Direction the Wings should take in the Draft.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

...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?

Thats the same size Kronwall was when we drafted him..

As for the draft, BPA is where its always at.

[thedisappearer 291]

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.

Brian Burke?

[daniel1 32]

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.

Check out how many teams have drafted "goons" in the first round in the last 5 years... wait i'll do it for you - ZERO. Even if the Wings didn't realize the full potential of guys like Z or Dats; it's a good thing they didn't waste those low round picks on guys that were "tough-non-scoring-gritty guys" or we'd be lamenting another early round exit this year instead of celebrating the Stanley Cup

[mjlegend 155]

Eberle's the real deal skill-wise. I've seen a lot of him this year. I'm not sure he can play a more physical-style, NHL game, but if he's available at 30, snap him up. I think he goes between 20-25, or even sooner.

If we want a bigger skilled forward, maybe Joe Colborne?

[LeftWinger 5,152]

...ya, I'm pretty much done slamming Holland and his Scouts. Hard to believe, eh? I will still cringe everytime he says we need to get bigger and grittier, but something tells me he won't say that this year! LOL!

...whomever gets draft by the Wings, we all know it's gonna be a 3-5 year process before the weed out the busts and bring up the best! Of course, if they happen to find another Datryuk or Zetterberg, I wouldn't mind seeing a Calder Trophy in Detroit next year! Even though the NHL writers will probably slight us again! (READ: Yzerman, Fedorov, Zetterberg) Yeah, I'm bitter about all three! Oh, well, I think we all know who had the more stellar careers (even though Barasso and Belfour won cups, just not as many!)

[LeftWinger 5,152]

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.

...even though I don't agree with this statement as much as I used to, I can relate with where you're coming from...

...wouldn't it be nice to score (no pun intended) a player like a Dustin Penner or a Ryan Getzlaf. Somebody with a huge body and a scoring touch. One day we might be able to, but that'll probably mean we didn't make the playoffs the year before and that is not something I want to think about!!!!!!

...speaking of Penner, I cannot seem to find a draft spot for him, was he drafted or signed as a by Anaheim?

...another side not, Nashville drafted both Ryan Suter and Shea Weber in the same draft year! Great scouting there! (of course both went BEFORE the Wings first pick that year, which was near the end of the 2nd round, they took Howard.)

...ok, back to the original topic!

...Unless it's somebody talented and huge enough to make the team this season and have an impact, I think it'll be more of the same for Holland. Hey, can't question him right about now can ya?

Edited June 19, 2008 by LeftWinger

[grsbmd 0]

I don't think "Best Player Available" is always the simple answer we make it out to be.

1. There might be a player with not much potential who is ready to contribute on the 4th line immediately. Then there might be another player who is a raw talent, but has sky-high potential. Who is the better player?

2. What if the best player available (hypothetically) every time a Red Wings pick rolls around is a goaltender? Certainly, you have to deviate from your plan at some point and address your needs.

Lets go back to 2003. The Wings need to draft a "goalie of the future". What if some other player had dropped slightly? You can't just pick them instead. You have to address your needs in the draft. Teams all say they will pick the best player available, but if it was always that simple, teams wouldn't need scouts. They could just walk into the draft with a photocopy of the ISS rankings. Teams do come into the draft with a plan and I don't think it's wrong for us to discuss what that plan might entail.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

I don't think "Best Player Available" is always the simple answer we make it out to be.

1. There might be a player with not much potential who is ready to contribute on the 4th line immediately. Then there might be another player who is a raw talent, but has sky-high potential. Who is the better player?

2. What if the best player available (hypothetically) every time a Red Wings pick rolls around is a goaltender? Certainly, you have to deviate from your plan at some point and address your needs.

Lets go back to 2003. The Wings need to draft a "goalie of the future". What if some other player had dropped slightly? You can't just pick them instead. You have to address your needs in the draft. Teams all say they will pick the best player available, but if it was always that simple, teams wouldn't need scouts. They could just walk into the draft with a photocopy of the ISS rankings. Teams do come into the draft with a plan and I don't think it's wrong for us to discuss what that plan might entail.

