Mock Draft Take 2: Who should the Red Wings take at #6?
By Nate Brown
Mason McTavish – C
Why Yzerman picks him over other prospects available: He’s the prototypical Yzerplan center who could strengthen Detroit down the middle for years to come. His stock has risen over the last few months and his time in the Swiss league during the pandemic gives him the professional experience Yzerman seems to prefer. Pre-pandemic he nearly hit 30 goals and he’s been compared to Mark Stone. If Eklund is indeed not there, I think it’s between McTavish and Kent Johnson.
Why Yzerman passes on him: There are some intriguing names still available and in spite of what everyone else believes, even scouts, Yzerman is a scrupulous talent assessor and will go after the player he deems best for the organization. The Moritz Seider choice, which was met with utter shock by the fanbase and pundits, stands as the reasoning here. But McTavish seems like a perfect fit for him, and probably the top forward on the board along with Johnson if both are still available.
Kent Johnson – C/LW
Why Yzerman picks him over other prospects available: He doesn’t have the professional league experience but Johnson has a ceiling that is unbelievably high. But that’s not all. Our own Alex Faber describes him as this:
"Johnson has a diverse set of skills in his offensive toolbox. He uses his speed, creativity and fantastic handling skills in the offensive zone to remain a constant threat. He will patiently maintain possession of the puck, always keeping an eye out for an under-the-radar passing lane or opening in the net. Johnson will often blitz the goaltender, only to snap a pass through his legs to whatever teammate was behind him."
Beyond that, he can play on the wing or center a line, another invaluable trait that Yzerman would certainly value. Johnson checks so many boxes that I believe with Eklund off the board, he checks the boxes they want and is arguably the 1-B argument to McTavish. In many ways, I think it’s a tie between the two of them.
Why Yzerman passes on him: Truthfully, I don’t think he does if McTavish is taken already. Watching clips of Johnson, he reminds me an awful lot of Brayden Point with his speed and skill. With what has been described as a high ceiling by many talent evaluators, I think this might be with who he goes with. However, if McTavish is still available, it’s most likely a toss up between the two.