UPDATE 6:44 pm ET - Hearing Detroit and Phoenix talking to Philly about goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
I certainly am not going to sit here and attempt to tell you WHO the Detroit Red Wings should select with their first round pick (24th overall) this evening in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Given their past track record, Jim Nill (who is overseeing the Red Wings draft table) will likely have his group of scouts select the BPA (best player available) when the Red Wings turn comes around at #24.
Although the Red Wings have in the past traded out of the 1st round to acquire multiple 2nd round picks (see
Landon Ferraro 2009), I believe Detroit is more apt to stick around at 24 unless they receive an intriguing offer to drop into the 30's (i.e. Toronto's 30th and 39th overall draft picks for Detroit's 24th and 55th)
However, looking over the Red Wings list of top prospects within the system the rational sentiment leans towards Detroit looking at a defenseman with their first selection tonight. The only way I see this possibility not taking place is if a specific forward Detroit has rather high on their draft board slips to #24 and the scouting staff feels they cannot pass up the offensive potential of that player.
With that criteria in mind, here are the four defenseman I expect the Red Wings to target that MAY still be available (Jonas Brodin will be gone) when Holland/Nill and Co. approach the podium to make Detroit's selection:
(Analysis provided by TSN scout Grant McCagg)
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Duncan Siemens, D, 6'3", 197 lb., Saskatoon (WHL)
A blueline stalwart on one of the top teams in the CHL, Siemens provided hard blasts, quick passes, hard hits and momentum-swinging fights all season long.
Strengths - A strapping 6-3 defenceman with a powerful skating stride and a surly attitude. Decent puck skills and vision, competent puck distributor, hard point shot. Will stick up for teammates and fight for his team.
Weaknesses - Must work on correcting mental mistakes, will try to do too much. Average hockey sense.
NHL Upside - Top four defenceman with plenty of grit who will be tough to play against. Has enough offensive skill to see limited power-play time in the NHL, likely on second unit.
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Jamie Oleksiak, D, 6'7", 244 lb., Northeastern University
Stepped right into Hockey East at 17 years of age and didn't look out of place, playing 38 games and establishing himself as a player to look out for in upcoming seasons.
Strengths - Decent puck skills and hands, good mobility for his size. Imposing size and strength. Hard to beat one-on-one with hislong stick and wingspan.
Weaknesses - can get caught in between trying to move into the play when he should be retreating, not an overly creative passer, doesn't create lanes, shooting technique needs refinement, needs work on his reads and decision making.
NHL Upside - Still quite raw, but has the physical makeup to be an imposing defensive presence in the near future.
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Joe Morrow, D, 6'1", 196 lb., Portland (WHL)
Portland's second-round pick from the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft stepped up offensively in the WHL playoffs and leading all blueliners with six goals, and finishing behind only Brayden McNabb with 20 points.
Strengths - Athletic, swift skating puck mover, really gritty, not afraid to lay the lumber on opponents. Has a big shot from the point. One of the better skaters in the draft.
Weaknesses - has sense issues in the defensive zone, doesn't always make the right decisions and reads. Will need to learn to pick his spots offensively.
NHL Upside - Number three or four defenceman who will see lots of power play time, providing he corrects some risky defensive habits.
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Oscar Klefbom, D, 6'4", 196 lb., Swedish Elite League
Captained Sweden to a silver medal at the U-18 championships, and appeared in 23 games for Farjestad in the SEL at 17 years of age. His stock rose as the season went on, culminating with his strong play at the U-18's.
Strengths - High character player who did it all for Sweden at the U-18's, considered a warrior with tremendous leadership qualities. Good size and strength, reads the play well and will jump into the rush, good vision and passing skills, good compete level, likes to play physically.
Weaknesses - Has a clumsy skating style, needs to work on quickness and lower body strength.
NHL Upside - May develop into a top three NHL defenceman who takes care of his own end and sees some time on the second powerplay unit.
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Two forwards I think the Red Wings would have a hard time passing over if they are available at #24 are two snipers from the Ontario Hockey League:
Matt Puempel, W, 6'0", 198 lb., Peterborough (OHL)
A 33-goal season in 2009-10 netted him OHL Rookie of the Year honours, and high hopes from the scouts. On his way to 40+ goals when a hip injury sidelined him in late February.
Strengths - Elusive skater with quick moves and gifted hands. Has a goal scorer's mentality and release, always dangerous in the offensive zone, adept at intercepting passes.
Weaknesses - needs work on his defensive game, both effort-wise and positionally. Has to learn to work harder on a nightly basis, can't just get by on talent alone. Short stride, must work on top-end speed.
NHL Upside - Things won't come so easily at the next level - has the offensive skill to play a top-six role but will have to earn it.
Having seen Puempel play on several occasions, you can easily teach him how to improve his defensive game. You cannot teach people how to score like this guy knows how to put the puck in the net. The Wings will have a tough time passing on his goal-scoring ability if he is still there at #24 (although he is likely gone between 16-23).
