Detroit Draft Review ‘09

Smell that? New prospect smell — awesome!

I’m pleased with how things worked out for Detroit. Detroit added four forwards and three defenseman and each one of them sounds like a Red Wings style of player. Detroit changed up their strategy from the past few drafts. They only took one college-bound player from the USHL, two from the WHL, two rare picks from the QMJHL, one Slovakian, and one Swede. None of Detroit’s early picks were truly off the board. Hopefully they were looking to capitalize on the more known commodities this year, as it was considered a much deeper draft so you have to imagine teams were scouting everywhere.

They did scout everywhere, including Sweden. A lot of Swedes went in this draft, as the word was it was their strongest class in years. Some expect this might mean Detroit would load up, but they did not select a Swede until the second-to-last pick. A bit surprising, but you’ve got to believe after hearing all year about Franzen and Zetterberg, and getting a playoff glimpse at Jonathan Ericsson, the rest of the league was tired of missing out on this talent. No matter, Detroit got to flex the muscles of some of their other scouts.

The big news headed into today for Detroit was that they had the 2nd pick of the day, acquired from Tampa Bay along with 75 overall for pick 29. Let’s just see how Detroit did. I’ve seen a few of these guys play, but I’m digging up as much information as possible for the review. If anything else interesting surfaces, I’ll throw it up here over the summer.

2ND ROUND, 32ND OVERALL
Landon Ferraro
Center … 5′11″, 165 lbs … August 8, 1991 … Trail, British Columbia … Red Deer Rebels (WHL) … 68 GP, 37-18–55, 99 PIM, -23
CSB: 18 | ISS: 17 | McKeen’s: 32 | TSN: 26 | RLR: 38 | THN: 28

Detroit got their first round talent with this pick in Landon Ferraro. Two years ago he was considered a top 5 pick for the 2009 draft. He fell of a little bit, but he’s still obviously a legitmate selection. He was in the first round in a lot of mock drafts, and I had him going at 28 to Chicago. I’ll probably refer to him a lot as Detroit’s 1st rounder in this draft because he basically was. He comes from a very hockey oriented family, as his father is current NHL analyst Ray Ferraro and his stepmom is Cammi Granato, Tony Granato’s sister and USA women’s hockey legend. He’s also got an indirect pipeline to the Wings, as Detroit’s 1st round pick in 1996 Jesse Wallin is his coach in Red Deer. The kid seemed thrilled to be a Wing in his post-draft interview, he seems pretty confident and outspoken, a trait that follows him to his on-ice play. I saw him at the Top Prospects game as well as the under-18s, and came away impressed. He was playing hurt at the under-18s as well.

STRENGTHS: Ferraro is an all-around skilled center. He’s one of the fastest skaters at the draft, recording the fastest lap time in the CHL Top Prospects game midseason. He’s a tireless worker and his feet are always moving, his speed allows him to be a relentless forechecker, move through high-traffic areas, and get to loose pucks in front of the net. He has excellent hands and is equally proficient at getting a good shot off in close or making a move to give himself more time. He has that ever-important hockey sense as well, so he often makes the right choice with the puck. One of his best assets is his shot, as he has a great shot already and loves to take it. On Red Deer, evidenced by his goal totals, he often needs to take it, too. He’s not intimidated by the WHL, typically thought to be the biggest league in major junior with all the sterotypical Western Canadian farm boys. Ferraro finishes his check and his speed allows him to put some force into it, and he’ll even drop the gloves a few times every season. Despite his weight, he has a low center of gravity so he’s hard to push off the puck.

WEAKNESSES: Despite his physical prowess already, he will need to add a little weight to his 165-pound frame to handle the NHL. It hasn’t held him back so far, but it will help him be more physical, protect the puck better, and withstand the grind of a long season and playoff run. His level of competition is also a concern. He played for one of the worst teams in the league, the Red Deer Rebels. His stat line is interesting, as his 37 goals led that team by 17 and his 15 assists aren’t so much a reflection of him being a puckhog as just not having anyone to pass to. His team worst -23 is concerning, but those who watch him play say good things about his defensive ability. It’s also a reflection of the confidence his coach has on him to play against other team’s top lines.

