Detroit Red Wings 2018 draft review: Potential future stars among picks
Helene St. JamesThe Detroit Red Wings left the 2018 draft ecstatic in the belief they had boosted the rebuild — especially with their first four picks.
Filip Zadina had been projected to go as high as third overall, but was still available when the Wings picked at six. And then came three picks, six selections apart, as the team cashed in on trades. Joe Veleno will make his pro debut in fall. He’s a fleet-footed forward coming off a dominating final year of juniors. At the tail end of the 10 picks, the Wings made is an undersized Finn who’s a bit of a dark horse candidate.
I’ve assessed the potential impact on the Wings for the picks made in the first two rounds, but after that, it’s too early to tell.
This is the final in a series examining the Wings’ last five drafts leading up to the 2019 event June 21-22 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
F Filip Zadina
Drafted: Sixth.
Draft year: 44 goals, 38 assists for 82 points in 57 games with Halifax (QMJHL).
Scouting report: High-end winger with elite playmaking skills. Great shot with quick release.
Post draft: 16 goals, 19 assists for 35 points in 59 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL), plus three points in five playoff games. One assist in five games for the Czech Republic at the World Junior Championship.
Wingspan: Zadina, 19, was called up at the trade deadline so the Wings could take a look at him over a nine-game span (any longer and it would have triggered the first year of his entry-level contract). Zadina had one goal and two assists. It was a good experience for him, a taste of how hard it is to play in the NHL. Zadina did not dominate once back in the AHL (one goal, three assists the last 14 games) and it seems doubtful he’ll challenge for a spot in Detroit out of training camp this fall.
First-round review: Only four players (Rasmus Dahlin, first overall; Andrei Svechnikov, second; Jesperi Kotkaniemi, third; and Brady Tkachuk, fourth) served full seasons for their teams.
Potential: Zadina could be a game-changer if he can figure out how to score in tight areas the way he excelled in juniors.
F Joe Veleno
Drafted: 30th.
Draft year: 22 goals, 57 assists for 79 points in 64 games between Saint John and Drummondville (QMJHL).
Scouting report: Terrific playmaker who can operate in tight areas.
Post draft: 42 goals, 62 assists for 104 points in 59 games with Drummondville, plus 17 points in 16 playoff games. Had two assists in five games for Canada at the World Junior Championship.
Wingspan: Veleno, 19, is slated to play in Grand Rapids next season because even though he has a year left of junior eligibility, he started juniors at 15 after being granted exceptional status (joining the company of Connor McDavid). Veleno dominated juniors in 2018-19, so this is a beneficial situation that will allow him to move a level ahead but adjust to the pro game without going directly to the NHL.
Potential: He has improved his defensive game and could, with continued hard work, emerge as a No. 2 center behind Dylan Larkin (bear in mind even with Larkin’s inner drive, he was in his fourth season when he really started to dominate).
More draft reviews:
2017 draft review: Some quality choices amid quantity
2016 draft review: Wings get a romising defensemen, goalie of future
2015 draft review: Red Wings have a question mark, many misses
2014 draft review: One home run and several strikes
F Jonatan Berggren
Drafted: 33rd.
Draft year: 18 goals, 39 assists for 57 points in 38 games with Skelleftea’s junior league club.
Scouting report: Nice package of speed, skill and playmaking ability.
Post draft: Three assists in 16 games with Skelleftea’s top-tier club; three assists in five games for Sweden at the World Junior Championship. Underwent back surgery in December of 2018, costing him most of the season.
Potential: Has the hands and foot coordination to dazzle with the puck and could be a top-six winger.
D Jared McIsaac
Drafted: 36th.
Draft year: Nine goals, 38 assists for 47 points in 65 games with Halifax (QMJHL).
Scouting report: Smart, strong skater who can carry the puck and make a good outlet pass.
Post draft: Registered 16 goals, 46 assists for 62 points in 53 games with Halifax. One assist in four games for Canada at the World Junior Championship. Hampered by a shoulder injury the second half of the season, and ended up undergoing surgery this month. Recovered is pegged at 5-6 months, so the Wings won’t get a look at him at development camp nor training camp. He’s one of the top defensive prospects in the organization because he skates well and is hard to play against.
Potential: Top four defenseman.
D Alec Regula
Drafted: 67th.
Draft year: Seven goals, 18 assists for 25 points in 67 games with London (OHL).
Scouting report: Defensive type who can play against opposing top line.
Post draft: 11 goals, 28 assists for 39 points in 66 games with London.
D Seth Barton
Drafted: 81st.
Draft year: Six goals, 27 assists, 33 points in 49 games with Trail (BCHL).
Scouting report: Very good skater, good size, good puck mover.
Post draft: Two goals, eight assists for 10 points in 33 games with UMass-Lowell (NCAA).
G Jesper Eliasson
Drafted: 84th.
Draft year: 1.93 goals-against average, .93 save percentage in 19 games with Troja-Ljunby in Sweden’s junior-2 level.
Scouting report: Underrated talent, hard worker.
Post draft: 2.43 goals-against average, .919 save percentage in 33 games with Vaxjo (top-level junior league). Slated to play next season for Almtuna in second-highest league. Ranks second on Wings’ goaltending prospects depth chart behind Filip Larsson.
F Ryan O’Reilly
Drafted: 98th.
Draft year: 21 goals, 13 assists for 34 points in 45 games with Madison (USHL).
Scouting report: Has to work on his skating but has a big body (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) with a good touch around the net.
Post draft: 14 goals, 17 assists for 31 points in 57 games split between Fargo and Green Bay (USHL).
G Victor Brattstrom
Drafted: 160th.
Draft year: 1.93 goals-against average, .918 save percentage in 15 games with Timra (Sweden-2).
Scouting report: Big goalie with a good skill set.
Post draft: 2.81 goals-against average, .898 save percentage in 23 games with Timra (Swedish Hockey League). Timra failed the 2019 SHL qualifiers and was relegated to second-tier Allsvenskan for the 2019-20 season.
F Otto Kivenmaki
Drafted: 191st.
Draft year: 11 goals, 20 assists for 37 points in 37 games with Assat jr. (Finland-junior).
Scouting report: Small (generously listed as 5-foot-8) but has skill and hockey sense.
Post draft: 11 goals, 24 assists for 35 points in 23 games with Assat jr., and two goals, 14 assists for 16 points in 34 games with Assat in Finland’s top-tier Liiga. Handled himself well competing against men. He’s the dark horse of the Wings’ picks made after the second round.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.