For the second year in a row, the Detroit Red Wings enter the NHL draft with 10 picks.
Last year, general manager Steve Yzerman used that draft capital to wind up with veteran goalie Ville Husso and nine prospects. What will he do on Wednesday and Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee, as NHL front offices converge on Bridgestone Arena?
(Here’s how to watch the 2023 NHL draft, by the way.)
THE WINGS’ OPTIONS: 9 options at No. 9 for Detroit Red Wings in 2023 NHL draft
This year’s class is a forward-heavy group, led by generational talent Connor Bedard — the near-certain pick of the draft lottery winners, the Chicago Blackhawks — Michigan forward Adam Fantilli and Swedish center Leo Carlsson. That trio will likely be gone by the time the Red Wings pick at No. 9, but there are still several prospects that could help their rebuild. (The Free Press’ Helene St. James broke them down here.)
How soon? Top NHL draft picks usually get at least a season in the minors before getting a call-up, and the Red Wings have made a habit of giving their prospects a season with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. Still, there are exceptions: Last year’s top pick, Austrian forward Marco Kasper, played a full season in the Swedish Hockey League, then made his Red Wings debut in a late-season game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. (He was set to play more games, but suffered a lower-body injury that shut him down for the season.)
The Wings’ draft haul, built up from several trades by Yzerman (including the moves of Tyler Bertuzzi, Filip Hronek, Oscar Sundqvist and Jakub Vrána around the trade deadline) includes five picks in the top 43, capped by three consecutive second-rounders (Nos. 41-43).
Here’s a look at all 10 picks:
Detroit Red Wings’ 2023 NHL draft picks
No. 9: Round 1 — No. 9.
No. 17: Round 1 — No. 17 (from N.Y. Islanders via Vancouver Canucks).
No. 41: Round 2 — No. 8.
No. 42: Round 2 — No. 9 (from St. Louis Blues).
No. 43: Round 2 — No. 10 (from Canucks).
No. 73: Round 3 — No. 9.
No. 117: Round 4 — No. 21 (from Minnesota Wild).
No. 137: Round 5 — No. 9.
No. 169: Round 6 — No. 9.
No. 201: Round 7 — No. 9.
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Contact Ryan Ford at rford@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @theford
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings’ NHL draft 2023 picks: Steve Yzerman has 10 choices