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Nicklas Jensen, W, 6'2", 188 lb., Oshawa (OHL)
Danish winger made his OHL debut this season and needed little time to adjust, notching 29 goals and 58 points in 61 games before adding seven goals in ten playoff games.
Strengths - Moves well for a big man, has a pro release and shot, strong on the cycle, protects the puck well, soft hands, will drive to the net and battle for rebounds, likes scoring goals.
Weaknesses - Doesn't bring it every night, needs to keep moving his feet, scouts would like to see a more consistent effort, not overly physical.
NHL Upside - Scouts love his size/skill combo, has the physical attributes to be a top-line power winger.
Whereas I believe Puempel will likely be gone before #24, there is a good chance Jensen will be available when the Red Wings select. If the quartet of defensemen I outlined above are no longer available, Jensen could provide the Wings with a great safety net as he is a great combination of skill, size and speed to play on the wing.
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The beautiful aspect of any of these selections for the Wings is the fact the club will not rush any of these prospects if selected. Given Detroit's tendency to stockpile talent in the minors and Europe, allowing for the players to adjust to the pro game at their own pace, provides Detroit with mature players ready to step in after anywhere from 4-6 years of grooming (i.e., Jimmy Howard, Jakub Kindl and now Brendan Smith just to name a few most recently).
Because of this mentality, the Red Wings could spring for a wild-card selection at #24 by going with center
Rocco Grimaldi . The diminuitive 5'6", 163 lb. center is a former product of Mike Ilitch's Little Caesars hockey program. He tore up the U-18 World Championships for the United States with 13 points. Headed for the University of North Dakota in the fall, the college route will allow Grimaldi to develop without any rush to get to the NHL until he is in his early 20's. Often compared to Theo Fleury or Martin St. Louis for his fearless style of play, he would be a likely top-10 selection in this draft if he was taller than 5'10". I would not be shocked to see the Wings roll the dice on a high-end offensive talent like Grimaldi, whose main drawback appears to be his height. Given today's NHL which puts less of an emphasis on size in comparison to the past era's, it may be worth the risk.
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Kudos to Wings captain
Nicklas Lidstrom on winning his 7th Norris Trophy on Wednesday night at the NHL Awards show in Las Vegas. Although it was one of the closest votes in years to determine the league's top defenseman, (Lidstrom 736,
Shea Weber 727,
Zdeno Chara 686) Lidstrom was able to hold on to win his 7th Norris Trophy AFTER the age of 30.
That statistic in itself is probably the most impressive feat Lidstrom has accomplished over his entire career. Regardless of whether or not you believe Lidstrom was truly deserving of winning the award this season (I believe Weber should have won), there is no disputing that few NHL players have continued to play at such a high level into their mid 30's and beyond.
As for this past season, I think Lidstrom's 62 points were what truly wowed the voters and gave him the edge over Weber (48 points) and Chara (44). However, the true definition of "top defenseman" is more apt to be a combination of the defenseman who can contribute offensively while also being extremely difficult for opposing forwards to play against?
Too much emphasis gets put on a rearguards point totals when it comes to voting for the Norris Trophy. I know this is not a popular angle amongst Red Wing fans, however if a poll was conducted of NHL forwards on which of the three defenseman were the toughest for them to play against this past season, the likelihood is that Lidstrom would have finished 3rd out of the group nominated.
By Lidstrom's standards, this was probably one of his more "pedestrian" seasons. Although some suggest plus/minus is an overrated statistic, it seems odd to me that Lidstrom wins his 7th Norris Trophy during the same campaign where he finished the 82 game season a minus (-2), for the first time ever in his entire career.
Furthermore, although I know the award voting is based on the regular season, it spoke volumes to me to see
Mike Babcock not even utilize Lidstrom during the postseason to kill penalties (behind
Ruslan Salei and
Jonathan Ericsson on the 2nd unit) OR on the ice to preserve a victory during the final minute (usually behind
Niklas Kronwall and
Brad Stuart). Sure, the company line was that Babcock and Lidstrom discussed things and agreed that it would be best for Lidstrom to get more rest and allow the others to kill penalties. What Norris Trophy winner doesn't kill penalties for their team during the postseason?????? If Babcock wanted Lidstrom killing penalties, he wouldn't have proposed such a scenario.
I'm not saying Nicklas Lidstrom still isn't one of the league top rearguards, because he still is, even at the age of 41. But if I'm expected to agree that he deserved the Norris Trophy this past season for his 82 game season, I would tend to disagree. Consider it recognition from the media for a terrific career and a solid season where Lidstrom continued to display superb offensive production from the blueline.
This in no way is a reflection of my own opinion as Lidstrom as a player for his entire career. He is definitely one of the league's top 5 defenseman of all-time, in my opinion, alongside the likes of Orr, Harvey, Shore and Bourque (maybe Larry Robinson, Paul Coffey and Denis Potvin deserve some consideration as well). None of those d-men have been able to maintain the same level of play for such an extended period of time as Lidstrom has done.
I know the hate mail is likely to roll in, but I'm just sharing my own humble opinion on this past season.
Fire away!!!!
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