...Jimmy Howard very well could have the Best Player Available at that point and beyond in 2003. Look through the draft at all the players drafted AFTER Howard. The only one that has a name I know of is Lee Stepniak and that is because he plays for the Blues, if he played of New Jersery or Carolina, I probably would've never heard of him! Although you have a good arguement, the Best Player Available is still the most viaable option, especially since the Wings future is so bright, they really have no HUGE holes to fill! If they snag a Brian Rolston or a Ryan Malone come July 1, they will not need any significant upgrades in a long time!

...the players waiting to come up are tremendous! All positions are taken care of! So best player available seems like the most viable option...

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Check out how many teams have drafted "goons" in the first round in the last 5 years... wait i'll do it for you - ZERO. Even if the Wings didn't realize the full potential of guys like Z or Dats; it's a good thing they didn't waste those low round picks on guys that were "tough-non-scoring-gritty guys" or we'd be lamenting another early round exit this year instead of celebrating the Stanley Cup

He wasnt in the 1st round, but can you honestly tell me you wouldnt have wanted the Wings to draft Lucic in 2006? Or Colton Gillies last year? These guys are big tough players who will also contribute offensively. No one is wanting a goon, we can sign them. But I mean, guys like that are hard to come by. Just to add, Kyle Beach, will be the toughest player drafted in this years draft. He will be drafted in the top 15 picks as well.

I have no problem with the Wings drafting, that's the last thing to complain about. But I dont see the problem with people wanting the Wings to draft bigger tougher players, because it couldnt hurt.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Exactly - besides, who'd want a waste of space like Milan Lucic when instead you could have a guy like Sammy, or Hudler

We both make a post about Lucic at the same time

I like the way you think Mr. Micheal!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Lucic impressed me these past playoffs - that kid can play!...Just think what he'll be capable of when he's a few years older, & physically/mentally more mature.

The Cam Neely comparison is not too far off, he doesnt have the skill, but he has the grit and the heart for sure.

[redwingfan19 293]

I'd like to see the Wings take John Carlson if he drops that low

[e_144 0]

European-heavy teams can't win Cups.

european-heavy teams can't win cups? I would say the wings are def european heavy, and they just won the cup!...

[e_144 0]

...Jimmy Howard very well could have the Best Player Available at that point and beyond in 2003. Look through the draft at all the players drafted AFTER Howard. The only one that has a name I know of is Lee Stepniak and that is because he plays for the Blues, if he played of New Jersery or Carolina, I probably would've never heard of him! Although you have a good arguement, the Best Player Available is still the most viaable option, especially since the Wings future is so bright, they really have no HUGE holes to fill! If they snag a Brian Rolston or a Ryan Malone come July 1, they will not need any significant upgrades in a long time!

...the players waiting to come up are tremendous! All positions are taken care of! So best player available seems like the most viable option...

I agree most positions are taken care of....

Detroit is, compared to most other teams, in a unique position. because of our depth and great scouting we have one advantage no other team has, and that is time....

zetterberg, lidstrom, rafalski and dats will be atleast as good next season as they were this season. players like hudler, filpulla, kronvall and franzen will only get better. if we sign stuart we have a good 2 solid ligns of defense, plenty of offensive and a great goalie combo. we should be able to develope with this setup for 2-3 years.

the prospects we have will fill any vacancies. that should buy us 5-6 years in total....

i dont think there are a lot of teams that can say they are willing to wait 6 years for their next star...most teams are desperate for such a player IMMEDIATELY, all the other cup contending teams, are all one star player short...(either that or they lack depth)....

for that reason, i think we should look to take risks on our draft picks this year. take risks on players, that other teams see as "too early to call" and too risky. our internal deveolepement of players is the best in the league. give them 5-6 years and we will make find our next generation top liners

....we have 6 picks this year rite? if 1 of the 6 picks turn out to be a zetterberg or a dats then we can consider the draft succesful...

