Red Wings draft preview

This years draft looks to be the best ever. There are tons of players that looks like future NHLers. It`s not only the regular draft guys that are interesting, there are also guys that re-enter the draft that are good and could be good investments. But unfortunately Red Wings don`t have the so important 1st round pick, they miss the 3rd round pick to. 1st round pick was traded to Chicago in a deal for Chris Chelios, and the 3rd round pick belongs to Nashville because Detroit made a trade for a 4th round pick in the 2000 draft to pick goalie Stefan Liv.

Detroit will start the draft in the second round.

Here are some players that I think would fit good in the Detroit Red Wings organization.

1. Yered Hagos

Country: Sweden
Club: AIK J20
Position: Center
Height: 6.1
Weight: 201
Shoots: Left

First player I would draft but unfortunately I don`t think he will be available when Red Wings make there first pick, is Yered Hagos. This guy has it all, nice size, very good leadership, great skater, a lot of toughness, EVERYTHING! He has already made his debut in the Swedish Elite leagues playoffs! This IS a future Nhl player. He is ranked 24th overall in Europe, but I think he should be Top 30 in the draft!

2. Jay McClement

Country: Canada
Club: Brampton OHL
Position: Center
Height: 6.2
Weight: 195
Shoots: Left

Unfortunately I don`t think he`ll either be there when Detroit draft, but you can always hope. Jay is a very good all-round player, good size, scoring touch, great skater, very responsible defensively, plays similar to Michael Peca. He is ranked 28th in North America but could be a 1st rounder.

3. Oliver Setzinger

Country: Austria
Club: Ilves Jr (Finland)
Position: Center
Height: 6.0
Weight: 180
Shoots: Left

This guy could be there, only because he is from Austria, but that doesn’t mean that he is a bad player, on the contrary he is very good. He has got solid size, great play making ability, solid scorer, makes nice moves, also very all-round minded, plays very maturely. I saw him play during the WC in Germany and I couldn`t believe that he was only 17 years old, he played like a veteran. He is ranked 28th in Europe, but could be a 1st or 2nd round pick.

4. Kyle Wellwood

Country: Canada
Club: Belleville OHL
Position: Center
Height: 5.10
Weight: 190
Shoots: Right

It`s unbelievable to see this guy ranked 94th in the North American rankings after the last season he had in Belleville, he had 118 points in 68 games. He is a great play maker, solid scorer. Maybe there is something that I don`t know, only minus is his size, but one thing is for sure I would give him a shot!

5. Andrei Medvedev

Country: Russia
Club: Spartak Rus2
Position: Goalie
Height: 6.0
Weight: 202
Catches: Left

A Russian goalie that I don`t know much about, but he seems to have good size for a goalie, he had a solid WJC, but the biggest reason is that Detroit needs young goalies in their organization. He is ranked 2nd among the European goalies.

Next up are players from Sweden whom the Detroit maybe could get in the later rounds.

1. Fredrik Eriksson

Country: Sweden
Club: Farjestad J20
Position: Left Wing
Height: 5.11
Weight: 180
Shoots: Left

Fredrik is a good all-round player, solid size, very good powerplay point man, fine skater and very hardworking. I have seen him play in two games in the Swedish junior league and he was dominating. He is ranked 47th in Europe. He is a possible 4th rounder.

2. Jonas Leetma

Country: Sweden
Club: Frolunda J20
Position: Defence
Height: 5.11
Weight: 180
Shoots: Right

Jonas is going to be a very good defenceman, maybe some day even in the Nhl. Those games that I saw him in the junior league he was the total package. He is a very mobile and offensive minded defenceman, he makes end to end rushes, good shot, fine play making skills with a very good hockey sense. He reminds me of David Tanabe. He is ranked 74th in Europe.

3. Johan Agu

Country: Sweden
Club: Modo J20
Position: Defence
Height: 6.3
Weight: 194
Shoots: Right

Johan could be a top 4 stay home defenceman in the Nhl. He is a good skater, possesses fine hockey sense, solid passing game, very good positioning and defensive play, great hitter. Johan is ranked 101st i Europe.

4. Kristoffer Jobs

Country: Sweden
Club: Brynes J20
Position: Left Wing
Height: 5.11
Weight: 165
Shoots: Left

Jobs is a small speedy winger with good scoring ability, solid play maker, fine hockey sense. He is ranked 98th in Europe.

5. Simon Skoog

Country: Sweden
Club: Morrum, 2nd tier league
Position: Defence
Height: 6.2
Weight: 220
Shoots: Left

Simon is a possible future Nhl player, he is a typical stay home defenceman. He is maybe not a star but is that 5th or 6th defenceman that every team needs. He is very mobile, solid offensively, good shot, fine hitter. He is ranked 107th in Europe.

Other possible names to draft this year are: