Detroit Red Wings mailbag: What will happen at NHL draft?

Helene St. James | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Prospective Red Wings draft picks on combine experience Adam Boqvist, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Oliver Wahlstrom drew interest from the Red Wings at the NHL combine.

Time for a Detroit Red Wings mailbag. Thanks as always for the many great questions.

Last year the Wings drafted defense and size (both much needed). Will this continue and how high of a priority is drafting a goaltender? — Susan Smiley (@leglace19) June 7, 2018

HSJ: The emphasis in the 2018 draft is on defensemen and centers. I expect the Wings to grab a defenseman with their first pick — right now it’s at sixth overall. I don’t get the sense they will move up, but possibly might move back one or two spots if the right deal emerges. I know they consider Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson very, very close in estimation. Both bring size and skill, and shoot right. I like Quinn Hughes — he’s on the small side, but such a dynamic skater.

They have 11 picks, and I’d expect one of them to be used on a goaltender. As it stands, Filip Larsson (a sixth-round pick from 2016) is the top goalie prospect in the system, but he’s 19 and headed to play at University of Denver in 2018-19.

After the scouting combine who ranks #1 on the Wings board? Assuming they're still available: Bouchard, Hughes,Dobson,Boqvist, Kotkaniemi or....? — Don Vollman (@DonVollman) June 7, 2018

HSJ: From people I talk to in the organization, Evan Bouchard appears to have slight edge over Noah Dobson. It was interesting at the the combine, of the top defensive prospects I interviewed (Bouchard, Dobson, Hughes and Adam Boqvist) — Bouchard sounded the most confident he can help an NHL team as soon as next season. Now, it is just up to the player, of course, but still, he clearly feels he’s ready for another level after posting 25 goals and 62 assists for 87 points in 67 games with London in the Ontario Hockey League.

More Red Wings:

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Detroit Red Wings use draft combine, steak dinner to size up prospects

Michigan's Quinn Hughes on a possible future with Detroit Red Wings

Jesperi Kotkaniemi is expected to be the first center to go in the draft. This is where it could get interesting, because Montreal, which picks third, desperately needs a center. But, how do the Canadiens pass on Filip Zadina or Andrei Svechnikov, who are projected to be the next ones picked after Rasmus Dahlin at first overall? Brady Tkachuk is projected to be a top five pick, so this is why I could see the Wings taking a deal and trading back a spot or two, because there would still be a high-end defense prospect available. They won’t fall out of top 10, though.

Do you think svech has a legitimate shot at cracking the lineup next season opening night? — Yurtle (@mikeandike9990) June 7, 2018

HSJ: At some point, yes, but I doubt it happens right out of exhibition season. Evgeny Svechnikov had a tough 2017-2018, from getting injured during exhibition season last autumn to then struggling with the attention he got from defenders after such a good first year of pro hockey in 2016-17 (20 goals, 51 points) with Grand Rapids. A likely scenario has Svechnikov starting in Grand Rapids, and then, if he performs similarly to how Anthony Mantha did to start the 2016-17 season when he earned a call up after producing eight goals among 10 points in 10 games for the Griffins, we’ll see Svechnikov in Detroit.

Blash says team roster is wide open. If 4 rookie defensemen make the team, what happens to Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Oullet & Jensen? Do they get moved, or bought out? — Zachary Davis (@ZakDav) June 7, 2018

HSJ: I’d be gobsmacked if four rookie defensemen make the Red Wings this fall. Maybe if they take a defenseman with their first pick at the draft later this month in Dallas and that somebody can step in right away. Dennis Cholowski, their first-round pick from 2016, will be starting his pro career, and Filip Hronek had a very good first year of pro hockey with the Griffins. Libor Sulak looked good in a shutdown role at the World Championship. Maybe at most two of those push for an NHL job right away, but it seems unlikely.

Among the veterans, I’d expect the opening night lineup to include Niklas Kronwall, Danny DeKeyser, Trevor Daley and Jonathan Ericsson. Xavier Ouellet doesn’t fit into their plans any longer, so I’d expect him either to be in a package deal, or maybe be exposed on waivers. Nick Jensen is a good third-pairing/reserve guy. Mike Green could be back — it’ll depend on what he’s looking for financially. If he could be had for two years at $4-$4.5 million per, I could see a deal materializing. Without him, there’s very little offense from the back end.

More Red Wings:

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Detroit Red Wings hit jackpot in 2014 NHL draft with Dylan Larkin

Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi stars of Detroit Red Wings' 2013 draft

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames