2023 Draft Discussion

[Barry Amsterdam]

I want my slightly undersized so often overlooked, shifty, pass-first, cerebral center who already plays defense at a high level. Someone tell me who that is

otto stenberg

 

[Run the Jewels]

I want my slightly undersized so often overlooked, shifty, pass-first, cerebral center who already plays defense at a high level. Someone tell me who that is

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

I'm depressed we chose this year to bandaid together what looks like a middle of the pack (but likely won't go anywhere) team. I know it had to happen and the kids need to be surrounded with decent vets. But we could have really benefited from one more tank into one of the best drafts in a while.

 

[Frk It]

I'm depressed we chose this year to bandaid together what looks like a middle of the pack (but likely won't go anywhere) team. I know it had to happen and the kids need to be surrounded with decent vets. But we could have really benefited from one more tank into one of the best drafts in a while.

There are so many players I like in this draft class already, I'm not really sweating it.

Just the WHL group alone is insane.

Since I was high on Savoie last year, I'll start my push for this kid early this year, since he actually took Savoie's spot on the Power Play down the stretch.

Zach Benson is a Star in the Making

He's not eligible until the 2023 NHL draft, but Zach Benson has had no issue scoring in big moments for the Winnipeg ICE and even Team Canada. He'll go early in the draft next year, and will make an NHL franchise extremely happy.

thehockeynews.com

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I'm depressed we chose this year to bandaid together what looks like a middle of the pack (but likely won't go anywhere) team. I know it had to happen and the kids need to be surrounded with decent vets. But we could have really benefited from one more tank into one of the best drafts in a while.

There are a few things to consider before you cry about the 2023 draft:

1. The 2023 free agent class is one of the weakest classes in the last 10 years, if not THE weakest. If Detroit doesn't make the moves to improve the roster in 2022 they are probably not going to make any meaningful improvements until 2025 or 2026 barring some rookies developing into superstars and Yzerman trading draft capital for other roster improvements.

2. Picking 10 to 20 this year will likely be as good as picking between 5 and 15 in 2022. Maybe even better. There are some real big guns outside of the top 5 in the 2023 draft. Riley Heidt, Charlie Stramel, and many many more.

3. the only way Detroit drafts top 10 next season is by a franchise damaging tank attempt ala Buffalo 2014 or Chicago 2022. They would have to trade Bertuzzi, Hronek, Raymond and Vrana, then re-sign Greiss and DeKeyser to compete for a bottom 5 finish. And even then they still probably finish #5 to #8 at the draft.

I would LOVE for a crack at Fantilli or Leo Carlsson because I think those guys will be legitimate top line centers, but if Detroit drafts a guy like Charlie Stramel in the teens? That's a player that is probably Cutter Gauthier level prospect and he will go between 10 and 16. There are also plenty of winger prospects that will go in the teens that could be anywhere from Bertuzzi/Rust/Boeser level guys to Rantanen, Kyle Connor or even Pastrnak level players.

Just like in each of the last 4 drafts, if Detroit does their due dilligence, gives their prospect the time and resources to develop properly, I'm confident they will get a very good player wherever they pick in the first round.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

There are a few things to consider before you cry about the 2023 draft:

1. The 2023 free agent class is one of the weakest classes in the last 10 years, if not THE weakest. If Detroit doesn't make the moves to improve the roster in 2022 they are probably not going to make any meaningful improvements until 2025 or 2026 barring some rookies developing into superstars and Yzerman trading draft capital for other roster improvements.

2. Picking 10 to 20 this year will likely be as good as picking between 5 and 15 in 2022. Maybe even better. There are some real big guns outside of the top 5 in the 2023 draft. Riley Heidt, Charlie Stramel, and many many more.

3. the only way Detroit drafts top 10 next season is by a franchise damaging tank attempt ala Buffalo 2014 or Chicago 2022. They would have to trade Bertuzzi, Hronek, Raymond and Vrana, then re-sign Greiss and DeKeyser to compete for a bottom 5 finish. And even then they still probably finish #5 to #8 at the draft.

I would LOVE for a crack at Fantilli or Leo Carlsson because I think those guys will be legitimate top line centers, but if Detroit drafts a guy like Charlie Stramel in the teens? That's a player that is probably Cutter Gauthier level prospect and he will go between 10 and 16. There are also plenty of winger prospects that will go in the teens that could be anywhere from Bertuzzi/Rust/Boeser level guys to Rantanen, Kyle Connor or even Pastrnak level players.

Just like in each of the last 4 drafts, if Detroit does their due dilligence, gives their prospect the time and resources to develop properly, I'm confident they will get a very good player wherever they pick in the first round.

If Detroit wins the lottery, they should be alright.

Either way, I think Detroit will get a good player.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

If Detroit wins the lottery, they should be alright.

Either way, I think Detroit will get a good player.

Detroit might not even be a lottery team in 2023. I think they end up a wildcard team and pick 17 to 22. If they win the lotto it'll be going from 15th to 5th.

 

[lilidk]

Detroit might not even be a lottery team in 2023. I think they end up a wildcard team and pick 17 to 22. If they win the lotto it'll be going from 15th to 5th.

You don't believe Michkov going to be available there?.

 

[Frk It]

You don't believe Michkov going to be available there?.

He’s so good teams will wait until 2026 for him.