FUTURE: He’s not a college-bound player, but Detroit can bring him in slowly, although he’s probably not all that far away. He’ll play for Red Deer again and it doesn’t look like they’ll be much better, but he will get the chance to play with some skilled high draft picks, so hopefully he’ll have some talent to work with around him. He’s compared a lot to his father, Ray Ferraro, Patrick Sharp, and even a little Pat Verbeek. Ferraro has to play two more years in the WHL before he can move on to the AHL, should be a guy that’s pretty close to ready in three or four years, but Detroit won’t rush him. He’s got a chance to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships next season.

Landon Ferraro draft profile
Landon Ferraro highlight reel

2ND ROUND, 60th OVERALL
Tomas Tatar
Center … 5′11″, 176 lbs … December 1, 1990 … Ilava, Slovakia … HKM Zvolen (SVK) … 48 GP, 7-8–15, 20 PIM, +6
CSB: 14 E | ISS: 45 | McKeen’s: 35 | TSN: 49 | RLR: 35 | THN: 51

Tatar was as scoring ace in juniors, racking up over 70 points in 40 games two straight seasons before moving into the top Slovakian men’s league this season. As you can see by the rankings, Tatar was slated mostly for the early second round. I saw him slipping a little bit. I would have been happy if Detroit took him at #32 (I like Ferraro more) and thrilled if Detroit could land him at #60, and they did. Tatar was an unknown commodity until the 2009 World Junior Championship. Slovakia isn’t a team that does really well in that tournament, but scouts are intrested in them because they can often produce tremendously skilled offensive players. While everyone went to watch Richard Panik (who ended up going to Tampa Bay), Tomas Tatar stole the show with 11 points in 7 games in a tournament intended for players a year older than him. Tatar seems like a really interesting guy based on his pre-draft comments. He’s admitted he’s been a lifelong Wings fan.

STRENGTHS: Tatar is a player that does everything well but nothing exceptional. He’s a pretty good skater, but not lightning quick like other small, skilled player. Offense is probably what he’s best at. He’s very creative and very patient, not a breath-taking stickhandler but capable because of his smarts. Not a hard shot, but accurate. At the WJC, he liked to get the goalie moving before taking a shot. He’s constantly moving his feet, and he gives his team energy with the way he plays and the way he celebrates. Scored a lot of clutch goals for Slovakia and was always on the ice with the game on the line as the team’s faceoff ace.

WEAKNESSES: Size and strength for him, and he doesn’t have the elite speed that compensates for either. A good player, but players with those traits often find it the most difficult to get to the NHL. Still very intruiging skills, though. He’s been known to take some stupid penalties, but most of that is chalked up to his intensity on the ice.

FUTURE: I’ll be watching the CHL Import Draft very closely next week, as there seems to be a good chance Tomas Tatar will be snagged. Usually, it depends on what the wishes of the team that drafted you are, and Detroit has sent some European talent from lesser leagues to the CHL before. Tatar could easily be a top 10 pick there, but if not, he’ll be at the WJC for Slovakia again next season.

Tomas Tatar Tribute #1
Tomas Tatar Tribute #2
Slick Shootout Goal

3RD ROUND, 75TH OVERALL
Andrej Nestrasil
Center/Wing … 6′2″, 194 lbs … February 22, 1991 … Prague, Czech Republic … Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) … 66 GP, 22-35–57, 67 PIM, -2.
CSB: 131 | ISS: 75 | McKeen’s: 88 | THN: 69 | RLR: 63

I was pulling for Toni Rajala here, but the more I read about Nestrasil, the more I like him. He’s more of what’s lacking in Detroit’s stable of prospects, as a power forward over a playmaker or sniper. I saw him at the CHL Top Prospects game, and I thought he was pretty good, but he just didn’t register on my radar because Detroit doesn’t take a whole lot of Czechs, let alone any player from the QMJHL.

