When he was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in 1983, after Steve Yzerman the team went big.
He remembers it well.
Yzerman was selected in the first round. Among those picked after him were Bob Probert, Joe Kocur and Stu Grimson.
A week after the draft, the new Wings were brought to Detroit and all went to see a Tigers game together. “I was looking around, thinking, ‘We drafted a pretty good football team,” Yzerman recalled.
In his first draft as general manager of the Wings, Yzerman also decided to go big. Six of his choices were over six feet tall. He also sought to rectify their glaring lack of defensive depth. Three of Detroit’s top four choices were blueliners.
Yzerman also made history. For the first time since the universal amateur draft was introduced by the NHL in 1969, the Red Wings didn’t select a single player from any of the Canadian major junior leagues - the OHL, QMJHL or WHL.
Here’s the skinny on Saturday’s picks from Day 2 of the draft.
35. Antti Tuomisto, D, 6-4, 193, Assat Jr. (Finland) Another big defenseman like first-round pick Moritz Seider, Tuomisto is equipped with a powerful shot. He’s also a right-hand shot. He has the offensive skill set to quarterback a power play.
Detroit Red Wings selects Antti Tuomisto with the #35 pick of the draft. Massive frame, good skater going forwards, big shot from the point. Many others are higher on him than I am, but there is decent upside. pic.twitter.com/GtNRgrP7sZ
Criticisms of his game start with his skating. Tuomisto lacks, speed, power and acceleration in his stride, though the hope is that will change as he grows into his body. For a big man, he’s not an overly physical presence.
“Big guy, skinny. Certainly can fill out,” Red Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson told Detroitredwings.com. “Very good skater and plays with a natural bite. He’s got some physical game in him and he also has a very heavy good shot.”
54. Robert Mastrosimone, LW, 5-10, 159, Chicago (USHL) A goal-scoring winger with a deft touch and a powerful shot, he played his youth hockey at Shattuck St. Mary’s and is committed to Boston University. Was USHL rookie of the year in 2017-18. Scored twice in 2018-19 USHL Top Prospects Game.
Won a gold medal with Team USA at 2018 World Jr. A Challenge. NHL Central Scouting grades him as a B skater.
“I’d say I’m a high-skilled, 200-foot forward who’s got a very hard work ethic,” Mastrosimone said. “And I’m also able to score and play defense.”
60. Albert Johansson, D, 6-0, 165, Farjestad Jr. (Sweden) Part of Sweden’s under-18 national team, Johansson is a left-hand shooting, puck-moving defender with an edge to his game. He gaps up well and is adept at using his stick to strip the puck from attackers and break up plays. He’s very patient with the puck and moves well but isn’t considered a powerful skater.
With the 60th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft the Detroit Red Wings have selected defenceman Albert Johansson from Färjestad BK.
His father, Roger Johansson, played 161 games with the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks and won Olympic Gold with Sweden in 1994. pic.twitter.com/I99a9FTmnn
— Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) June 22, 2019
“I had a scout come by and say he might be the best of them all when it’s all said and done,” Andersson said. “I like Albert because he’s a mobile skater and a very smart, good player. He’s got ability with the puck. He’s very skinny but his dad (former NHL defenseman Roger Johansson) is 6-foot-3 and his two older brothers are 6-foot-3, so there’s hope that he’s got some growing left to do.”
66. Albin Grewe, RW, 5-11, 190, Djurgarden (Sweden) A strong skater and slick stickhandler, he’s an energy guy nicknamed T-Rex who is relentless on the forecheck. He’ll sacrifice his body to make a play or block a shot. He can be equally effective on the power play or in a checking role. Of concern was a concussion he suffered last season. Grewe didn’t seem to be the same player when he came back from the injury.
“Alwin Grewe is a very outstanding competitor,” Andersson said. “I can see how he pictures himself after (Boston pest) Brad Marchand. He’s very competitive. I don’t know all the North American guys. Out of the Europeans, probably the most competitive player in the whole draft, and in many years I would say.”
