Octopi Hockeytown NHL Mock Draft
June 27, 2014
The Detroit Red Wings will have the No. 15 pick overall in the 2014 NHL Draft on Friday, June 27 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
The first round will take place Friday and then rounds 2-7 will be hosted throughout the day on Saturday.
Since the Red Wings drafted Martin LaPointe at No. 10 overall in the 1991 NHL Draft, they have not had a higher draft pick than they do this year. At No. 15, the Wings have options to fill holes at the center position, winger position or the blue line.
The team is lacking depth at defense going into the 2014-2015 season, especially right-handed shooting defensemen. Currently the Red Wings only have three right-handed defensemen, all of which are playing on an affiliate team to the NHL club. Ryan Sproul, Alexey Marchenko and Nick Jensen are currently the only right-handed defensemen on the team.
Although the need, the Red Wings are not known to take defensemen in the first round of the draft. The team has only taken four defensemen in the past fifteen years with their first round pick: Jiri Fischer (’98), Niklas Kronwall (’00), Jakub Kindl (’05) and Brenden Smith (’07).
When the Wings picked up David Legwand in the middle of the 2013-2014 season, they gave up a center prospect, Patrick Eaves, and a 2014 second round draft pick.
Detroit’s next pick will come in the third round at No. 76 overall. The Wings also hold picks in the fourth round (No. 106), fifth round (No. 136), sixth round (No. 166), and two picks in the seventh round (No. 196 & 201).
* * *
Options for the No. 15 Pick:
Julius Honka (D) Age: 18 Height: 5’11” Weight: 181 lbs. Shoots: Right Birthplace: Jyvaskyla, Finland 2013-2014 Team Swift Current Broncos (WHL) Statistics 62 GP, 16 G, 40 A, 56 PTS, 52PIM Other Information Good awareness on the ice Excels on the power play Exceptional puck movement Strong blue line presence* * *
Dylan Larkin (C) Age: 17 Height: 6’1” Weight: 192 lbs. Shoots: Left Birthplace: Detroit, Mich. 2013-2014 Team USA U-18 Statistics 60GP, 31 G, 25 A, 56 PTS, 56 PIM Other Information Dependable two-way forward Would fit great in the Wings’ puck possession offense Great skating abilities* * *
Nikolaj Ehlers (LW)
Age: 18 Height: 6’0” Weight: 176 lbs. Shoots: Left Birthplace: Aalborg, Denmark 2013-2014 Team Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) Statistics 63 GP, 49 G, 55 A, 104 PTS, 51 PIM Other Information Great puck handling skills Great speed Pure goal scoring machine* * *
Recent Notable Draft Picks: 2008, Rd. 4, No. 121 – Gustav Nyquist 2009, Rd. 2, No. 60 – Tomas Tatar 2010, Rd. 1, No. 21 – Riley Sheahan 2010, Rd. 5, No. 141 – Petr Mrazek 2011, Rd. 2, No. 35 – Tomas Jurco 2011, Rd. 2, No. 48 – Xavier Ouellet 2011, Rd. 2, No. 55 – Ryan Sproul 2013, Rd. 1, No. 20 – Anthony Mantha* * *
Notable Draft Picks Throughout History: 1983, Rd. 1, No. 4 – Steve Yzerman 1989, Rd. 3, No. 53 – Nicklas Lidstrom 1989, Rd. 11, No. 221 – Vladimir Konstantinov 1994, Rd. 10, No. 257 – Tomas Holmstrom 1998, Rd. 6, No. 171 – Pavel Datsyuk 1999, Rd. 7, No. 210 – Henrik Zetterberg 2000, Rd. 1, No. 29 – Niklas Kronwall 2003, Rd. 2, No. 64 – Jimmy Howard 2004, Rd. 3, No. 97 – Johan FranzenAustin Goodman is the host of Octopi Hockeytown at Impact Sports.
