NHL Draft Recap

by J.J. from Kansas on Jun 25, 2011 2:05 PM CDT in Prospects

BUFFALO NY - DECEMBER 31: Forward Tomas Jurco #13 of Slovakia carries the puck during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship game between Slovakia and Finland on December 31 2010 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Detroit went into Saturday with nine picks spread among the remaining six rounds after trading out of the first. Time will tell on all of these picks, but Detroit got a good crop of youngsters with a broad spectrum of talents:

2nd Round
Pick #35: Tomas Jurco RW (Slovakia) - 6'1" 191lbs from the QMJHL
Pick #48: Xavier Oullett D (France/Canada) - 6'0" 179lbs from the QMJHL
Pick #55: Ryan Sproul D (Canada) - 6'3" 185lbs from the OHL

3rd Round
Pick #85: Alan Quine D (Canada) - 5'11" 184lbs from the OHL

4th Round
Pick #115: Marek Tvrdon RW (Slovakia) - 6'2" 210lbs from the WHL

5th Round
Pick #145: Philippe Hudon C/RW (Canada) - 6'0" 179lbs from Choate-Rosemary (high school)
Pick #146: Mattias Backman D (Sweden) - 6'2" 169lbs from Swedish Juniors

6th Round
Pick #175: Richard Nedomlel D (Czech Republic) - 6'4" from the WHL

7th Round
Pick #205: Alexei Marchenko D (Russia) - 6'2" 183lbs from CSKA Moscow (KHL)

Recap: The Wings drafted along their organizational philosophy very well. Each of the four defensemen they took have some form of offensive instincts (although Sproul may the the best of the bunch and that may be because of his physicality). They got a potential gamebreaker in Jurco and a guy who has been compared to Franzen in Tvrdon. During our 2nd round live chat, prospect expert Kyle Kujawa (@Kyle_Kujawa on Twitter) indicated that Jurco and Sproul will probably be ready to turn pro soonest and that we'll likely see Jurco in Grand Rapids as early as 2012-13. Nedomlel is kind of the odd man here, as looking for videos of him returns a lot of fights, but no actual hockey-playing highlights. It feels the Wings took a chance on a guy who could blossom into the next Jiri Fischer, but is more likely to turn into another Andreas Lilja. Either way, chancing a sixth-rounder on him was a good gamble. Oullett and Quine may look undersized for defenseman standards, but they're both potentially very good offensive d-men for the future. Phillipe Hudon is touted as a guy who is responsible in all three zones and is a very good board-battler.

Overall, I feel Detroit had a very successful draft. What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below.

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Comments

Marek Tvrdon

is a big 18 year old.

by KGW on Jun 25, 2011 2:16 PM CDT reply actions

Oh yeah.

Suffered an injury last year which made his draft prospects drop from an expected 2nd-rounder, so he’s got some developmental “catching-up” to do, but he’s got huge upside.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jun 25, 2011 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

His upside is somewhere between Handzus and Hossa if he catches up.

Editor of The Copper & Blue, and leader of The Cult Of Hartikainen.

by Derek Zona on Jun 25, 2011 10:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I like that comparison

Hossa Lite would be a nice addition to this roster.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jun 26, 2011 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Really like the prospects from this draft

First of all, we addressed size. And I can see Holland & Co. tried their best to get someone with size but also with a decent hands and skating. Some of the D prospects look like they have some offensive upsides but most play a sound and safe game. I’m very intrigued at Backman, he has hakan written all over him, and I think we’ll see him in the near future playing for us.
If Jurco wants to be more than just a shoot-out specialist, he needs to mentally mature first, and also fill into his frame. He keeps raving about Datsyuk, but he needs to understand that Datsyuk is one of the hardest working, honest and modest player. I actually didn’t like Jurco before the draft much because I’ve seen him play, and he does showboat quite a bit. But he is only 18 and if he matures well, he definitely has the tools to be a game-changer. If he reaches his potential: Marian Hossa.

by MajesticY on Jun 25, 2011 2:19 PM CDT reply actions

We were all hot headed at 18.

This kid will still be growing physically and mentally over the next few years. If he shows that he can play the next level I’d love to see his enthusiasm on the ice.

by Idle Drifter on Jun 25, 2011 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions

it's not that he's hot headed,

he’s anything but hot headed on the ice, he makes these ridiculous plays even in most pressure situations. You’d understand if you’ve seen pavel play a lot, he doesn’t pull moves just for the sake of doing them, the moves he does has a purpose. In essence, he moves and dekes with purpose. Jurco, however tries to be over crafty, and sometimes just floats and glides around in the defensive zone. He’s got hands to be in the top10, but his inconsistency, and sometimes his attitude put him in the second round. However, like I said, he’s 18 and if he does mature well under CHL and the AHL, he could very well be a great player. He does have all the tools for it.

by MajesticY on Jun 25, 2011 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I do think you're concern is spot on

Though I’d like to think if any program can get him sorted, it’s ours.
Even the opportunity to suit up in this system gets some people straightened out a bit.
And I think you’re right about him needing to work out some stuff. I watched his videos and there were glaring things regarding decisions he makes on ice, though impressive, that could have easily been solved with a simple pass or head fake.
Promising draft pick, nonetheless.

