Now that the Red Wings made their first pick, let's speculate on what they need to do next. And you know where I stand with that pick. I'd have rather seen a trade for a proven NHL talent, even if I like Carter Bear a lot.
Still, since it looks like Steve Yzerman's still playing the same game he's been playing for a while now, let me tell you it's smart to just go with the best player available, or BPA.
Yeah, it might sound boring, but we don't need to overcomplicate this process. We don't need to overthink it, or do anything of the sort. Just take who should be the best player available when you pick next and that's it. Obvious, right?
But, the question is, who's most likely going to be there? While I can't see too far into the future, I'll tell you about who I think (and hope) will be ready to don the winged wheel in Round 2.
Taking one of the following players is a must for Steve Yzerman since he won't trade anyone
Alexander Zharovsky of Tolpar Ufa could be available at No. 44 overall. Zharovsky's got decent length, standing at 6'1, but he's undersized at just 163 lbs. Still, if you like a goal-scoring, playmaking hybrid, Zharovsky's your player. He put up 50 points in 45 games in the MHL this season, scoring 24 goals in the process.
Nathan Behm is another one worth looking at. Even if he was slated to go 54th overall on Tankathon's mock draft, if Yzerman has him atop his big board in Round 2 as the best available, he shouldn't hesitate. Behm can play off-wing, and he's got more ideal size than Zharovsky, at 6'2, 198 lbs.
Behm's also snagged over a point per game, with 66 in 59 contests, and 31 goals to show for it. Overall, his versatility is why I have him rated so highly.
A very, very undersized player could also top Yzerman's list in Round 2
One of my favorites who could go in Round 2 is Adam Benak, who stands at a slight 5'7, 163 lbs. He's small, but if you think about it, he's built no differently than Alex DeBrincat.
And talk about a playmaking artist, since Benak racked up 42 assists and 17 goals in 56 games for Youngstown this past season in the USHL. Pretty decent numbers if you ask me.
Have you noticed a common denominator here? After checking out the Wings prospects pool, I'm definitely changing my tune some, and hoping to see them keep going with forwards. They're good on the blue line, but every player I listed above could be very, very good additions and impactful NHL talents in time.
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