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Red Wings: Why Nicklas Lidstrom is Best Draft Value in Franchise History

By John Manzo

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 31: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni skates against Steve Thomas #32 of the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni during the 2017 Rogers NHL Centennial Classic Alumni Game at BMO Field on December 31, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 31: Nicklas Lidstrom #5 of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni skates against Steve Thomas #32 of the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni during the 2017 Rogers NHL Centennial Classic Alumni Game at BMO Field on December 31, 2016 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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Looking at which Detroit Red Wings NHL Draft pick was the best value in franchise history.

The Detroit Red Wings typically draft well.

Obviously, there is a new man in charge now with general manager Steve Yzerman calling the shots, but historically the team has had success. Earlier today, MLive writer Ansar Khan wrote a story on the Red Wings’ all-time best drafts picks in each round – and now us here at FanSided Octopus Thrower want to break it down a little further and debate the best overall value.

First and foremost, there are some incredible names on this list. Nicklas Lidstrom to Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg – all selected in different rounds. Remarkable.

Before we choose, here’s the full list:

  • First round: Steve Yzerman, 1983 (Peterborough, OHL)
  • Second round: Jimmy Howard, 2003 (Maine, Hockey East)
  • Third round: Nicklas Lidstrom, 1989 (Vasteras IK, Sweden)
  • Fourth round: Sergei Fedorov, 1989 (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
  • Fifth round: Darren Helm, 2005 (Medicine Hat, WHL)
  • Sixth round: Pavel Datsyuk, 1998 (Yekaterinburg Dynamo, Russia)
  • Seventh round: Henrik Zetterberg, 1999 (Timra, Sweden)
  • Eighth round: Dennis Polonich, 1973 (Flin Flon, WCHL)
  • Ninth round: Jonathan Ericsson, 2002 (Sweden)
  • 10th round: Tomas Holmstrom, 1994 (Lulea HF, Sweden)
  • 11th round: Vladimir Konstantinov, 1989 (CSKA Moscow, Russia)

When you look at the list holistically, it’s amazing to see the value the team received out of players over the course of time. I’ll go as far as saying Ericsson in the ninth was a good get given the longevity he’s provided, albeit with inconsistent success.

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So, who’s the best value and why?

Honorable mention goes to Konstantinov because he was on pace to be a force in the league before career-ending injuries, and in the 11th round that could have been an absolute get, and was good even with only a preview.

My top three values are Lidstrom, Fedorov and Zetterberg. Lidstrom is one of the best defensemen of all-time, Fedorov was an elite two-way player with the accolades to back it up, and landing a captain in Zetterberg in the seventh is one of the reasons the Red Wings were able to shift eras so seamlessly and continue their playoff streak to 25 years.

With that said, Lidstrom in the third round is my pick. Zetterberg seems like the obvious given he goes four rounds later, but when you can only name a handful of better all-time defensemen than Lidstrom (and it’s debatable), that’s value.

He was a captain with a Stanley Cup, sixth all-time in defenseman points scored, 12-time all-star, Conn Smythe Trophy winner and a list of other accomplishments that goes on and on and on.

Oh, and that hockey IQ was one of the best in the game. That’s value in itself.

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