By Jason Berndt
Day one of the 2023 NHL entry draft is complete, and the Detroit Red Wings added two more young prospects. With the 9th overall pick they selected center Nate Danielson from the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League. The 6’2, 187 pound center provides a solid overall game that should see him contend for a spot within the next year or two at the NHL level. The 18-year-old led Brandon in goals (33), assists (45), points (78), power-play goals (13) and short-handed goals (3), and tied for the lead in game-winning goals (5) in 68 games. He played against top pick Connor Bedard many times developing a friendship and a rivalry, and even Bedard mentioned Danielson as one of his toughest opponents to play against. General Manager Steve Yzerman spoke highly of the pick saying, “We like all parts of his game. He’s got pretty good size, he’s a good skater, he’s got good skills. He’s a good two-way centerman.”
Detroit also had the 17th pick they acquired in the trade last season with Vancouver for Filip Hronek. With that pick, they selected defensemen Axel Sandin Pellikka, of Skelleftea in the Swedish Jr. League. At 5’11, 180 pounds, Pellikka had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 31 games last season. The 18-year-old right-handed shot also made his Swedish Hockey League debut this season with five points (two goals, three assists) and an average ice time of 8:34 in 22 games. Sandin Pellikka was second among defensemen at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship with 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in seven games to help Sweden win the silver medal. The Red Wings add arguably the most offensively gifted defenseman in the draft. Adding Pellikka’s offensive gifts to a defense corps that already includes emerging stars Simon Edvinsson and Moritz Seider is another outstanding building block. Pellikka still needs to get stronger and more adept in defending, but he projects to be a top-pair right-shot defenseman who can run a power play whenever he comes to the NHL.
There was speculation that Detroit would move one or both of their first round picks in a trade to acquire a proven NHL player. Steve Yzerman verbally stated that he did not feel the Red Wings were close enough to go “all-in” at this point, which leaves a lot of people scratching their heads. This was Yzerman’s fifth NHL draft. Most front office leaders in any organization get 3-4 years at most to start proving there is a turnaround and a rebuild is over. With that declaration that the Red Wings aren’t that close to make a splash and go for it with a trade is something that can be argued. Holding onto the top picks to select players that certainly will be future mainstays in the lineup for years to come is one thing, but with the amount of draft capital they have and room under the salary cap, the Wings can certainly make a move through the rest of the draft or even in free agency to put them in a more competitive spot.
Detroit holds picks #41, #42, and #43 in round two of the NHL Draft. They can certainly use some or most of that capital to acquire a veteran player. Normally on draft night you see a flurry of trades around the league. There was not a single move up or down the draft board for Round 1, leaving it a pretty boring night for viewers who were waiting for commissioner Gary Bettman (who at least got booed in the beginning) to say his famous line, “We have a trade.” Erik Karlsson, Connor Hellebuyck, Noah Hanifin, or Alex DeBrincat have all been rumored to be moved by their respected franchises, but all remain with their current teams as of this writing.
Certainly, the Red Wings can make a splash contrary to what Yzerman says. They have many young players in their organization now, along with these draft picks to acquire a bigger name and a proven guy. Alex DeBrincat, who is a Farmington native, will come at a high price to acquire and to resign, has mentioned Detroit as a possible destination in a trade. At 25, he can be a foundational player along with Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider, and many others in the years-to-come. It is time for Yzerman to make a move one way or another. Otherwise, we all will be waiting several more years for young draft picks to develop (if they do) and waiting for this team to rise to Stanley Cup contention once again. Besides for the prior mentioned three (3) second round picks, they also hold a selection in each of the next 5 rounds giving them a total of ten draft picks (if they use them all).
