The Red Wings are aging. Though they have some of the best players in the world, not many years are left in captain, Niklas Lidstrom, and others like Brian Rafalski. Never a team to blow up and start from scratch, the Wings boast a good stable of prospects, having so much success with drafting and player development. The likes of Tomas Tatar, Landon Ferraro, and Gustav Nyquist headline the group of forwards amongst their ranks. They also have defenseman, Brendan Smith, who is all but ready for the show and would gain a lot from tutelage under Lidstrom; however, he's only 22 years old. Will we see him up next season?
"With the twenty-fourth pick in the 2011 NHL Draft, Detroit selects from Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League - Jonas Brodin."
A player hand made for the Wings organization, Brodin is a two-way defenseman that the wings would value highly for a slick transition game and structured play.
On his feet, Brodin has fluid strides and is very mobile on the ice. He has quick feet and solid footwork, with the ability to move north-south and east-west with relative ease. His mobility allow him to be a factor offensively as well as closing gaps defensively.
But his mobility and skating is well documented.
The best part about Brodin is upstairs; his noggin. For a player who reads and reacts to the play as it unfolds so well, Brodin adds such intelligence to the transition. He is always thinking, and uses his slick passing to move the puck so efficiently and virtually mistake-free.
He's not a high point getter at this point in his career. He's not flashy, and isn't much of a shooter, but within the right structured environment, his point totals could really increase and see him blossom.
Defensively there's not much to nit pick. At 6'1, 168 lbs, he has some growing and strengthening to do, but he'll have the time and patience to do that over the next few years. He closes the gap well and sees the play as it's moving, leading him to be in position a lot of the time.
I can't see Brodin slipping past this slot, where a team with such dedication to structured hockey would really value him as an asset to their team. Detroit is a match made in heaven for this Swede.
Taken Previously...
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Gabriel Landeskog
3. Jonathan Huberdeau
4. Dougie Hamilton
5. Adam Larsson
6. Sean Couturier
7. Ryan Strome
8. Ryan Murphy
9. Duncan Siemens
10. Mark McNeill
11. Nathan Beaulieu
12. Jamie Oleksiak
13. Mika Zibanejad
14. Joel Armia
15. Mark Scheifele
16. Matt Puempel
17. Brandon Saad
18. Sven Bartschi
19. Joe Morrow
20. Zack Phillips
21. Tyler Biggs
22. Niklas Jensen
23. Ty Rattie
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow me on Twitter: @BrianHuddle.
Like Me on Facebook: Brian Huddle.
Email: [email protected] 
Join the Discussion:
»