97. Ethan Phillips, C, 5-9, 150, Sioux Falls (USHL) From Dartmouth, N.S., Phillips joined Sioux Falls at midseason and helped them with the Clark Cup. His family billeted 2019 Wings first pick Filip Zadina and 2017 No. 1 choice Nico Hischier when those players were with Halifax (QMJHL), so this is the third year in a row that Phillips has attended the draft.
“Skating is definitely my best asset,” said Phillips, another Boston University commit. “I try to use my speed and creativity.” He also recognizes the areas he must shore up. “I think the biggest thing for me is to put on the strength. I’m not too worried about my weight. It comes with time. Being strong for my weight is something that needs to come for me. I think it’s just getting a good program, getting good nutrition, and not really taking any days off.
128. Cooper Moore, D, 6-1, 195, Brunswick Prep (USHS) A North Dakota commit, Moore is a mobile, highly-skilled rearguard who averaged more than a point per game this season while earning all-league selection and finishing in the top five of scoring among all New England-based prep school defensemen.
Congrats to BJW ‘01 D Cooper Moore on being selected 128th Overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 5th Round of the 2019 NHL Draft!! Cooper played at the Brunswick School and is committed to the University of North Dakota! 🐳 pic.twitter.com/7GwTeSjCYT
— BostonJuniorWhalers (@bostonjrwhalers) June 22, 2019
“To be honest with you, our U.S. guys kind of pounded the table more than I did,” Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said. “I didn’t see him at all this year. They were looking at him and they wanted him. At the end of the day, you gotta listen to who’s pounding the table for a specific player at that time. We gave them their opportunity to make the pick.”
159. Elmer Soderblom, RW, 6-6, 219, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden) With that size, it will come as no surprise that Soderblom is strong on the puck in tight quarters. He’s definitely a long-term project, however. Soderblom’s production hasn’t caught up to his gifted hands. And while he’s a decent skater for a big man, he still needs to upgrade this area of his game.
“He’s huge,” Andersson said. “Huge. And at the same time he’s a good skater and he’s got good hands. He’s actually suffering from being 6-foot-6 at the age of 17. Very few guys are fully coordinated at that time.”
177. Gustav Berglund, D, 6-2, 194, Frolunda U18 (Sweden) Another big, right-hand shot blueliner. His size and mobility are assets but Berglund translates into a stay-at-home type in the NHL. His work with the puck is average at best.
#177 Gustav Berglund #LGRW Big defenseman with good mobility for his size. Has a good shot and above average passing abilities in the offensive zone but hasn't been able to put it together on a higher level than J18. Uses his size effectively in his own end.
“He moved to Frolunda and had a tough time living on his own,” Andersson said. “He didn’t eat properly, he was tired, didn’t train as hard. They had to straighten him out a little bit halfway through the season, but after that the coach said that he’s the most improved player on Frolunda, the junior team.”
190. Kirill Tyutyayev, LW, 5-9, 146, Yekaterinburg 2 (Russia) Last year, it was Otto Kivenmaki. This year’s seventh-round version of the little guy who could amount to something is Tyutyayev. In 2017-18, he led the Russian under-18 league in scoring with 114 points in just 31 games.
“We thought he was a sleeper,” Wright said. “We really liked him. Not a very big guy but another guy that’s got skill, that’s got sense. We did it with Kivenmaki last year in the seventh round. If these guys play, they’re gonna be impact players. Whether they will or not, that’s still to be determined yet.”
191. Carter Gylander, G, 6-5, 171, Sherwood Park (AJHL) Gylander is committed to play NCAA hockey at Colgate beginning in 2020-21. He was NHL Central Scouting’s highest-ranked AJHL or CJHL goaltender.
BREAKING: Congratulations to goaltender Carter Gylander on his selection in the 7th round, 191st overall by the @DetroitRedWings in the #NHLDraft!
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