Mark Spizzirri: 2011 Draft Update

Nice article. Really hope we can see Sproul and Ouellet in the Wings line up sooner than later.

Pretty amazing that Ouellett, Sproul, Backman and Marchenko were all taken in the same draft. In a perfect world, all 4 will become successful red wing defensemen. It will be interesting to see how this shakes down over the next couple years and which guys they aren't able to make room for.
I really hope that by the end of this season at least two of them are with the Wings full time at the expense of Lashoff and Kindl.

Very excited to see Sproul when he's ready for the NHL. He seems to me like one of those slower developing d-men, but when he hits his stride as a full time NHL player I expect he'll develop into a big asset fast.

Still not sure about this Jurco character. We will see if his skills can translate to the NHL over a full season. (*kidding!*)

My only question is how do you fit them all? With kronwall, Ericsson, smith and DD likely around for a while that only leaves two bottom 6 roles. I don't think they pay Quincey 4mil to be bottom 6 (hence another reason he shouldn't have been signed)

Likely injuries will happen and these kids can play themselves into the lineup but I think some of these kids are gonna have to be traded cause I just don't believe there is room for them all....which is very sad

My only question is how do you fit them all? With kronwall, Ericsson, smith and DD likely around for a while that only leaves two bottom 6 roles. I don't think they pay Quincey 4mil to be bottom 6 (hence another reason he shouldn't have been signed)

Likely injuries will happen and these kids can play themselves into the lineup but I think some of these kids are gonna have to be traded cause I just don't believe there is room for them all....which is very sad
- HomestyleMelt

I've always been under the impression they would be more likely to trade Ericsson if any of these young guys are really working out down the road.

I've always been under the impression they would be more likely to trade Ericsson if any of these young guys are really working out down the road.
- SolidGoldBricks

I wouldn't be that upset...he frustrates me with his lack of using his huge frame. I could see DD replacing him if it panned out that way

Kindl also needs to go but I already foresee him losing his spot this season. The fact Oulette played over him in a playoff game last year is very telling

I wouldn't be that upset...he frustrates me with his lack of using his huge frame. I could see DD replacing him if it panned out that way

Kindl also needs to go but I already foresee him losing his spot this season. The fact Oulette played over him in a playoff game last year is very telling
- HomestyleMelt

Not sure how much you can read into Ouellet playing over Kindl other than Babcock just being Babcock. Lashoff also played over Kindl and I would play Kindl over Lashoff any day. Just one of many Babcock head scratching moves (playing Lashoff over Kindl, scratching Tatar early in the season, Glendening playing time, Cleary not being dumped early last season along with Sammy ect...).


Even though I like a lot of the Wings defense prospects, the one I really want to see with the Wings is Sproul. Big, right handed bomb, can skate and move the puck is exactly what the Wings have been lacking on the blueline for a long time.

Not sure how much you can read into Ouellet playing over Kindl other than Babcock just being Babcock. Lashoff also played over Kindl and I would play Kindl over Lashoff any day. Just one of many Babcock head scratching moves (playing Lashoff over Kindl, scratching Tatar early in the season, Glendening playing time, Cleary not being dumped early last season along with Sammy ect...).


Even though I like a lot of the Wings defense prospects, the one I really want to see with the Wings is Sproul. Big, right handed bomb, can skate and move the puck is exactly what the Wings have been lacking on the blueline for a long time.
- dcz28

Yeah him and Marchenko really interest me because of their size and handedness. I'm just saying I don't see room for all 4 of these guys (Sproul,Marchenko,Oulette,Bachman) so eventually something will have to be done

Somebody will almost always take a veteran off of your hands if they don't have a crazy cap hit, and you don't ask for much (just a late round draft pick). So I don't think making room is the issue.

I think the Wings are just hoping one or two of them turn out. If all four are all magically NHL level defensemen they're probably going to trade a couple of them.

I don't think there is any way the Wings ever start four defense men with less than two years of experience at the same time.

Yeah him and Marchenko really interest me because of their size and handedness. I'm just saying I don't see room for all 4 of these guys (Sproul,Marchenko,Oulette,Bachman) so eventually something will have to be done
- HomestyleMelt

I agree, there won't be room for them all especially since they will all run out of waiver options all at the same time including Jensen. Something will have to give and giving them all some spot duty would go a long way in maybe upping their trade value for the ones they don't want to keep.

Couple of videos on some of the defense prospects (added Mrazek and Pulkkinen too):

Ryan Sproul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfkpJ0I-vUs

Xavier Ouellet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4UsPZhMxrI

Mattias Backman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77cAJIxr64I

Alexey Marchenko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLWU-seKsXw

Petr Mrazek
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMy3Pr8QfM0

Teemu Pulkkinen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfWYdTRxKrI

Somebody will almost always take a veteran off of your hands if they don't have a crazy cap hit, and you don't ask for much (just a late round draft pick). So I don't think making room is the issue.

I think the Wings are just hoping one or two of them turn out. If all four are all magically NHL level defensemen they're probably going to trade a couple of them.

