DALLAS — In a roundabout way, it was almost prophetic.



A little more than an hour before the start of the 2018 NHL Draft, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland stood at the fence separating the media risers from the draft floor. He was asked multiple variations of the question that seemed like it would define his team’s first round — whether he would make a trade — before he was asked the one that actually ended up the story of the night.



At first, it was a joke: If Filip Zadina somehow drops to (pick No. 6), will you be sprinting up there to the stage?



Holland made light of the scenario before answering, broadly, “We’re going to get a good player.”



As it turned out, they got two. And just as important, there was no trade, nor was one needed. The Red Wings held onto all of their chips and, as a result, ended up cashing out bigger than they could have realistically hoped on Day 1.



Detroit got Zadina...