With the 131st overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Red Wings select defenseman Cole Fraser from the Peterborough Petes. Detroit continues it’s trend of drafting size. Fraser is 6’2” and 195 lbs. He was ranked #197 by CSS. The right-shot defenseman put up 19 points (6 G, 13 A) in 61 games last season. That’s an improvement compared to the 3 points he put up in his freshman year in the OHL. He had 82 PIM and is a gritty d-man who isn’t afraid to drop the gloves.
Here’s an excerpt from The Peterborough Examiner back in 2015:
Not that the six-foot-two, 191-pound third-round draft pick goes looking for fights. He plays a tough sure to rankle opponents.
“That’s my style of play,” he said. “It’s inevitable it’s going to happen being my size and throwing my weight around like I do.
“It was heat of the moment. He hit me and I was like ‘Let’s go.’ We dropped them and I don’t remember much of it. We both felt the effects of it. We had a chat in the box about it,” Fraser said.
Some have started to draw a comparison between Fraser and teammate Cameron Lizotte, who is well established as a big hitter and tough customer.
“He’s not afraid to throw his weight around,” said Petes head coach Jody Hull. “That’s going to be his mark here until he establishes himself a bit but I think he has some pretty good skills, too.”
Peterborough’s Cole Fraser goes at 131 to Detroit. Throwback player. Extremely physical. Drops the mitts. Played F and D this year.
— OHL Prospects (@BrockOtten) June 24, 2017
