Where Are They Now: Detroit Red Wings’ 2009 Draft Selections

The Detroit Red Wings had seven selections in the 2009 NHL Entry-Level Draft – none in the first or fourth round and two in each the second and third round –  and their might only be one well-known draftee among the Detroit Red Wings fan base; a few might be known because of their time in Grand Rapids, but a couple might not have even crossed the minds of Red Wings fans.

Let’s take a look at where the 2009 Detroit Red Wings draft selections are now.

Landon Ferraro

Landon Ferraro signed a new contract with the Detroit Red Wings to keep him in the organization. He will most likely spend that time in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins and be called up to the NHL only if there are injuries to bottom six players. Ferraro was an important player for the Griffins two seasons ago, but saw a dip in production last year and in the four games he played with Detroit, he did not look like he was ready to make the jump yet.

Tomas Tatar

Detroit was forced to keep Tomas Tatar in the NHL because he would ave had to clear waivers in order to return to the AHL and even though he did not have a great start to the season, – mostly because he was not playing – he became an important player for Detroit. He signed a new three-year deal with Detroit in the off-season and it looks like he will be in Detroit for a long time coming.

Andrej Nestrasil

Andrej Nestrasil signed a new one-year contract to remain with the Detroit Red Wings organization and will probably spend most of the year will the Grand Rapids Griffins. He will have to clear waivers to be sent down, but I do not see that being an issue. Mestrasil spent most of his first two years with the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL, but spent all of last year with the Griffins and became an important piece of the puzzle in their playoff run.

Gleason Fournier

After three seasons in the Detroit Red Wings organization and not being able to produce, the Detroit Red Wings opted not to tender Fournier to a new contract and instead let him walk away as a free agent. Fournier ended up signing a one-year contract with the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL.

Nick Jensen

Nick Jensen spent three years with the St. Cloud State Huskies of the WCHA before being signed to his entry-level contract, but his first professional season started off rough when he injured his shoulder in a fight with Tyler Bertuzzi during Development Camp. When he returned from his injury he played three games with the Toledo Walleye before joining the Griffins for the rest of the season and the playoffs. The right-handed defenseman has one year left on his entry-level contract and has a decent future with Detroit if he can stay healthy.

Mitch Callahan

The Detroit Red Wings re-signed Mitch Callahan to a one-year contract. Last season, Mitch Callahan had a break out year and the Red Wings will be expecting more of him this coming season in the AHL. If he continues to trend upwards, we could be Mitch Callahan as the new Darren McCarty in Detroit and that would be a big boost to the team.

Adam Almqvist

The Detroit Red Wings gave Adam Almqvist a shot with to stay in the NHL at the beginning of the preseason and a shot in the regular season, but was not ready to make the jump yet and a couple defensemen in the AHL seemed to jump him in the rankings. In the off-season, Detroit tendered Adam Almqvist to a contract, but Almqvist was not keen to play another year in the AHL. Instead, Almqvist will spend the next two season in the KHL with the Severstal Cherepovets, but the Detroit Red Wings will still own his rights when he returns to the NHL.

When all is said and done three of these four selections could end up begin long-term Detroit Red Wings and if that ends up being the case, then we can call this draft a success for Detroit.