Detroit Red Wings Draft: Offense Needs to be the Priority

With 12 draft picks, the Detroit Red Wings have an significant opportunity to bolster the entire pipeline. Instead of focusing on a well-rounded draft, Steve Yzerman needs to create a well-rounded prospect pipeline; he has a chance to electrify the rather tepid offense.

Holes in the Main Roster

Watching the Red Wings this year had to be painful for fans seeking an above average (Or even competent) offense. A chunk of the fanbase placed the blame on Head Coach Jeff Blashill’s offensive system: low-event, play-it-safe hockey. But there’s a reason he ran the system this way: lack of talent.

Talent is coming down the pipeline to bolster the offense, but it’s just not enough. Leading the offensive pipeline is winger Lucas Raymond, with players like Theodor Niederbach and Jonatan Berggren also providing a good amount of hope. The three look to be on the right track for successful NHL’s careers, but three is not good enough for the current state of the Red Wing’s roster. More importantly, the Red Wings need to secure some talent down the middle. The only prospect that seems to currently project as an NHL center is Joe Veleno. While he seems like the real deal so far, it’s just too early to tell.

The pipeline is lacking in perhaps the most important position on the ice: center. If Detroit has to chose between a center and a slightly more talented defenseman, the organization should lean towards the former.

Defensive Pipeline Is Solid

Yzerman shouldn’t worry about drafting defensemen high, especially considering the team’s current pipeline. Obviously, Moritz Seider is the most exciting defenseman, but there are others rounding out the team. With guys like Albert Johansson and William Wallander right behind Seider, the defensive prospect pool is already quite good. Now, the team could certainly use a right-shot defender, but there are just too many needs elsewhere. Even down the pipeline, players like Donavan Sebrango and Jared McIsaac are dark horse canditaes to break onto the team relaitvely soon.

With the amount of talent the system has defensively and the lack thereof offensively, Detroit needs to take some (Early) swings in the draft of wingers and centers with plenty of upside. But Yzerman is impossible to read, and fans likely won’t know his draft philosophy until the picks have already been made.