Detroit Red Wings: The Top Three Centers in the Draft

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It’s no secret that center is a pressing positional need for the Detroit Red Wings. After Dylan Larkin and Joe Veleno, there’s a steep drop off in Detroit’s depth. With the 6th overall pick in this year’s draft, Steve Yzerman has the opportunity to bolster the pipeline massively with a near-elite center. So, who’s at the top?

Matty Beniers

Beniers has drifted slowly towards the top of mock drafts as July 22nd approaches, with many predicting the Seattle Kraken to snatch him up at 2nd. If he’s is somehow still available when Detroit is on the clock, Yzerman’s decision should be an easy one.

Beniers is the best center in this year’s draft. With the University of Michigan, Beniers averaged a point per game, scoring 10 goals and 14 assists in 24 games. Although he’s not quite the superstar talent of previous draft-leading centers, his maturity and two-way playstyle project as a great NHL center.

Beniers is a tough center to counter. He has a very, very well rounded style: opponents can’t just focus on one aspect of his game. If you try to slow him down, he’ll outsmart you with his fantastic hockey IQ and creativity. While Beniers possesses a decent motor and decently high skills, his main attribute is just how clean and smart he plays the game. You won’t see Beniers making a lot of mistakes in offensive or defensive zones.

It’s almost certain Beniers will not be available when Detroit is ready to pick, which is unfortunate, because he’s nearly a perfect fit for the organization. That two-way playstyle that Jeff Blashill has been trying to force on his best players?

Yeah, Beniers already excels there. That high-end compete that is all important for an Yzerman player? Yep, he’s got that too. If the Red Wings had a bit more luck in the draft, Beniers would be the pick.

Kent Johnson

Johnson is another member of the stacked 2020-21 Michigan team that is slotted to be a pick in the top ten. Although Johnson is projected below teammates Owen Powers and Matty Beniers, he has one of the highest ceilings in the entire draft.

We’ve already delved into Johnson’s draft profile at Octopus Thrower, so let’s keep it short and sweet: he a flashy, highly skilled winger that has experience playing center and could very well transition to the NHL down the middle. Johnson has the skillset to try things that others wouldn’t dream of, and half the time, he pulls it off. But the other half of the time, the flashy tricks lead to turnovers or other small mistakes.

Johnson is a really tough player to fully analyze. He has all the upside in the world; his highlight real can easily be confused for gameplay of NHL ’21.

But all that flash and elite skill might not transition well to a center in the NHL, especially in Detroit. Yzerman and Blashill like their centers to distribute the puck, play responsibly on defense and make limited mistakes. None of those quite fit Johnson’s draft profile. If Yzerman is dead-set on drafting a center at 6th overall, then Johnson might not be the safest pick. But if Detroit willing to take a wild swing, Johnson might be the player to swing for.

Mason McTavish

After the OHL cancelled the 2021 season, Mason McTavish made his way over to Switzerland to play with EHC Olten. There, McTavish scored 18 points in 17 games (11 goals and 7 assists). McTavish also continued to impress at with Canada at the U-18 tournaments, scoring five goals and six assists in seven games.

McTavish is all over the place in terms of draft placement. Some have him as a mid to late first rounder, but after a strong performance with Team Canada, McTavish seems to be landing himself in the conversation of a top-ten player. With good reason.

McTavish is a big (6-foot-2), physical center who is surprisingly skilled for his size. He’s a more than capable skater that possesses a highly-dangerous offensive combination: a smart passer, a good shooter, skilled hands and a great offensive IQ. While his offensive skillset is highly touted, his defense needs some work. There are times where he seems aloof in his own d-zone and his motor seems to cool down significantly outside of the offensive zone.

Drafting McTavish as high as 6th seems to be a bit of reach, at least based on most NHL mock drafts. However, fans have seen just how little Yzerman cares about draft projections (Moritz Seider, anyone?). If Yzerman thinks McTavish is a fit for the organization, he’ll take him there. And there’s a chance he does.

It’s true that Detroit seems to like their centers as two-way players; defensively sound and offensively responsible. But Stevie isn’t afraid to take on a project: if he believes he can fix McTavish defensively, it might be a sneaky-good fit for Detroit at 6th. McTavish would provide some well-needed raw skill down the middle, and has the potential to slot into that 1B/2nd line center that the organization is looking for.

light. Must Read. Projecting the Red Wing’s Final Six Picks in the 2021 NHL Draft

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