Archive for the 'Draft' Category

Wings draft roundups

Published
by
Matt Saler
on June 24, 2007
in Draft and Joakim Andersson
. 0 Comments

Since I usually avoid posting too much about draft picks (because I know next to nothing about them), I’ll refer you to a couple bloggers who have posted roundups: George Malik and Christy Hammond. They did a great job of covering the Wings’ picks in a number of posts, so scroll down and check them out, if you haven’t already.

I will say one thing about one of the picks: Joakim Andersson. I like the comparisons being made about him (Keith Primeau, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Samuel Pahlsson) and like his enthusiasm at having been drafted by the Wings. It’ll be interesting to see if he turns out to be another stud.

NHL changes draft system

Published
by
Matt Saler
on March 13, 2007
in Draft, Hockey Bloggers, Links and NHL
. 0 Comments

Christy Hammond has the details, as does James Gunner. Apparently, the Wings lobbied for the new system, which would help them get higher picks if they do end up getting eliminated in the first round. However, the condition that says regular season division title winners won’t get low placement kind of negates any advantage the team might have, if their history is any indication. Maybe they see a change in fortunes coming.

Red Wings Draft Pick Profiles

Published
by
Matt Saler
on June 24, 2006
in Draft and The Team
. 0 Comments

The Wings took 18-year-old Cory Emmerton 41st overall as their first pick of the draft. Emmerton scored 90 points (26G, 64A) in 66 games for the Kingston Frontenacs this past season, had an assist in the OHL All-Star Game and scored two goals in six games in the postseason.

Hockey’s Future has this to say about him:

A talented playmaker with offensive flair and a nose for the net, Emmerton is the type of forward that makes those around him better. He has a knack for finding the open man, or hitting a teammate in full-stride for an offensive chance.He has elite playmaking and passing skills and is solid on his skates. He could benefit from some extra attention on the defensive side of the game, but he projects to challenge for the OHL scoring title should he remain in the league next season, and could be a solid point-producer for years to come no matter what level he plays at.

He’s 5′11″, 177 pounds, shoots left, and plays center. A playmaker, evidentally, not a goal-scorer, and yet another center in the system.

The Wings’ second pick was Shawn Matthias, another 18-year-old center. Matthias played 67 games for the Belleville Bulls, notching just 13 goals and 21 assists over that span. He scored three goals in the first round of the OHL playoffs in six games.

Hockey’s Future has this to say about him:

He can skate and handle the puck, but he still needs to work on his two-way play. Never one to shy away from hard work, Matthias is considered to have NHL potential.

At 6′3″, 211 lbs., Matthias definitely has some size so he brings something the Wings could use if he really is NHL material.

For their third pick, the Wings took the 19-year-old Swede Dick Axelsson 62nd overall. Axelsson split his time between the Huddinge J20 team and the Huddinge main roster, scoring 19 goals and 34 points in 28 games with the former and 17 goals and 19 points in 23 games with the latter.

Elite Prospects has this to say about him (translated from Swedish):

Axelsson has great size and is an aggressive and physical player. He has good timing in his hits. His skating, the intensity he plays with and his forechecking is quite good. Axelsson’s main asset is his hockey sense and he is good at finding passing openings. At the same time he is a good scorer. Technical skills and hands are good. There is room for improvement when it comes to his defensive game and his acceleration.

Axelsson, at 6′2″, 176 lbs, has some good size as well. He’s listed as a forward so maybe he’s not a center.

That’s all I have on these guys for now but I’ll post more as I see it.

Three picks, three forwards. So much for bolstering the defensive depth of the system.

Update (11:11 PM): Christy has more here.

Red Wings Draft Update

Published
by
Matt Saler
on June 24, 2006
in Draft and The Team
. 3 Comments

Just after the 28th pick, the Wings completed a trade with Phoenix, handing the Coyotes the 29th and 152nd picks in exchange for the 41st and 47th. So, although they’ve only had two first rounders in the last 7 years, the Wings traded it away for two second-round selections. They now have three picks in the second round (41st, 47th, and 62nd).

Phoenix used the pick to select a defenseman, Chris Summers, a smooth-skating American U-18 gold medal winner, according to TSN’s draft tracker and James Mirtle.

Pretty disappointing the Wings only did such a minor deal. I’ll be honest: visions of Shane Doan in the Winged Wheel went through my head when they mentioned the Wings were talking a trade over with Phoenix. Paul Kukla says the Wings are uncomfortable drafting in the first round. It sure seems like it!

Guess we’ll have to wait and see who they pick with what they got. Since OLN is no longer broadcasting the draft, if you’re in the States, you’ll have to watch it online with NHL Network’s live stream (via. Kukla’s Korner). If you’re like me and on a slow connection, try refreshing Mirtle’s liveblog or NHL Draft Net’s tracker.

Update (10:04 PM): The second round picks are in:

41st - Cory Emmerton - C/LW
47th - Shawn Matthias - C
62nd - Dick Axelsson - W

More to come.