STRENGTHS: Nestrasil is a pretty dynamic offensive player. His hands seem to be underrated and one of the biggest parts of his game. He can get really creative with the puck and his frame allows him to shield it as well. He’s an excellent passer, but has a strong shot as well. He showed flashes in the QMJHL of really having the ability to take over a game, doing more of that later in the season. With the Czech Republic at the u-18 tournament, he was one of the Czechs best penalty killers as he uses his stick very well.

WEAKNESSES: He is not a great skater, he lacks the leg strength to get to his top speed, which isn’t much to begin with. This can be rectified with proper training. He’s also somewhat inconsistent, and was benched in December before turning his game around for the second half of the season.

FUTURE: Nestrasil has already moved to North America and played a year in the QMJHL. He’ll likely play two more years there, and if he can get consistent, he shows that he has the ability to be an elite scorer in the QMJHL and will need to do so to move up in the Detroit organization.

Ten minutes of Andrej Nestrasil

3RD ROUND, 90TH OVERALL
Gleason Fournier
Defense … 6′0″, 176 lbs … September 8, 1991 … Rimouski, Quebec … Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) … 66 GP, 3-25–28, 64 PIM, -6
CSB: 62 | RLR: 177

Rajala was again available here, but he’s a risk since he’s about as big as a small child. I like the Fournier pick because it’s really a boom or bust, there’s no middle ground. He’s a one dimensional offensive defenseman, he’s either going to be a solid offensive defenseman or he’s never going to see the NHL. There’s not a lot of middle ground in the NHL for a player of his type. Fournier, as seen by his NHL Draft Profile, is also a Red Wings fan. It’s no wonder how Detroit discovered him as they signed fellow Rimouski defenseman Sebastien Piche in March. Coincidentally, with Piche moving to the AHL, Fournier will be eating up a lot of his minutes, especially powerplay.

STRENGTHS: Fournier is an offensive defenseman. He’s a superb skater and puck-carrier and obviously loves to rush it up the ice. He boasts a hard shot and a lot of finesse moves for a defenseman. He skates well enough to cover a lot of ground in the defensive zone to quickly apply pressure, but that’s about his only defensive strength. He has good vision and makes good decisions with the puck.

WEAKNESSES: He seems to have a lot of defensive issues. He’s soft, doesn’t often lay a hit but he isn’t good enough with his stick to be effective without being a little more physical. He can get caught pinching in the zone too frequently at times. He might not have the sense to ever be a good defenseman, but if he wants to get the the NHL he needs to make better decisions off the puck.

FUTURE: Fournier is the youngest of all Detroit picks and will spend at least two more years in the QMJHL. Rimouski hosted the Memorial Cup this season so they will lose a lot of players, as they were mostly built to win today. Fournier will see a much bigger role and will need to become more useful in all situations.

5TH ROUND, 150TH OVERALL
Nick Jensen
Defense … 6′1″, 178 lbs … September 21, 1990 … St. Paul, Minnesota … Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) … 52 GP, 5-17–22, 27 PIM, +34
CSS: 120

Jensen was the first pick of the draft that I hadn’t heard of, Detroit’s next pick after not having a 4th. I’m instantly a fan after hearing the buzz on this guy. He’s a multi-sport athlete from Minnesota who made the jump from a lower Minnesota high school league to the USHL this season and put up some pretty good numbers. He was more of an offensive defenseman in high school who is working on his defensive game. Seems to be a well-rounded project pick. I scoped out McKeen’s for information on him and they seem to be really high on him, calling him the USHL’s “best kept secret.” They’ve also got a tremendously thorough interview with him for free, where he compares his game to Nick Lidstrom’s.

