What should the Detroit Red Wings draft board look like?

Dylan Cozens-C

Dylan Cozens is a big-time center with a tonne of upside.  There is a lot to like about this young 6’3 center.  He shoots right-handed, and the Detroit Red Wings could use a talented forward who is a right-handed shot. When he eventually makes the NHL, he will be only the third player to ever make the league from the Yukon.

Usually, teams pay more attention to the handedness of their defensemen, but the Wings are in need of a difference maker that indeed shots from the right side.  The big forward has the ability to play the wing and isn’t afraid to go down low and bang the body if the game dictates that style of play.

Cozens plays in the WHL for the Lethbridge Hurricanes where he enjoyed a career year in just his second season of junior hockey.  In 68 games he was able to record 34 goals and add 50 helpers to total 84 points on the season.

Cozens brings a mix of speed, and skill to the table.  He’s from Whitehorse, Yukon in Northern Canada, Kirby Dach, Trevor Zegras or Cozens will be the second center off the board in the upcoming draft in a tight race although I like Dach and Zegras a lot I prefer Cozens.

I believe he will be a capable NHL center, but I picture him playing as a winger with the Detroit Red Wings maybe with Joe Veleno playing as his center on the third line in a few seasons from now.  His flexibility would allow the Wings to move him around if injuries were to occur similar to Michael Rasmussen.

Rasmussen is a natural center, but my gut feeling is he may settle in most valuable on the wing.  Cozens is a much better skater than Rasmussen but not quite as gifted as Veleno at this point in his career.  He would be a valuable pick at five for the Detroit Red Wings.