Direction the Wings should take in the Draft.

[babygorilla 1]

I have fallen behind on the Jr. Prospects, and players overseas. Who out there interests you, and what positions should the Wings hit hard. I have seen several mock drafts which the Wings taking goalies, and forwards galore. Any info. would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[VM1138 1,921]

I think they pick a defenseman first, because they will need some talent in a few years once Meech and all them get more established. We are a defense-first team. Then I see them grabbing some diamonds in the rough in the lower rounds.

[shoe 165]

I don't agree with drafting by position unless there is a major need. I'd rather they draft the best available player.

[Shaman 713]

we will be going after forwards in our first 2 picks i think...our defensive prospects are some of the best in the league so no need to waste a pick on a D man.

[Guest Crymson]

A little off topic here; just after I put my little guy down for a nap - I tuned in/watched 'NHL Live' on the NHL Network...Ducks GM Brian Burke made a surprise visit (was having luch in NYC with Bettman) & when asked if Filatov was available (Ducks picking 12th courtesy of Edmonton) would Burke take him?...Surprisingly Burke said he'd stick with a N.American kid - even if Filatov was available.

EDIT - As much as I'd like to see more kids from N.America on the Wings roster - ya gotta go with the most talent - no matter what the nationality, or the position.

European-heavy teams can't win Cups.

Edited June 18, 2008 by Crymson

[Hank 0]

I have fallen behind on the Jr. Prospects, and players overseas. Who out there interests you, and what positions should the Wings hit hard. I have seen several mock drafts which the Wings taking goalies, and forwards galore. Any info. would be much appreciated.

Thanks

I want the Wings to nab Jordan Eberle so bad I could spit.

The kid is a dynamic offensive center who can score at will while still threading the needle when it's there.

He reminds me so much of Thereon Fluery (minus the alcoholism) only a bit taller (5'10" - probably exaggerated) and stockier.

The Wings defensive cupboard is nearly overflowing but I don't think that will stop them from picking up a rearguard.

Saying that, I think they're going to go after Anton Gustafsson. He's basically a perfect fit for this team;

Swedish, two-way, great puck skills.

Jake Allen's another kid they might go after. TSN has him projected as Marty Turco and he looked great at the under 18's.

But I'm still hoping for Eberle. And I'd love to grab Jared Staal if he's still around in the second round.

[Hank 0]

I don't agree with drafting by position unless there is a major need. I'd rather they draft the best available player.

That's usually the status quo.

Because most of these kids won't even be close to NHL ready until 4 years from now, who knows what you're current roster looks like.

Just because you're deep on defense in 2008 doesn't mean you shouldn't draft a dman now. Who's to say that by 2012 your defense core is banged up, retired, or lost to free agency. Meanwhile, a stud in the 2008 draft that you could have had is now playing for a rival.

I'm sure the Wings will continue to follow that line of thinking. But like I mentioned in my other post, I've got a serious hockey-crush on Jordan Eberle. I think he's the real deal.

[joshy207 156]

A little off topic here; just after I put my little guy down for a nap - I tuned in/watched 'NHL Live' on the NHL Network...Ducks GM Brian Burke made a surprise visit (was having luch in NYC with Bettman) & when asked if Filatov was available (Ducks picking 12th courtesy of Edmonton) would Burke take him?...Surprisingly Burke said he'd stick with a N.American kid - even if Filatov was available.

EDIT - As much as I'd like to see more kids from N.America on the Wings roster - ya gotta go with the most talent - no matter what the nationality, or the position.

If it was any other GM talking, I'd say there's a chance that would be true because there's no transfer agreement in place between the NHL and the IIHF. There's always been a little risk drafting Russian players, you never know if they're going to cross the pond, but now, even Swedes and Finns might be hard to bring across. Rather than getting a standard price, each team can hold out for whatever money they want for their player before letting him go to the NHL. It could be messy.

But, since it was Burke talking, I'm not surprised at all. He'd draft some of us before the next coming of Zetterberg or Datsyuk...

[Hank 0]

If it was any other GM talking, I'd say there's a chance that would be true because there's no transfer agreement in place between the NHL and the IIHF. There's always been a little risk drafting Russian players, you never know if they're going to cross the pond, but now, even Swedes and Finns might be hard to bring across. Rather than getting a standard price, each team can hold out for whatever money they want for their player before letting him go to the NHL. It could be messy.

But, since it was Burke talking, I'm not surprised at all. He'd draft some of us before the next coming of Zetterberg or Datsyuk...

This is a very real possibility. But at the same time, I think it could help the NHL more than hurt.

Players who really want to be in the NHL will sign short-term contracts with their European clubs so they have a window of opportunity to sign with their NHL teams. (Filatov has said he's going to play in North America no matter what)

And, NHL teams no longer have to sign their euro prospects within 2 years or else they'll lose their rights.

So guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg can stay over there to develop and when the time is right, they sign a contract with the team that drafted them.

There's going to be some bumps along the way but I think it'll all work out in the end.

On a different note that some might like, Jamie Heward had a conversation with XM a few months ago and he spoke about his time playing in the RSL this past season.

He said there was definitely some hostility towards imports in that league as most of the Russian players felt they had enough good kids to fill their league without the need for foreigners.

But Heward made a point to tell some of these guys that if they were in North America, they'd be making $20,000 a year instead of $400,000 in the RSL. And having some of the best available players in their league only helped promote it so guys like them could make that kind of money.

He said there were a lot of guys that would have had a very difficult time cracking an ECHL lineup but were making half-a-million in the RSL. And that's only for 50 games a year.