6/24 Notes

Published
by
Matt Saler
on June 24, 2006
in Chris Pronger, Draft, Nick Lidstrom, Notes and Roberto Luongo
. 1 Comment

… James Mirtle addresses the surprising news out of Edmonton involving Chris Pronger’s trade request. Apparently, “family issues” meant “my rich wife from St. Louis hates Northern Alberta.” Although Pronger did request a trade earlier in the season due to his wife, he obviously didn’t make a big stink about it and was honorable enough to play through the season, becoming the Oilers’ most dominant player through their playoff run.

As Mirtle says, Pronger’s stock is incredibly high now so Kevin Lowe will be able to get a lot in return if a trade does in fact happen. Of course, that fact just makes Brian’s rumor that much more unlikely but it’s still a nice dream, eh?

… Ansar Khan reports that there has been progress made in contract negotiations with Nick Lidstrom. He quotes Ken Holland as saying,

“We had good conversations. We’ve gone back and forth the last couple of weeks with different ideas and numbers. I’m trying to convince Nick on a number, he’s trying to convince me on a number. We’re trying to find a compromise. I’d like to get something done (next) week.”

It sure would be nice to know just how far apart they are (i.e. $8.8 million versus $8 million or $8.8 million versus $7 million, etc.).

No talks will take place this weekend but they will pick up again on Monday.

Khan also reports that Holland doesn’t have a lot happening on the trade front, which isn’t all that encouraging. Perhaps that’ll change today after all the GMs get together for the draft.

… IwoCPO has a further reaction to last night’s big Luongo trade, posted from the Richmond airport today:

Yes, it would have been a move that re-kindled the excitement in Detroit. Yes, it seems that if it were to occur Pavel Datsyuk, at least, would have been sent to Florida in return. Yes, Luongo was the best goalie available, is going to be a great playoff performer and is a franchise player.And if goaltending was the only problem the Wings had against Edmonton, the deal may have been made. But, in the heat of the discussion over whether Holland should have mortgaged the offensive talent pool in favor of Luongo let’s recall a few happy moments. Remember Ryan (Jason, Smith, Smyth) with continued access to the crease, untouched. …

Basically, the Wings need grit, speed, and heart more than they need a big-name goalie. The equation “Luongo=the Wings’ savior” was always a false one (Luongo≠the Wings’ savior). Holland needs to focus on acquiring players that bring those qualities to the team and on losing players that don’t.

Be sure to check out Iwo’s classic timeline of his experience at the airport here.

… Of course, the draft is tonight and, as I posted yesterday, we’ll have whatever information we can find on the Wings’ two picks (29th and 62nd) in today’s rounds (1st and 2nd). Be sure to stop by James Mirtle’s liveblog of the event and checking Kukla’s Korner for updates is always a good idea. Hockey’s Future and Red Wings Central are also good resources for information on draftees (they’re basically where we’ll be going for it).

I should have thought of this earlier, but Hockey’s Future has a Red Wings draft preview here. Their section on draft tendencies is very interesting, noting,

New CBA rules, however, put heavy transfer fees on European players chosen after the second round and force NHL teams to sign European draft picks with two years of their draft date. Consequently, look for the Red Wings to reprioritize the draft and lessen their emphasis on European talent.

I had missed that little fact. It will be interesting to see the impact that will have on the Wings in the future. Their reliance on European talent was made necessary by their success over the years. It has to be easier to find overlooked and unknown players at the isolated rinks of Russia and Sweden than in the well-publicized arenas of the North American systems.

Update (2:58 PM): Christy also will be updating throughout the draft.

Update (4:10 PM): Looks like Luongo was caught off-guard by the trade, since, apparently, he thought he and Florida had a tentative agreement on a four-year contract. I guess that means there was no pre-negotiated long-term deal that the Canucks can count on simply because Luongo was not involved in the trade negotiations. For now, apparently, Luongo is too emotional to think about signing a long-term contract with Vancouver so Nonis will have to wait.

Update (6:50 PM): BoA has a reaction to the news about Pronger here. Definitely sucks for those fans.

Red Wings Central draft preview

Published
by
Matt Saler
on June 23, 2006
in Draft and The Team
. 2 Comments

Because I’m no expert on prospects and the immediate draft needs of the Wings’ minors system, I’m deferring the draft preview to Red Wings Central. All I’ll say is maybe they should think about bolstering their defensive depth because it’s pretty weak beyond the main roster. Based on what Matt Wuest says, that could be what they’ll do:

It’s just the fourth time in the past 10 years that the Red Wings have held their first-round pick. Each time, the Red Wings have looked to the blue line — selecting defensemen Jakub Kindl (19th in 2005), Niklas Kronwall (29th in 2000) and Jiri Fischer (25th in 1998).

OLN is broadcasting the draft tomorrow beginning at 6:00 ET. Be sure to stop by GlobeandMail.com to catch James Mirtle’s special feature live-blog of the event. Update (24. Jun, 11:31 AM): Here’s a more direct link to the live-blog, which James reports will start in the hours before the draft begins. – Matt

We’ll have the Wings’ picks posted along with any information we can find on them, of course.

Also, my Dad is out of the hospital. The scare was that he had had a stroke on Sunday but it turns out he just had a TIA (transient ischemic attack), which amounts to a mini-stroke. He’s doing a lot better but will have to undergo therapy and hopefully he’ll be able to recover fully. It’s been a rollercoaster of a week, to be sure.