Over the course of the last 20 NHL Drafts, the Detroit Red Wings have made various selections, yielding a mixed bag of results.

Some of these picks have significantly benefited the team, while others have struggled to make an impact. So, how do these draft classes compare to each other?

Still in Progress

The Red Wings’ drafts from 2019 to 2023 have introduced several promising prospects with the potential to influence the organization. However, at this early stage, it’s challenging to definitively gauge the overall success of these draft classes.

The 2019 Draft brought Moritz Seider and Elmer Soderblom to the Red Wings. Seider, a first-round pick, has rapidly become a top young defenseman in the league and won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year in 2022. Soderblom also made the Red Wings roster but spent most of the season in the AHL.

While Seider and Soderblom stand out, there are other prospects from this draft class waiting in the wings, making it too soon to rank this class definitively.

The same holds for the 2020 and 2021 Drafts. Lucas Raymond, the 2020 first-round pick, made his NHL debut in 2021-22, while 2021 first-round pick Simon Edvinsson did so in 2022-23.

Raymond has established himself in the lineup, but the rest of the 2020 class is still developing. The 2021 class, featuring prospects like goaltender Sebastian Cossa and forward Carter Mazur, shows promise but needs more time to evaluate.

The 2022 draft class produced Marco Kasper, who debuted with the Red Wings, and has the potential for a strong ranking in the future with players like Dmitry Buchelnikov and Amadeus Lombardi on the horizon.

As for the 2023 Draft, it’s too early to pass judgment, given that many of these players are several years away from making a significant impact in the NHL.

Ranking the Draft Classes:

#15 – 2015 Draft The 2015 draft featured Evgeny Svechnikov as the first-round pick. Despite high hopes, his offensive prowess in junior hockey didn’t translate to the NHL. Svechnikov played in 44 NHL games for the Red Wings, tallying 12 points.

#14 – 2006 Draft In the 2006 Draft, second-round pick Shawn Matthias never played for the Red Wings. Cory Emmerton (second-round) and Jan Mursak (sixth-round) did have stints with the team but didn’t achieve significant success.

#13 – 2011 Draft The 2011 Draft saw some late-round picks make it to the NHL, including second-round pick Tomas Jurco, who struggled to surpass the 20-point mark, and seventh-round pick Alexey Marchenko, who played 110 games.

#12 – 2007 Draft Brendan Smith, the first-round pick in 2007, didn’t fulfill the offensive expectations. Forward Joakim Andersson also played for the Red Wings but didn’t make a lasting impact.

#11 – 2008 Draft The 2008 Draft featured a goaltender pick in Thomas McCollum (first round), who had a limited NHL stint. Forward Gustav Nyquist (second round) was the standout, tallying 295 points in eight seasons with the Red Wings.

#10 – 2012 Draft The 2012 class includes Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren, who have potential but are still developing. Filip Zadina (first round) showed promise but didn’t become a top-tier scorer.

#9 – 2017 Draft Michael Rasmussen (first round) and Gustav Lindstrom (second round) made NHL debuts, with Rasmussen showing promise as a big forward. This draft class has potential for higher ranking.

#8 – 2018 Draft Joe Veleno (first round) and Jonatan Berggren (second round) are pivotal to this class’s ranking. Filip Zadina (first round) had high expectations but didn’t fully meet them.

#7 – 2016 Draft Dennis Cholowski (first round), Givani Smith (second round), and Filip Hronek (second round) played for the Red Wings. Hronek became a significant contributor on defense.

#6 – 2009 Draft Tomas Tatar (second round) and Nick Jensen (third round) made meaningful contributions, while Landon Ferraro, Andrej Nastrasil, and Mitch Callahan had limited impacts.

#5 – 2004 Draft The 2004 class stands out with Johan Franzen (third round), who became a key player until injuries shortened his career.

#4 – 2010 Draft Petr Mrazek (fifth round) emerged as a standout goaltender. Riley Sheahan (first round) and Teemu Pulkkinen (fourth round) had their moments.

#3 – 2013 Draft Anthony Mantha (first round) and Tyler Bertuzzi (second round) both made significant impacts during their time with the Red Wings.

#2 – 2014 Draft Dylan Larkin (first round) became the team’s captain and a consistent performer. Christoffer Ehn (fourth round) also contributed.

#1 – 2005 Draft The 2005 Draft produced a wealth of NHL talent for the Red Wings, including Jakub Kindl, Justin Abdelkader, Mattias Ritola, and Darren Helm. Abdelkader and Helm, in particular, became long-term staples of the team and valuable mentors.

While the Red Wings have had mixed success in their drafts over the past two decades, they’ve managed to uncover hidden gems in later rounds and build a foundation for the future. The rankings may evolve as younger prospects continue to develop and make their mark on the team.

 

Michael Hutchison ‘enjoying every day’ of professional tryout with Red Wings…

Michael Hutchinson is savoring his professional tryout opportunity with the Detroit Red Wings, expressing his enjoyment of every moment. The 33-year-old veteran goaltender, who unexpectedly inked a tryout contract with the team on September 19, is approaching this chance with the same mindset he has carried during his 10-year NHL career.

Hutchinson shared his perspective, saying, “For me, it’s all about coming here, embracing each day, and not burdening myself with any specific expectations. I’m simply here to do my best and let things unfold as they may.”

During the previous season, Hutchinson played 16 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he recorded a 2-6-3 record, a 4.29 goals-against average, and a .877 save percentage after being traded from the Vegas Golden Knights on March 2.

Originally drafted 77th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Hutchinson boasts a career record of 57-61-18 with a 2.93 GAA, .902 SV%, and six shutouts in 153 NHL games, having also played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Winnipeg Jets, and Blue Jackets.

Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde praised Hutchinson’s abilities, stating, “He’s effective at stopping shots. He wasn’t part of our initial plan when we began camp. However, he’s getting another chance tonight, which is positive. We’re facing a deeper Chicago lineup than before.”

Hutchinson revealed that he received the invitation to join the Red Wings Training Camp while golfing in Winnipeg. He recalled, “I received the call on Monday, September 18, and had to fly out on Tuesday, September 19. It was a bit of a rush, and I had to cancel some weekend plans with my wife, but I saw it as a fun opportunity.”

Although this offseason didn’t unfold as Hutchinson and his agent, Robert Hooper, had anticipated, the 6-foot-3, 201-pound goalie emphasized the importance of moving forward. He stated, “My main goal was to return to the ice and skate. I try not to dwell on things I can’t control. What I can control is my daily approach, work ethic, attitude, and my performance on the ice.”

Hutchinson made his preseason debut for the Red Wings in a 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals, replacing Ville Husso and stopping 12 of 13 shots during 29:05 of ice time.

In reflecting on his professional tryout, Hutchinson emphasized, “Ultimately, being on the ice is better than sitting at home. I have the opportunity to be part of a fantastic organization, and I’m approaching it with no preconceived notions, allowing me to savor each moment.”