Recently, the Detroit Red Wings scouting department have been trying to stockpile defense prospects through the draft in the hopes that some of them will end up developing into NHL regulars. With General Manager Steve Yzerman at the helm, Detroit has drafted 10 defense prospects since 2019. Four of these prospects have already signed entry-level contracts with the Red Wings.
Developing defensemen into players that are NHL ready, takes time. When Yzerman took over the General Manager duties, he warned Detroit fans to be patient and he explained that there was no timeline for the re-build. Yzerman has put his stamp on the organization. Soon it will be time for these defense prospects to mature and become NHL ready.
Here is a look at Detroit’s current defense situation.