Detroit — The Red Wings will be busy Saturday in the second day of the NHL Entry Draft.
With seven picks currently on tap, one in each round from the second to the seventh (two picks actually in the seventh), the Wings will be busy scouring their lists to unearth potentially overlooked players.
Finding those players isn’t easy.
The Wings, themselves, are a classic example of that. Since general manager Steve Yzerman has taken over, seven drafts ago, the Wings have had 14 second-round draft picks. Only defenseman Albert Johansson in 2019, Yzerman’s first draft, has been able to work his way into the NHL and been a regular in the lineup the last two seasons.
Others are out of the Wings’ organization. Some of the recent ones are still developing.
Some past second-rounders look close to making the Wings. Defenseman William Wallinder (2020, 32nd overall) signed a two-year, two-way contract earlier in the week and will battle for an NHL roster spot. Wallinder is out of minor-league options, so he either stays with the Wings or could be lost to another team on waivers.
Goaltender Trey Augustine (2023, 41st overall) will begin his pro career in Grand Rapids after three successful seasons at Michigan State. Forward Max Plante (2024, 47th overall) won the Hobey Baker Award as the best college player last season, and will return for his junior season at Minnesota-Duluth.
There are certain players who could drop to where the Wings pick Saturday, at No. 47 overall, and would appear to be Yzerman’s type of prospects.
Here are several to keep an eye on:
William Hakansson: The 6-foot-4, 218-pound defenseman is a physical, stay-at-home type, who isn’t likely to produce much offense but could develop into the shutdown defenseman every team consistently searches for. He played in the Swedish men’s league, a rare thing for an 18-year-old.
Adam Valentini: The 5-10, 185-pound Valentini had 11 goals and 27 points in 40 games at Michigan. A center who players bigger than his size and is relentless on the forecheck, the Wings would gladly give Valentini time to grow into a complete player.
Victor Plante: Yes, Max’s younger brother. Victor is 5-foot-10, 163-pounds and will join Max at Minnesota-Duluth this season. Victor showed promising offensive potential last season at the Plymouth Township-based United States National Team Development Program, with 21 goals and 48 points in 57 games.
Mathis Preston: The 5-foot-11, 176-pound winger is projected to be a late first-rounder in some mock drafts, but most have him falling into the second round because of inconsistency and inability to drive the play. Preston had 18 goals between two teams last season in the WHL.
Trade talk
The Wings are likely to explore trade discussions Saturday — if nothing were to get done late Friday night, during or after the first-round of the Entry Draft.
Captain Dylan Larkin will be a looming topic throughout the weekend. Larkin asked for a trade three weeks ago, preferably to a playoff contender, but finding a fit won’t be easy for Yzerman. Larkin has a no-trade clause and can largely dictate where he’d like to go.
Then again, Yzerman doesn’t have to trade Larkin this weekend. Yzerman can wait for the trade package he likes, and let this situation skate into the summer and September’s training camp and start of the regular season.
And it wouldn’t be shocking if Yzerman did just that.
The Wings are exploring trading goaltender Sebastian Cossa. The former 2021 first-round pick (15th overall) has slipped behind Michal Postava and Augustine after a late-season slump — Cossa didn’t start any Grand Rapids playoff games, Postava did — and with no minor-league options left, Cossa would have to be exposed to waivers if he were to not make the Wings as John Gibson’s backup next season.
Several teams, most notably Edmonton, could have interest in Cossa.
NHL Draft
When: 11 a.m. Saturday (Rounds 2-7)
TV: NHL Network
Red Wings picks: The Wings have seven draft picks: No. 47 overall (second round), No. 79 (third round), No. 108 (fourth round), No. 143 (fifth round), No. 175 (sixth round), No. 196 (seventh round) and No. 207 (seventh round).
tkulfan@detroitnews.com
@tkulfan
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: For Red Wings, finding an overlooked gem in second round is goal
Reporting by Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
