The Detroit Red Wings draft prospects are about to play their first respective seasons as members of the pipeline. Not all the names you see below will be in camp this year, but they're worth keeping tabs on throughout the year, especially those top two picks.
But some will, without a doubt, surprise us. So if you're a fan of following some future Red Wings, there's not a single player listed below who I'm not optimistic on in at least some capacity.
Let's talk about them, and highlight their strengths.
Pick | Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
13 | Carter Bear | LW | Everett Silvertips |
44 | Eddie Genborg | RW | Linkoping |
75 | Michal Pradel | G | Tri-City |
109 | Brent Solomon | RW | Champlin Park |
119 | Michal Svrcek | LW | Brynas |
140 | Nikita Tyurin | D | Spartak |
172 | William Murphy | D | Cape Breton |
204 | Grayden Robertson-Palmer | C | Phillips Andover Academy |
13th overall: Carter Bear, LW/Everett Silvertips
Carter Bear's the best of this crop, and his net-front, physical game is something we haven't seen from the Red Wings often. Or, at least that's the case with a top-six caliber player outside of Marco Kasper.
The Wings have forwards who can put up highlight reel moments, like Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, Lucas Raymond, and even Patrick Kane. That said, Bear will add that new dimension to the Wings once he proves he's ready for the NHL.
This season, catch him in Everett, and keep watching him put up impressive numbers and an outstanding three-zone game.
44th overall: Eddie Genborg, RW/Linkoping
While most fans will set their eyes on Carter Bear, Eddie Genborg was a potential-plus pick. He'll spend another two years in his home country, Sweden, making a name for himself in the SHL.
Like Bear, you're getting a player with a lot of energy and one who's not scared to do dirty work if it means scoring. It wouldn't surprise me an iota if, at some point down the road, you see Genborg and Bear share the NHL ice.
75th overall: Michal Pradel, G/Tri-City
You got Sebastian Cossa and Michal Postava in Grand Rapids, Trey Augustine in East Lansing, and now, Michal Pradel in Tri-City, looking to build off a good showing last season.
Pradel may not bring the same hype as Cossa, Postava, or Augustine, but he's a high-potential pick with ideal length for a goaltender. Maybe he's raw now, but he'll be worth it for the organization to stick with him.
109th overall: Brent Solomon, RW/Champlin Park
He's the classic, "dominate at the high school level, but it's long-past due for stiffer competition." Brent Solomon may've been 'the guy' for his Champlin Park high school team, but we'll see how he fares in college.
It'll also show us how far he is from refining his game. Expect some obstacles for Solomon, but he may be the one player in this class the Wings will need to make a decision on a few years down the road for whether they want to commit to signing him.
119th overall: Michal Svrcek, LW/Brynas
My favorite late-round pick here, Michal Svrcek will probably never evolve into anything more than a high-end fourth liner should he end up in the NHL. But he's got those Mr. Reliable, "I can give you adequate play" vibes.
And you know what? A consistent, serviceable game from lower liners is what wins Stanley Cups. I see him developing slowly, refining his game, maximizing his potential, and earning the right to wear the Winged Wheel toward the end of the decade through grit.
140th overall: Nikita Tyurin, D/Spartak
For some players, one skill that jumps out in front of all the others is what can and will make them. For Nikita Tyurin, it's puck-moving ability. If he masters that part of his game, and brings up everything else just above par, he's got a chance.
172nd overall: Will Murphy, D/Cape Breton
Will Murphy is the same kind of player, but he's your classic hard-hitting defensive defenseman. Don't expect him to contribute anything offensively, but he's got sixth and seventh defenseman vibes, and one who you play for more minutes when you need a hard hitter. That's what he needs to keep mastering in Cape Breton.
204th overall: Grayden Robertson-Palmer, C/Phillips Andover Academy
The kid's a speedster who's shown big-play potential. Yeah, he may be an afterthought for many fans, because how many kids drafted 204th overall make it to the league? Few. But few is more than none, and Grayden Robertson-Palmer's already shown electrifying potential.