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Given it is the NHL’s slow period, it seems like an opportune time to review the progress and update the status of Detroit’s three most recent NHL Draft classes from 2011-2013.

Since Mike Ilitch took over as owner of the hockey team, the Red Wings have selected 300 players in 32 entry drafts (1983-2014). Although some of those players are still in their infancy as professional hockey players, 62 of those players have played over 100 NHL games, with at least 3 other players (Gustav Nyquist, Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco) seemingly on their way to joining that group.

Nine players drafted by the Red Wings during that span have played over 1000 regular season NHL games, including four from the magical 1989 class.

Steve Yzerman, 1st round, 4th overall-1983, (1514 games played)

Adam Graves, 2nd round, 22nd overall-1986,(1152 games played)

Dallas Drake, 6th round, 116th overall-1989, (1009 games played)

Sergei Fedorov, 4th round, 74th overall-1989, (1248 games played)

Nicklas Lidstrom, 3rd round, 53rd overall-1989, (1564 games played)

Mike Sillinger, 1st round, 11th overall-1989, (1049 games played)

Slava Kozlov, 3rd round, 45th overall-1990, (1182 games played)

Mike Knuble, 4th round, 76th overall-1991, (1068 games played)

Tomas Holmstrom, 10th round, 257th overall-1994, (1026 games played)

The first part in our three-part series looks at the Red Wings 2011 Draft Class. With the assistance of the fine work over at Red Wings Central, known as the go-to place for information on Red Wing prospects, let’s take a look at what is shaping up to be a very promising crop of draft picks.

Tomas Jurco, RW (2nd round, 35th overall)

Jurco’s rapid rate of development put him in a Red Wings jersey in 2013-14 before he had even turned 21. Already an elite AHLer, Jurco proved he has a bright future with his strong play in 36 games as an NHL rookie and with Slovakia the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Immensely talented and a future top-six winger, Jurco is skilled enough and mature enough to graduate to the Red Wings full-time in 2014-15. That said, he remains waiver exempt for one more season. Depending on Detroit’s summer moves, a return to the AHL — a la Gustav Nyquist — is possible to start the 2014-15 season. --–RedWingsCentral.com

Xavier Ouellet, D (2nd round, 48th overall)

Ouellet was the best, most complete defenseman in the QMJHL for two seasons before his smooth transition to the pros as an AHL rookie in 2013-14. Making his NHL debut shortly after his 20th birthday — the youngest Red Wing to do so since Jiri Fischer — Ouellet is well on his way to becoming a two-way, top-four defenseman in the NHL. He’s the front-runner among a half-dozen blue-chip defense prospects to win a full-time job with the Red Wings in 2014-15. ---RedWingsCentral.com

Ryan Sproul, D (2nd round, 55th overall)

Combine his 6-foot-4 frame with swift skating, a booming slap shot and tremendous offensive savvy and you have an NHL star in the making. Sproul’s rate of development has been incredible and he’s already knocking on the door for an NHL job after a tremendous AHL rookie campaign. A right-shooting power-play quarterback, Sproul will be in the mix for a spot with the Red Wings in 2014-15 but may benefit from one more AHL season with Grand Rapids. ---RedWingsCentral.com

Alan Quine, C (3rd round, 85th overall)

“I’d classify him as a two-way guy, but he does have some offensive capabilities. It’s a wait-and-see kind of thing … He’s got a good skill-set, he’s a good skater, he competes hard.” — Red Wings director of scouting Joe McDonnell (2011)

“He’s got a great shot, but his best attribute is his quickness. That separates him from the rest, that he’s so quick. He’s great with the puck in tight areas as well. He’s got an NHL shot, he’s got NHL speed, excellent vision, he’s got all those, but above everything, at the top, is his quickness.” — Peterborough Petes GM Dave Reid (2012)

“A great skater, a Darren Helm-type player. He’s on the right path. He’s doing everything right. He trains hard, works hard.” — Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill (2012, Detroit Free Press).

Quine never earned an entry-level contract from the Red Wings and re-entered the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He was selected by the New York Islanders in the 6th round and is in their system now. He played 61 AHL games with Bridgeport last season, scoring 8 goals and 19 assists for 27 points.

Marek Tvrdon, LW (4th round, 115th overall)

Injuries hampered Tvrdon’s development as a junior, missing 114 of 144 games from 2010-11 to 2012-13. Although he has power-forward size and impressive skills, his lack of intensity and consistency have prevented him from emerging as a top prospect. He’ll take another stab at the pros in 2014-15, where he needs to establish himself as an AHL regular in Grand Rapids.

Philippe Hudon, RW (5th round, 145th overall)

Although the Red Wings keep Hudon’s rights until 2015, he hasn’t panned out since being selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. He wrapped up his junior career in 2013-14 with just 37 goals among 71 points in 156 games and is unlikely to have a future in the Red Wings organization. ---RedWingsCentral.com

Mattias Backman, D (5th round, 146th overall)

The Red Wings liked Backman’s size, mobility and two-way smarts on draft day, but he has since developed into one of the top dozen or so defensemen in Sweden. He’ll compete for a job with the Red Wings in 2014-15, but he could also return to the SHL for one more year. Backman projects as a top-four defenseman who can play 20 minutes a night in all situations. ---RedWingsCentral.com

Richard Nedomiel, D (6th round, 175th overall)

Nedomlel was drafted for his size, toughness and stay-at-home game, and he’s improved as a puck-mover since then. Nedomlel had a good rookie pro season in the ECHL in 2013-14 and the next step is to establish himself in a similar fashion in the AHL with Grand Rapids in 2014-15.---RedWingsCentral.com

Alexey Marchenko, D (7th round, 205th overall)

Marchenko looks like another seventh-round steal for the Red Wings. At this stage, it isn’t if Marchenko will be a full-time NHLer, it’s when. He earned rave reviews in Grand Rapids as an AHL rookie in 2013-14, playing in the all-star game and making his NHL debut, but suffered a season-ending high-ankle sprain in February. Although injuries have been a recurring theme for Marchenko, he could be a top-four, 20-minute-a-night defenseman in the NHL as soon as 2014-15. ---RedWingsCentral.com

OVERVIEW: It is still very early but the initial prognosis is that this draft class has the potential to rival the heralded 1989 class from the standpoint of quantity. The Red Wings expect five of the players from this draft year to make an impact at some stage of their career in the NHL. Jurco, Ouellet, Sproul, Backman and Marchenko all appear to be NHL caliber players. Getting what appears to be 5 NHL’ers out of 9 selections is yeoman’s work from Holland and his scouting department.

The expectation is that as the season progresses, Jurco will be joined by possibly two of the defenseman in this group wearing the Winged Wheel in Detroit.

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