NHL Draft 2017: Detroit Red Wings select Zach Gallant with No. 83 pick

With the 83rd overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Red Wings select centerman Zach Gallant out of the OHL. This pick was acquired in the trade that sent Brendan Smith to the New York Rangers.

Here’s what we know:

He is a two-way center with solid work ethic. His skating is an area that will need some improvement as he lacks explosiveness but he does have better than average straight line speed. He is not overly creative offensively with the puck or his passes, but makes simple and e ective plays to create offensive chances. His shot isn’t particularly dangerous as it lacks consistent accuracy or deceptiveness in its release. However, he is dangerous in tight where he bangs home rebounds or gets a tip on a point shot. Defensively, his work ethic is excellent and he wins board battles with solid body positioning, leaning hard into his opponents to create good separation from the puck.

-Future Considerations

Gallant went 51 games in his freshman season with the Peterborough Petes without scoring a goal. He broke out in his sophomore season with 21 goals, and 26 assists. He’s thought of as a strong two-way player with an aggressive style of play. He projects to be a third-line center in the NHL.