I hope Chicago finished last, gets him 2nd, and then he says nah I’ll stay in Russia. And then another team with a superstar Russian signs him and they get nada.

 

[lilidk]

He’s so good teams will wait until 2026 for him.

I hope Chicago finished last, gets him 2nd, and then he says nah I’ll stay in Russia. And then another team with a superstar Russian signs him and they get nada.

A lot of things could happen Till 2026, I'd pass

 

[simonedvinsson]

He’s so good teams will wait until 2026 for him.

I hope Chicago finished last, gets him 2nd, and then he says nah I’ll stay in Russia. And then another team with a superstar Russian signs him and they get nada.

Assuming this fabled “another team” in your story rhymes with “said things” and that Dmitri Buchelnikov is the Russian star you speak of, I’m 100% on board with this.

 

[Henkka]

You don't believe Michkov going to be available there?.

Michkov goes 2nd overall.

Who cares if he will join just 3 years after? That's only a good thing for a TANK, because you stay bad for extra 3 years. Chicago and Arizona are all for this.

***

What comes to that 2023 draft for Detroit, I could think Yzerman trades the 1st rounder for some playoff push, to have more complete team already. He went that kind of fastfoward on Tampa days. That will be on-season trade, team has to be rolling, of course. If we still are bad, we keep the pick.

 

[Frk It]

Could see Ritchie and Stramel being guys Detroit really likes.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

You don't believe Michkov going to be available there?.

Just about any team in position to take Michkov will take Michkov. Russian factor or not. Whoever picks him is probably going to still be a bad team in 2026 when you look at the tank crowd this year.

Chicago
Philadelphia
Arizona
Canadiens
Seattle


The only team that I think is bottom 5 this season that won't be bottom 10 (or worse) in 4 years is Seattle.

 

[lilidk]

Michkov goes 2nd overall.

Who cares if he will join just 3 years after? That's only a good thing for a TANK, because you stay bad for extra 3 years. Chicago and Arizona are all for this.

***

What comes to that 2023 draft for Detroit, I could think Yzerman trades the 1st rounder for some playoff push, to have more complete team already. He went that kind of fastfoward on Tampa days. That will be on-season trade, team has to be rolling, of course. If we still are bad, we keep the pick.

Rebuild should last 8 years and we are 5 years now, maybe six. A lot of people here don't like our 2016 and 2017 drafts , so really we have just 4 good drafts , I hope. We are not ready for same thing serious and playoffs

 

[Henkka]

Chicago
Philadelphia
Arizona
Canadiens

The only team that I think is bottom 5 this season that won't be bottom 10 (or worse) in 4 years is Seattle.

Agree with this. Same "crap four" in the becoming years.

Seattle will turn out good pretty soon. They just need to get 1D somewhere. Maybe a trade route. Could be Wings having too many good defencemen in few years, and we'll see some win-win trade.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Rebuild should last 8 years and we are 5 years now, maybe six. A lot of people here don't like our 2016 and 2017 drafts , so really we have just 4 good drafts , I hope. We are not ready for same thing serious and playoffs

2015 to 2018 were bad drafts. At this point we're looking for 2018 to be salvaged by Berggren if he can become a top 6 forward while Veleno becomes a bottom 6 forward. I don't have much faith in Zadina turning it around at this point.

Also look at it like this - in the 4 years that Yzerman has drafted Detroit has had the equivalent of 7 years of draft picks. And as much as this team has improved right now, and as much as I think they can compete for a playoff spot this year, I don't think they'll be fighting for a playoff spot EVERY year. Detroit may make the postseason this year and maybe next, but miss by a mile in 2025. Look at Colorado and Tampa as teams that are examples of this.

Detroit probably picks top 10 again sometime in the next 4 years but it won't be the end of the world. The system the Wings have built up now is much improved over Holland's.

 

[Henkka]

I give HUGE creadit for Tyler Wright picking Elmer Söderblom for us!

..or maybe it was Håkan.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

I give HUGE creadit for Tyler Wright picking Elmer Söderblom for us!

..or maybe it was Håkan.

Hakan Andersson: "So I found this guy...he's 6'8" and-"
Tyler Wright: "Say no more, fam! We'll pick him!"
HA: "-his skating needs wo-"
TW: "I said say no more, FAM."

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

I'm depressed we chose this year to bandaid together what looks like a middle of the pack (but likely won't go anywhere) team. I know it had to happen and the kids need to be surrounded with decent vets. But we could have really benefited from one more tank into one of the best drafts in a while.

We are one Dylan Larkin injury away from the very bottom of the league...

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

We are one Dylan Larkin injury away from the very bottom of the league...

Eh...nah. Not anymore. It would certainly hurt the team's playoff hopes but it's not cratering them into Arizona/Chicago/Montreal territory.

 

[lilidk]

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/603194/william-whitelaw
Cool name

 

[MBH]

Eh...nah. Not anymore. It would certainly hurt the team's playoff hopes but it's not cratering them into Arizona/Chicago/Montreal territory.

If Larkin misses 50 games or so, we're a bottom 5 team.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

If Larkin misses 50 games or so, we're a bottom 5 team.

So Larkin missing 50 games means Detroit finishes with 65 or less points? Because that’s the competition at the bottom.

 

[lilidk]

If Larkin misses 50 games or so, we're a bottom 5 team.

We will just like last season, or little better