Detroit red wings prospects2/24/2024 ![]() At age 17, that’s tough to ignore, and it speaks to impressive skill and sense. He plays for a loaded team in Winnipeg, sharing a line with 2022 top-10 pick Matt Savoie, but his 98 points were still good for third in the league. That profile is hard to find great NHL comparables for without either high-end speed, an elite shot, or both - but it’s still hard not to get excited about Benson’s production as a WHL draft eligible. Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL)īenson is a similar story to Perreault, though he’s a bit of a better skater (but smaller, too). ![]() ![]() But in terms of pure offense, breaking Auston Matthews’ record was a statement, and he flashed some takeaways too to help create that offense. He has a slight build, which is of some concern, and isn’t a burner, which are fair questions in terms of translate-ability. ![]() Unsurprisingly, that stems from high-end offensive ability, both with his hands and brain. And, to be fair, he did that all year, setting a new NTDP single-season points record with 132 in 63 games on a dynamic line next to Leonard and Will Smith. Perreault was another top story coming out of the U18s, putting up huge numbers at the event. It could simply be a matter of how much offensive ceiling the Red Wings see in this toolsy, well-rounded center. In terms of profile, Danielson would certainly seem to be Detroit’s type. He doesn’t have dazzling scoring numbers in the WHL, especially considering he’s a late 2004 birthdate, but he didn’t play on a great team and still put up numbers comparable to Dylan Cozens’ draft year. Throw in the fact he plays a premium position, and Moore could be a strong option for Detroit down the middle.ĭanielson doesn’t quite have Moore’s wheels, but he would fit a similar mold to Moore (and 2022 Red Wings pick Marco Kasper) as a strong-skating, two-way center and brings a bit more size to the equation. That’s in line with recent high picks from the national team in Matt Boldy, Cutter Gauthier and Frank Nazar. He also has shown an impressive shot, brings the competitive traits that Detroit looks for, and - while overshadowed by the NTDP’s historic top line this season - still had a solid production with 75 points in 61 games for the program. The case for Moore is pretty easy: The NHL continues to get faster, and Moore just might be the fastest player in the draft. The Athletic’s NHL staff make the first 16 picks in the first 2023 NHL mock draft: 1 pick - very likely Connor Bedard - in the 2023 NHL Draft, it is officially mock draft season. With the lottery balls deciding that Chicago will get the No. For that reason, there’s a good chance he’s off the board by Detroit’s pick, as he was in our staff mock draft Monday night. Nevertheless, a skilled two-way center with size is an appealing profile to NHL teams, and Dvorsky made a great final statement about just how much offense he can deliver. One of the biggest standouts of the U18 World Championship, Dvorsky showed he could put team Slovakia on his back - and it was well-timed after his Allsvenskan production left a bit to be desired. Leonard, however, is so complete that he may be tough to pass up. NTDP under Yzerman, with 2021 fourth-round pick Red Savage the lone exception. The Red Wings have curiously not drafted much out of the U.S. And while he’s not as tall as the typical power forward at 6 feet flat, he’s plenty strong and shows a willingness to battle that the Red Wings front office (and coaches) will appreciate.Īdd it all up and Leonard is a natural pick - with one caveat. National Team Development Program this season, including the overtime winner in the recent U18 World Championship gold medal game. Leonard scored 51 goals in 57 games for the U.S. Leonard checks a ton of boxes for the Red Wings, who badly need more top-of-the-lineup scoring, more physical edge to their game, and frankly, more forwards in general. Here are some of the names who could be toward the top of the Red Wings’ list now that they know their pick. Now, Steve Yzerman, Kris Draper and company are armed with the ninth pick, another in the top 20 courtesy of the Islanders, and about seven weeks to make some colossally important decisions.
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