I don't think there is any way the Wings ever start four defense men with less than two years of experience at the same time.
- noffsin6

They essentially did exactly that last season, with Jakub Kindl (147 career games entering 2013-14, the equivalent of less than 2 full seasons), Brendan Smith (48 career games entering 2013-14), Brian Lashoff (31 games) and DDK (11 games).

I pretty much get what you're saying though, which is why I think it was a big mistake to play Brian Effing Lashoff 75 games last year. At the very least that spot ought to have rotated between Almquist, Ouellet, Sproul, and Marchenko (Backman was still in Sweden most of the year) in order to give them all some NHL experience and see if one (or more) of them were able to establish themselves as early favorites to make the roster on a more permanent basis next season.

What I'm afraid will happen, of course, is that Sproul/Ouellet/Marchenko/Backman all cash out their remaining waiver exemptions by the end of the 2016 training camp and maybe only one of them has any meaningful NHL playing experience. Then you've either got to flip prospects before even seeing what they can do at the NHL level, or you've got to flip veterans without knowing if their replacements are any good, or probably both.

Great read. Red Wings are always able to make something of their later draft picks. That's the difference between them and many other organizations.

You guys may have grabbed a steal in Nedomlel. He may not pan out to be anything, but in the WHL he was an absolute beast. His decision making with the puck still needs to improve, but if it does he has the ability to be a very very good 4-5-6 defenseman.

They essentially did exactly that last season, with Jakub Kindl (147 career games entering 2013-14, the equivalent of less than 2 full seasons), Brendan Smith (48 career games entering 2013-14), Brian Lashoff (31 games) and DDK (11 games).

I pretty much get what you're saying though, which is why I think it was a big mistake to play Brian Effing Lashoff 75 games last year. At the very least that spot ought to have rotated between Almquist, Ouellet, Sproul, and Marchenko (Backman was still in Sweden most of the year) in order to give them all some NHL experience and see if one (or more) of them were able to establish themselves as early favorites to make the roster on a more permanent basis next season.

What I'm afraid will happen, of course, is that Sproul/Ouellet/Marchenko/Backman all cash out their remaining waiver exemptions by the end of the 2016 training camp and maybe only one of them has any meaningful NHL playing experience. Then you've either got to flip prospects before even seeing what they can do at the NHL level, or you've got to flip veterans without knowing if their replacements are any good, or probably both.
- Sven22

You would hope the wings would assume this is worst case scenario and work to avoid this lol personally I think Sproul > Oulette cause he had size and similar offensive upside and idk really between Backman and Marchenko... Don't quote me I haven't don't hmwk on all the stats that's just how I feel....have a lot of interest in seeing Sproul make it and if Marchenko can be a rock defensive dman then he would be my next choice...then we would have two righties!

They essentially did exactly that last season, with Jakub Kindl (147 career games entering 2013-14, the equivalent of less than 2 full seasons), Brendan Smith (48 career games entering 2013-14), Brian Lashoff (31 games) and DDK (11 games).

- Sven22

Kindle has played at least 41 games every year since 2010, and that 41 was only because of the lockout.

Lashoff, DeyKeyser, and Smith only started toghether when it was neccessary because of injuries.

It's a completely different situation with the other four though. They will all lose waiver exemption at the same time. So there there are really only three scenarios:

A). The Wings get rid of Lashoff, Kindle, and Quincey/Ericksson. They could then start two of the kids and rotate the other two kids in and out depending on who is playing good. In fairy tale land this is my favorite option. DeyKeyser, Smith, and at least two of the kids will have to be rock solid for this to work though, and the Wings would have to be a lot more willing to take a risk than they have ever been. I just don't see it happening.

B). One or two of the kids really stands out, makes the Wings this year in camp or as an injury replacement and another one shows a lot of promise. The other two eventually get traded or claimed off waivers.

C). The Wings completely fall apart (like people are always saying they are). They are fighting for a lottery pick so they get rid of all the vets and start the four kids together.

It's going to be a tricky situation no matter how you slice it.

Kindle has played at least 41 games every year since 2010, and that 41 was only because of the lockout.

Lashoff, DeyKeyser, and Smith only started toghether when it was neccessary because of injuries.

It's a completely different situation with the other four though. They will all lose waiver exemption at the same time. So there there are really only three scenarios:

A). The Wings get rid of Lashoff, Kindle, and Quincey/Ericksson. They could then start two of the kids and rotate the other two kids in and out depending on who is playing good. In fairy tale land this is my favorite option. DeyKeyser, Smith, and at least two of the kids will have to be rock solid for this to work though, and the Wings would have to be a lot more willing to take a risk than they have ever been. I just don't see it happening.

B). One or two of the kids really stands out, makes the Wings this year in camp or as an injury replacement and another one shows a lot of promise. The other two eventually get traded or claimed off waivers.

C). The Wings completely fall apart (like people are always saying they are). They are fighting for a lottery pick so they get rid of all the vets and start the four kids together.

It's going to be a tricky situation no matter how you slice it.
- noffsin6

Relegate Lashoff to the AHL and trade Kindl for a pick. That's the easiest two things to do. Not many teams will take Quincey nor are we really ready to part with Ericsson. Bringing up Sproul and Ouellet can happen by 2015-16 season