STRENGTHS: Jensen was a team best +34 in his first year in the USHL, after jumping all the way from a high school league and not midget or junior A like most. He’s a powerful skater who’s just as proficient backwards as he is forwards. He has good positioning on defense and angles forwards to the outside and plays physical when he needs to. Doesn’t seem to make a lot of risky decisions, keeps his passes simple and doesn’t run around in his own zone. He has a hard and accurate shot, and the tools to be a much better offensive player than he lets on.

WEAKNESSES: He’ll need to get a little stronger, but that will come with one more year in the USHL and up to four years in college. He isn’t nervous on the ice, but he could be more confident in his offensive abilities, because he does have the skill, but chooses to keep his game simple.

FUTURE: Jensen is committed to one more year with Green Bay in the USHL before heading to St. Cloud State in the WCHA. They have a strong program there, but not a lot of high profile defensemen so he should do well. He’ll be interesting to keep an eye on for the next five years while he’s Wings property.

Jensen drops Ed Olczyk’s kid
Jensen fighting again

6TH ROUND, 180TH OVERALL
Mitchell Callahan
Right Wing … 5′11″, 175 lbs … August 17, 1991 … Whittier, California … Kelowna Rockets (WHL) … 70 GP, 14-13–27, 188 PIM, +11
Unranked

Detroit went off the board for this one with their first unranked player. I wasn’t too impressed with the pick right away, but Callahan seems to have some potential as an Alex Burrows type agitator and heart and soul player. He seems to be a fan favorite in Kelowna, having made the team this season as a walk on. He’s a middleweight fighter, and one of the best in the league.

STRENGTHS: Ridiculous work ethic. Skates all up and down the ice and hits everything in sight. His energy makes him a fun player to watch and he fires up the crowd. He won’t be a big scorer in the NHL, but he has the offensive ability to play a regular shift and chip in. He’s strong in his own end as well. His strength is his fighting ability and his willingness to take a fight at any time.

WEAKNESSES: His skating and skills aren’t really in the elite range, all are just above average. He’s a middleweight in the WHL, but there aren’t many middleweights in the NHL, especially at his size. He’ll need to bulk up.

FUTURE: He’s apparently going to try to bulk up this summer to make himself a better fighter and give himself more of an overall NHL frame. He’ll be in Kelowna the next two seasons, at least.

Mitchell Callahan fight card (most w/ video)

7TH ROUND, 210TH OVERALL
Adam Almqvist
Defense … 5′10″, 169 lbs … February 27, 1991 … Jonkoping, Sweden … HV-71 Jr (J20) … 41 GP, 8-28–36, 44 PIM
Unranked

Here’s the Hakan pick everyone was waiting for. Adam Almqvist is a small, very offensive defenseman from Sweden who was unranked, but not completely buried in the depths of the Swedish beer leagues like Detroit’s previous 7th round picks. He’s getting some pretty rave reviews, albeit some of that must because he was selected by Detroit.

STRENGTHS: Those who have seen him marvel at his hockey sense. He’s a great offensive defenseman and quarterbacks the powerplay with a pretty hard shot and a keen passing ability. He boasts an excellent breakout pass, and the nationality to do well in Detroit.

WEAKNESSES: Not an elite level skater like other small defensemen. When I first looked at his profile on EliteProspects he was listed at 148 pounds which is downright tiny. Apparently this is because he hasn’t weighed in since the beginning of the season because he was not on the international team, but his weight has since been changed to 165, consistent with the 169 he’s listed at by the NHL.

FUTURE: He’s apparently going to get a good look at the SEL, which would be tremendous for a player selected at his position. Something like that might get him back on the radar of the national team.

—

So there it is, the newest seven Red Wings. I’m pretty happy with this draft. Detroit usually goes pretty far off the board but there wasn’t a whole lot of that this year. Hopefully that doesn’t mean this draft will flop, because usually Wings fans whine about how Detroit drafted a bunch of nobodies, like Darren Helm and Daniel Larsson, but this year they seem happy with things. Sign of bad things to come? Who knows. I like this draft though, a nice blend of different skillsets that already look like they fit well in Detroit.

And now, to start preparing for 2010. Go Hakan go.