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Draft Study Emphasizes Past Emptiness of Red Wings Prospect Cupboard

Not much there upon Yzerman’s arrival

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4 weeks ago

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Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman didn't have much to work with when he took over as Red Wings GM in 2019.

A study of a decade of NHL drafting succinctly displays exactly how little Steve Yzerman was left to work with upon his arrival as GM of the Detroit Red Wings in 2019.

The study, conducted by Josh Beneteau, a writer for Canadian all-sports network Sportsnet, breaks down every draft selection made between 2010-19. Teams are ranked based upon what percentage of the players they drafted during this time period wound up playing at least 200 NHL games. That would basically be the equivalent of three NHL seasons.

Based upon this research, the Red Wings slot in among Tier 4 of NHL teams. That means more than 15%, but less than 20% of the players they drafted during this decade would spend 200 or more games skating in the NHL.

Interestingly, during this time period, only the Chicago Blackhawks (76) would be making more draft selections than the 73 chosen by Detroit. However, just like the lottery, having more tickets than everyone else really isn’t going to significantly increase your chances of hitting a winner.

There’s 13 Players In Red Wings 200 Club

Only 13 players chosen by the Red Wings in the NHL entry draft between 2010-19 were able to skate in 200 NHL games. Gaining inclusion in this group are Riley Sheahan (637), Calle Jarnkrok (699) and Petr Mrazek (390) from 2010. Tomas Jurco (221) was a 2011 pick and Andreas Athanasiou (487) picked in 2012. There were three more in 2013 – Anthony Mantha (494), Tyler Berruzzi (406) and Mattias Janmark (557).

Captain Dylan Larkin (652) was a 2014 arrival, while Filip Hronek (390) came via the 2016 draft. Michael Rasmussen (313) was the top pick in 2017. Filip Zadina (262) and Joe Veleno (232) were the first two picks in 2018, while Moritz Seider (246) was Detroit’s 2019 first rounder. That’s the only draft in the group which Yzerman was overseeing as GM.

It’s worth noting that among this group of 13, only nine would suit up for 200 games as Red Wings – Seider, Veleno, Rasmussen, Larkin, Hronek, Bertuzzi, Mantha, Athanasiou, and Sheahan.

Neither Jarnkrok or Janmark would play a single game for Detroit. Yet they rank 1-4 among the 13 players in total NHL games played.

Not Great At Picking Goalies

Beneteau’s series also was showing the Red Wings were 23rd overall when it came to drafting goalies between 2010-19. They were 29th-best at finding hidden gems. Those are players who played 200 NHL games that were selections in the third round or later. Detroit was 20th-best among teams at finding 200-game NHLers during the first two rounds of selections.

All in all, what this data displays is that you must build from within in a salary cap NHL. Otherwise, you go without playoff hockey. The Red Wings are poster boys for that fact of hockey life.

Just as clear is that if the Red Wings are to climb back into status as a contender, it will be done so on the backs of the players Yzerman’s drafts have produced over the past six seasons.

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