the lucky ones have. Hopefully, we can nab one, because (and I hate to say this) but we traded away a beauty in Matthias last year, and we need to find another one this year.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I don't get the impression that the Wings care much about need. Obviously nobody they pick is going to make the big club any time soon. 3 years, minimum - that's how long ago Helm, Abdelkader, and Ritola were drafted and they're just now breaking on the scene. At #30 you just take the best player available.

[miller76 463]

I was reading this mock draft, and they had Detroit picking another D from Sweden. Erik Karlsson. I guess we will see.

[redwings56 1]

i wouldnt mind, allthough the general consencious from experts say that the draft drops off quickly after the first top 7-8 with 5 of them being forwards

top 7-8? most definetly not. This is the deepest draft in a long time. Most of the top 10 are defensemen. The wings will get a quality foward by the 30th pick. And also if anyone remember's how late players like Perry and Richards fell to in the first round. No experts are saying after the top 7 or 8 players it drops off, and it is not 5 fowards.

The one thing we lack is that power forward that every teams covet, and only the lucky ones have. Hopefully, we can nab one

are you forgetting the MULE!

he is as good as any team can ask for. He is in a great situation and better realize it. He has sick hands and is a power foward. like i said though, he is in a great situation playing with such good players in Datsyuk and Hank, so if he leaves for big money, which i expect he will try for with another great season next year then he won't suceed as in Detroit.

Any way, he is the wings powerfoward.

Edited June 8, 2008 by redwings56

[Datsyukian Geek 2]

i wouldnt mind, allthough the general consencious from experts say that the draft drops off quickly after the first top 7-8 with 5 of them being forwards

Thank God for good drafting, we'll find another gem in the s***pile.

[marcaractac 3,961]

well, with all the depth in defense we do have, maybe this year we trade up in the draft to try and get a higher pick. it couldnt hurt with all the depth we have to try and draft a good forward in the first round

[Systemfel 33]

I'd like A.J. Jenks or Anton Gustafsson.

Btw, nhlentrydraft2008.com is a great site, you should have a look.

Edited June 8, 2008 by Systemfel

[Doggy 130]

If I were the GM I'd get another defenseman. Unless a good player drops dramatically like Esposito did last year.

[ben_usmc 253]

On XM the mockdraft they had a goalie going for Detroit, they also said this is an extremely deep defensive draft. Also for physical D-man I thought Kindl was supposed to be pretty physical, or at least fights; thats what I heard anyway.

[Doggy 130]

I'd like A.J. Jenks or Anton Gustafsson.

Btw, nhlentrydraft2008.com is a great site, you should have a look.

I don't think Jenks will be around after 29 picks. Maybe Gustafsson.

[Superman54 91]

My two guesses are

Zac Dalpe http://www.nhlentrydraft2008.com/featuredP...p;playerID=1016

Greg Nemisz http://www.nhlentrydraft2008.com/featuredP...p;playerID=1022

Edited June 9, 2008 by Superman54

[DMAC 25 18]

i would like to see them pick a forward but whoever they do pick up should be good b/c detroit is known for developing players and having great scouting so even if they don't pick one in the first round they'll do fine later in the draft i mean look how far in the draft zetterberg was taken

[chrisdetroit 189]

Hard to say.

It's clear they like to build the team from the blue-line out. So don't be surprised if it's a D prospect.

But they could stand to invest in a physical North American forward. Or a scoring (right) winger.

And of course more goalie depth would be good.

I think they'll stick to organizational philosophy and simply draft the player they deem as the best available guy at #30. Regardless of position.

Christ, here we go with this crap again. We just won the friggin cup with a mostly European team but we need more physical North Americans!

We don't want any more of those soft Europeans like Zetterburg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Frazen. Just pick a phyisical North American.

Sometimes I wonder why I read these forums

[chrisdetroit 189]

top 7-8? most definetly not. This is the deepest draft in a long time. Most of the top 10 are defensemen. The wings will get a quality foward by the 30th pick. And also if anyone remember's how late players like Perry and Richards fell to in the first round. No experts are saying after the top 7 or 8 players it drops off, and it is not 5 fowards.

are you forgetting the MULE!

he is as good as any team can ask for. He is in a great situation and better realize it. He has sick hands and is a power foward. like i said though, he is in a great situation playing with such good players in Datsyuk and Hank, so if he leaves for big money, which i expect he will try for with another great season next year then he won't suceed as in Detroit.

Any way, he is the wings powerfoward.

What the hell are you basing that on? I haven't seen anything that indicates that he wants to leave.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

James Wright in the first 1st, and then we pick Luke Adam in the 2nd or 3rd round. He's a huge Wings fan, a good young guy, size and all of that. Doesnt hurt that I grew up next to him and know him personally .

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Christ, here we go with this crap again. We just won the friggin cup with a mostly European team but we need more physical North Americans!

We don't want any more of those soft Europeans like Zetterburg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Frazen. Just pick a phyisical North American.

Sometimes I wonder why I read these forums

There's no need to jump off the deep end dude. I think he's just trying to say that it'd be nice to have another Shanny type of character in this team's future. Franzen is fantastic- I'm dying to see his McFarlane action figure on my shelf (who knows when that'll happen- they have a kinda slow turn-around time and haven't stated intentions to do a Mule figure yet). But I'd still like another big power forward like him to replace Holmstrom on the first line when he retires (since he's going to be retired long before Dats or Z).

Is that feasible in the first round at #30? I dunno- stranger things have happened and this is a deep as hell draft. Still- I wouldn't be surprised if the Wings traded down for a couple of high 2nd round picks so they could pick up the other Staal kid and some other tempting prospects.

I suggest people read the Hockey News 2008 Prospect edition- it's a very interesting read.