He had other stories about how horrible some of the arenas were and how one team was so far East that it took a 9.5 hour plane ride and 9 hours time difference. So there were times when they'd leave they'd lose almost an entire 24 hours by the time they got playing. He said that city's team almost never won. The closest team was a 6 hour flight away. Yow!

[rick zombo 3,739]

But I'm still hoping for Eberle. And I'd love to grab Jared Staal if he's still around in the second round.

You mean late in third round? That 2nd rounder went to LA.

[Hank 0]

You mean late in third round? That 2nd rounder went to LA.

F***.

Then I'm more convinced than ever that Detroit will trade their 1st rounder for two 2nd rounders.

Thanks for the heads up Zombo.

[babygorilla 1]

But I'm still hoping for Eberle. And I'd love to grab Jared Staal if he's still around in the second round.

Jesus. How many of these Staal kids are there. The NHL is starting to look like 'Jon and Kate plus eight.'

[Hank 0]

But I'm still hoping for Eberle. And I'd love to grab Jared Staal if he's still around in the second round.

Jesus. How many of these Staal kids are there. The NHL is starting to look like 'Jon and Kate plus eight.'

LOL. Lucky for everyone he's the last.

I still have an old Hockey News at home where they interviewed the dad and all the brothers after Eric was drafted.

It was in that article where the Staal's dad, Henry, proclaimed that then 12-year old Jared was the gem of the bunch.

So far that prediction looks horrible.

[Reilly 24]

Best Player Available.

[The Enforcer 13]

Yeah, best player, then a center, LW, and D

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

We need big, strong Canadian forwards who can fight.

We have enough talent as it is, so it's not like more grit is going to hurt our team.

[Swede40 0]

Markstrom the Swedish Goaltender

[chrisdetroit 189]

A little off topic here; just after I put my little guy down for a nap - I tuned in/watched 'NHL Live' on the NHL Network...Ducks GM Brian Burke made a surprise visit (was having luch in NYC with Bettman) & when asked if Filatov was available (Ducks picking 12th courtesy of Edmonton) would Burke take him?...Surprisingly Burke said he'd stick with a N.American kid - even if Filatov was available.

EDIT - As much as I'd like to see more kids from N.America on the Wings roster - ya gotta go with the most talent - no matter what the nationality, or the position.

Godd strategy. How'd that work out for him this year.....

Maybe he should trade Penner for Bertuzzi, Macdonald for Weight, give away his back-up goalie and let his number 1 forward and number 1 D-man sit out 3 quarters of the season. Now that's a recipe for sucess.....

[chrisdetroit 189]

We need big, strong Canadian forwards who can fight.

We have enough talent as it is, so it's not like more grit is going to hurt our team.

Oh for f***s sake. Here we go again with that garbage. We just won the cup without the "big strong Canadians who can fight" and you are still harping on that.

Move on man, the game has changed.

[daniel1 32]

I'm really hoping for Mattias Tedenby... he fits the mold of other "smallish" forwards with loads of skill and potential the Wings have had good luck with, and of course, he's Swedish! TSN has him ranked at #26 but maybe he slips a bit cause of his size and the overall depth of this year's draft.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Oh for f***s sake. Here we go again with that garbage. We just won the cup without the "big strong Canadians who can fight" and you are still harping on that.

Move on man, the game has changed.

Are you saying we wouldn't have won if we had them playing?

Drake will be gone, and McCarty and Downey will likely not be full-time players. Plus, injuries are only inevitable.

I want to see more toughness and fighting in the regular season, because regular seasons for the Wings are usually boring and mean nothing until the playoffs begin. It's just purely for entertainment value. Nothing wrong with that.

[daniel1 32]

Are you saying we wouldn't have won if we had them playing?

Drake will be gone, and McCarty and Downey will likely not be full-time players. Plus, injuries are only inevitable.

I want to see more toughness and fighting in the regular season, because regular seasons for the Wings are usually boring and mean nothing until the playoffs begin. It's just purely for entertainment value. Nothing wrong with that.

Those types of players (McCarty, Downey, Drake, etc) are way easier to acquire through UFA or deadline deals than guys like Z or Dats. That's why you draft your Zetterbergs and then pick up or sign guys like Drake and McCarty. You don't waste your draft picks on the Downey's of the world if there's a chance the next Zetterberg or Datsyuk is available.

[betterREDthandead 58]

I don't think it should matter what position the Wings take first. Just take the best player available. That's what the draft ought to be about. You never know how these guys are gonna pan out and you never know what your needs will be three or four years down the road when they're ready for their shot. It's not like the NFL where you can draft a starter with your first pick, so you can look at need. Just take the player you think most likely to make it to the league.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

...just a question. If somehow the Wings ended up with the first overall pick (via whatever, this is just a what if?) do you think they would draft Stamkos, do they actually need a superstar (projected) like that considering they have 3 or 4 already? What kind of paydirt (offers) would come via a trade for Stamkos? Wow!

...seen a mock draft today showing the Wings taking a kid named Erik Karlsson, a 5'11" 165 lb. (kind scrawny) Defensman from Sweden, what are your thougts on that pick?

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Those types of players (McCarty, Downey, Drake, etc) are way easier to acquire through UFA or deadline deals than guys like Z or Dats. That's why you draft your Zetterbergs and then pick up or sign guys like Drake and McCarty. You don't waste your draft picks on the Downey's of the world if there's a chance the next Zetterberg or Datsyuk is available.

I don't think even the Wings expected Datsyuk or Zetterberg to turn out so great.

That's why they picked those guys so low, instead of making them 1st round picks.