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Red Wings: Should Draft Quinton Byfield at No. 2

By John Manzo

OSHAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Quinton Byfield #55 of the Sudbury Wolves protects the puck from Giovanni Vallati #11 of the Oshawa Generals during an OHL game at the Tribute Communities Centre on February 7, 2020 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
OSHAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 7: Quinton Byfield #55 of the Sudbury Wolves protects the puck from Giovanni Vallati #11 of the Oshawa Generals during an OHL game at the Tribute Communities Centre on February 7, 2020 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Red Wings should select center Quinton Byfield if they pick No. 2 in the upcoming NHL Draft. Here’s why.Draft lottery luck.

The Detroit Red Wings never have any of it, so I’m going to assume the trend of dropping back in the NHL Draft will continue in 2020 because it did when I simulated the draft order in April.

It seems like that’s how it goes with Detroit sports these days, and with prized prospect possession Alexis Lafreniere selected No. 1 overall by whoever leapfrogs the Red Wings, it’ll leave management with the likes of Quinton Byfield, Tim Stutzle, Jamie Drysdale and others to choose from.

If this scenario plays out, I want the Red Wings to take Byfield over the other names mentioned at No. 2.

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Detroit has always been a smaller team since I’ve been paying attention dating to the late 90s, and even more so when the Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg era took over.

Sure, there have been enforcers on these teams such as Darren McCarty, but for the most part the team has had the make-up of smaller, finesse players who are smart with the puck.

It worked out fine with four Stanley Cups since 1997, but the game is evolving, and players are becoming bigger and stronger. I’d like the Red Wings to continue to add size to their lineup, and getting a 6-foot-4, 215-pound center would do just that.

The team lacks size from its best players outside of forward Anthony Mantha, and general manager Steve Yzerman started the bigger-guy trend with defenseman Moritz Seider in last year’s draft.

Sorry, Stutzle, Cole Perfetti, Alexander Holtz, Lucas Raymond, and others. I think there’s a place for your game, but the better fit with the talent to back it up is Byfield, and I expect Yzerman to make that happen if the team picks at No. 2.

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