"I'll smile in June."

by Lords of Olympia on Jun 26, 2011 3:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Datsyuk should teach him quite a bit about when to get fancy and when to just get to the damn net. Remembering how Pavel played back in 02 and 03, he would often do fancy stickwork just for the sake of dangling and then get knocked on his ass and have the puck taken.

Pavel actually simplified his game as he got bigger and stronger. He still has all those puck moves, but he knows better how and when to utilize them and when to just get to the damn net. Jurco can learn that from him.

by J.J. from Kansas on Jun 26, 2011 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Hot headed was a poor choice in words. Hot dogging.

How many kids grow up watching other players in any sport and not try to imitate greatness? It’s infectious however with experience these little bumps will get smoothed out into a more refined game. If he wants his chance to play along side Pavel Datsyuk he’ll have to earn his spot like everyone else.

by Idle Drifter on Jun 26, 2011 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions

like the prospects

and especially Marchenkov down at 205. not that i’m super high on him, but the very scant info i’ve found on him seems to point to him being a good project the Wings might be able to coach into a solid Kronner-Stuey hybrid. i like that down in the 7th.

by GreatGooglyMoogly on Jun 25, 2011 5:55 PM CDT reply actions

Only down side is

I wouldve loved to had seen an American in there somewhere

"It is unlikely that anyone has ever read Nietzsche or Derrida and has been inspired to open a soup kitchen"

by troy145 on Jun 25, 2011 6:07 PM CDT reply actions

Funny.

I’m happy with the best possible players. Who cares if they come from Mars?

by Big Z in Orlando on Jun 28, 2011 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Red Wings Future

Very happy, overjoyed actually that the Wings included a banger or two and at least one Fighter I love these cats but they do get pushed around too much. Can’t wait for the coming season!!!

by PapaWing on Jun 25, 2011 6:29 PM CDT reply actions

This was my first entry draft

First one i was actually watching, minute by minute.
I’m completely in the dark on this , so here goes some ignorant opinionating:
Jurco seems to be an interesting prospect. his and others’ size has impressed me, as far as management’s commitment to keeping us physical. as far as the rest, i’m just hoping some of that late-pick magic digs us up some more good defensemen.

"I'll smile in June."

by Lords of Olympia on Jun 26, 2011 2:52 AM CDT reply actions

I really like this draft.

i’m surprised we only took one player form Sweden though.

Thanks for the year Red Wings!! Come back strong in 2012

by Veihl789 on Jun 26, 2011 8:52 AM CDT reply actions

seeing that we drafted a player who has won "Most Penalized Player" 2 years running

didn’t make me feel great at first. Then I watched him fight..holy crap he’s terrifying. Also wears 24, hmmm.

by shanny14 on Jun 26, 2011 11:53 AM CDT reply actions

"Wings took a chance on a guy who could blossom into the next Jiri Fischer"

JIRI!!!!!

RESTORE THE ROAR 2011 DETROIT LIONS <----- best D-line in football

by GOLDIGGAH on Jun 26, 2011 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

Well...

management is certainly stockpiling promising Slovaks!

by liddy5 on Jun 26, 2011 4:54 PM CDT reply actions

I like that we traded out of the 1st round

I don’t know squat about prospects, but from what it sounds like we got two guys that are comparable talent-wise to whoever we would have drafted at 24. Plus, it’s not like there’s any rush to get these guys up to the NHL.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jun 26, 2011 5:42 PM CDT reply actions

Hudon looks like he could be a banger...

I’ve been sort of following him since he committed to Cornell (I’ll get to see him play a few times a year). He was looked at as someone who could go in the 2nd round when he committed but didn’t take the leap offensively as expected this season. There isn’t much out there on him. I did find this…
USHR had a chance to speak with Choate’s coach, Pat Dennehy, who said "[Philippe] has a real edge to his game – a grittiness. He’s first in on the forecheck, first back on the backcheck, and he’ll try to hurt you, which is what Cornell and the pro scouts want to see. He’s the full package." Have to like the sound of that. USHR also had this to say to Cornell fans wondering what kind of player Philippe is… “think Colin Greening.”

by ThemBones on Jun 27, 2011 7:54 AM CDT reply actions