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Svechnikov signed an AHL deal, PTO with Jets and the 2015 draft is almost completely a bust. Chase Pearson still has a chance to make the group as a depth center. The onus on GMs to get at least one player out of every draft is big business in the NHL. Every team has upped their international scouting, and more and more GMs tend to go off the path set by “Central Scouting” and the mock drafts.
This is the 4th (and final) part of the series covering Detroit’s drafts from 2002 until the present. You can read the other three entries here:
I examined Detroit’s past drafts, from 2002 - 2012.
Take a look at part 2 of my series on Detroit’s drafts 2013-2018
The 2019 draft
Obviously, I don’t need to rehash this year’s picks. Thus far, Sebastian Cossa has already signed his ELC, Simon Edvinsson hasn’t yet (and suffered a nasty looking shoulder injury). There have been reports that Edvinsson has grown 1 to 2 inches since the draft, now being listed at 6’6”. No panic on Edvinsson, he may well sign this season still. Yzerman hasn’t let any of his first rounders go without signing.
And so, the 2020 draft was Yzerman’s second kick at the can. Lucas Raymond is already getting more publicity and praise than he did at the time. In just his second pro year, he will be at camp and trying to turn heads. While I expect him in Grand Rapids, the right shot winger is driven to try and force a roster decision in Detroit. So far, three players from this draft have signed their entry level deals. Along with Raymond, Donovan Sebrango (Grand Rapids) and Eemil Viro (Liiga). That’s an impressive number for a draft class just one year old. There seems to be some promise in this draft class.
Lucas (or Lukas) Raymond is already listed as a Griffin for 21/22. For those of you my age, the thought that he was born in 2002 is a humbling one. Detroit’s “all star cup” was old enough to be drafted last year. Hopefully some of the skill of that cup winner was in the water and rubbed off on the right shooting winger. Signed after he was drafted, Raymond had a rough run last year scoring 6 goals and 12 assists in 34 games. He was, however a point per game for the WJC (2G 3 A in 5 games). A healthy Raymond continues to generate excitement among writers.
William Wallinder, selected at 32, is a 6’4” left side defender. Praised in his draft year as possibly the best technical skating defenseman, the unsigned prospect will spend this season playing for Rogle BK. Obviously, Yzerman is loading up defensemen into the pipeline. Along with this year’s first pick of Edvinsson, these two would be towering additions to the left side blue line.
Theodor Niederbach was selected 51st overall. A right shooting center, he had some shared ice with Lucas Raymond at the WJC, scored 2 goals in 5 games. As of yet unsigned, Niederbach will play for Frolunda this season. His early scouting complimented his play above and away from the puck as a defensive centerman.
Cross Hanas was the third second round pick (55 overall). Listed as a 6’1” winger, Cross scored 22 goals in the WHL during his draft year. Last year he split time between the USHL and WHL garnering 16 pts (3G, 13A) in 27 games in the USHL and 4pts (2G, 2A) in the WHL. Was listed as a “gifted puck handler” in his pre draft scouting report. Unsigned.
Donovan Sebrango, selected in the third round (63rd) earned a contract and put in 31 games in Grand Rapids last season (posting 4 assists and a +1). 6’1” left shot defenseman is eligible to play in Grand Rapids again this year because of a rule change that allows younger players to pass on the OHL if they played 20 or more AHL games last year. It’s good to see another young defenseman developing at the AHL level.
Eemil Viro drafted in the 3rd round (70th) has also earned his ELC from Detroit. Another left shot defenseman, standing at 6’, Viro will continue to develop in Finland this season. With 4 goals and 10 assists in 53 games, Viro also added 3 goals and 1 assist in 13 playoff games for Liiga. This is one of the names that tends to surface when you hear about the young developing d core. Viro’s skating and competitiveness while playing at the men’s levels are noted in his scouting reports.
Sam Stange, a right shot winger listed at 6’1” was selected in the 4th round at 97. He spent last season at the University of Wisconsin and tallied 6 goals and 1 assist in 29 games. Unsigned.
Jan Bednar is our first (and only) goalie in this draft, selected in the 4th round at 107. 6’4” tall, his numbers last season were a bit rough. In the Czech league, he posted a 3-2-0 record with a 4.16 GAA and .867 SV%. Things were a little better in the QMJL (where he will play again this year) where he went 6-5-0 with a 3.62 GAA and .894 SV%. His playoff performance was better still going 3-4-0 with a 3.24 GAA and .901 sv%. Unsigned
Alex Cotton, selected at 132 (5th round) is another right shot defenseman, standing at 6’2”. In a shortened WHL campaign last year, he posted 26 points (7g 19a) in 24 games, 4th among WHL defensemen. Still unsigned, seems to have promise as an offensive Dman. Not certain where he will play this year. Not currently listed on GR roster.
Kyle Aucoin was picked in the 6th round (156th overall). 6’ left shot D will be attending Harvard this coming season. He split last season between Tri City and Muskeegon of the USHL. In 47 games he accumulated 13 points (3g 10a) Son of former NHLer Adrian Aucoin is at this point unsigned.
Kienan Draper, son of former Wing’s grinder Kris Draper was selected in the 7th round at 187. Going from St Andrew’s College where he scored 51 points (26g 25a) in 56 games to the USHL was a rough transition for the right shot winger as he only tallied 7 points (3 g, 4a) in 37 games. He’ll play in the BCHL this coming season and is listed as heading to Miami of Ohio university. Rico Blasé is a tough coach, faced Jeff Blashill’s Broncos several times. The two coached against each other and Blashill’s old coach Bob Daniels for 1 season. Correction - Rico Blasé no longer coaches at Miami of Ohio. Chris Bergeron has been the head coach since 2019. Many thanks for an update from Blue Line Enforcer. Ironically, Ferris State is Miami’s first opponent. Bob Daniels is still the man over there.
Chase Bradley closes out the draft, selected at 203 the left shot winger/center is listed at 5’11” and put up 40 (22g 18a) points in 52 games in the USHL. Chase will play for the NCAA at the University of Connecticut this coming season. Unsigned.
Check out my previous posts:
Fedorov jersey retirement puck seen online
Svechnikov signs AHL deal, PTO with Jets
Nielsen is being bought out
Seider vs Nedeljkovic for Wings rookie of the year?
The 2019 draft
Adam Erne’s new deal.
Take a look at part 2 of my series on Detroit’s drafts 2013-2018
I examined Detroit’s past drafts, from 2002 - 2012.
Svechnikov has been linked to the jets,
Carter Mazur’s “Coffee with Carley”
Vrana’s press conference
Vrana has a new three year deal with Detroit
Yesterday, I wrote about the gap between Detroit and Vrana.
Detroit still doesn’t have a top 6 right shot forward.
The second line continues to inch toward improving.
I have high (possibly too high) hopes for the top line this year.
The Griffins are worth the drive, at least I think so.
My third “looking forward” looked at Pius Suter.
My second “looking forward” focused on Alex Nedeljkovic.
My first “looking forward” talked about Moritz Seider.
Jakub Vrana and Adam Erne have filed for arbitration.
I posted “The Winged Wheel season 3, ep 1”
I posted Yzerman’s Zoom call
I posted Pius Suter’s Zoom call
I did a wrap up of the “Frenzy”.
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