[Hank 0]

Eberle's the real deal skill-wise. I've seen a lot of him this year. I'm not sure he can play a more physical-style, NHL game, but if he's available at 30, snap him up. I think he goes between 20-25, or even sooner.

If we want a bigger skilled forward, maybe Joe Colborne?

I don't think Eberle will ever be considered a 'physical' player but he certainly doesn't shy away from the hard areas of the ice.

And I've seen him make some moves, passes and scored goals when he was surrouned by several players. The kid finds a way to make offense out of nothing and in clogged up spaces.

About a month ago, he would have been avaible at #30 but lately it seems his stock has risen.

Luke Adam is another kid I like. He doesn't have tremendous speed but he's great from the blueline in. Very soft hands for a large kid. He kind of reminds me of Lucic.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

When is the draft and if it's today, how many hours until it starts? Thanks in advance.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

european-heavy teams can't win cups? I would say the wings are def european heavy, and they just won the cup!...

uh.... I cannot figure out if you are trying to be as sarcastic as Crymson was... I hope so...

[Hank 0]

When is the draft and if it's today, how many hours until it starts? Thanks in advance.

It starts on Friday at 7:00 pm. They do two rounds that day and then finish the last 5 rounds on Saturday.

[chrisdetroit 189]

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.

The whole game is about entertainment. If you are entertained by watching fights, more power to you but I prefer the entertainment of winning. Are they mutually exculsive? Yes they are in today's game. That's why you don't see many fights in the finals. The guys are more interested is winning.

Would we have won if we had more fighters. Probably not because the fighters would be taking the place of the skilled guys who were busy scoring goals. Unless you have a guy that can score AND fight and there are only a handful of them in the league. Iginla comes to mind.

[chrisdetroit 189]

Exactly - besides, who'd want a waste of space like Milan Lucic when instead you could have a guy like Sammy, or Hudler

Hudler finished as the 4th highest points scorer in the playoffs on the Stanley Cup Champion. The three forwards ahead of him were the Conn Smyth winner, the Sleke winner and the guy that set a record by scoring 9 goals in a 4 game series.

So tell me again about how s***ty Hudler is.......

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

The whole game is about entertainment. If you are entertained by watching fights, more power to you but I prefer the entertainment of winning. Are they mutually exculsive? Yes they are in today's game. That's why you don't see many fights in the finals. The guys are more interested is winning.

Would we have won if we had more fighters. Probably not because the fighters would be taking the place of the skilled guys who were busy scoring goals. Unless you have a guy that can score AND fight and there are only a handful of them in the league. Iginla comes to mind.

I was talking about getting toughness for the regular season. I don't have a problem with benching enforcers come playoff time, unless we're playing some dirty team, which we didn't really have to face this year in the playoffs.

The Downey thing worked out well this year, so I believe we should do that again, only with a better enforcer than Downey.

[grsbmd 0]

It starts on Friday at 7:00 pm. They do two rounds that day and then finish the last 5 rounds on Saturday.

Are you sure?

It would be awesome if there were two rounds Friday night, but everything I've read says that rounds 2-7 are on Saturday.

[Hank 0]

Are you sure?

It would be awesome if there were two rounds Friday night, but everything I've read says that rounds 2-7 are on Saturday.

I could be wrong about how many round there are. I thought they did the first two on Friday but it could very well be just the first round.

However, I think it's going to be very entertaining. Lots of deals.

There's a pretty big rumor out there that C'bus is going to trade it's 6th overall for Jokinen.

And others on XM think that Philly is going to trade a forward to get a higher pick - most likely Umberger or Carter.

[Swede40 0]

The first round is friday and the rest is Saturday.

[DRW Dominance 255]

take a look at who sportsnet has us drafting.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/06/18/..._nhl_mockdraft/