Detroit Red Wings Offseason Starts Now
By Joe Chapp
Mike Babcock is now gone! So now the Detroit Red Wings officially embark on offseason, Ken Holland will be busy within the next couple months with the NHL Draft and Free Agency.
There’s no doubt Ken Holland’s first task is finding a coach, but I think everyone on the inside and out of the Red Wings organization is certain Jeff Blashill will be the next head coach of the Detroit Red Wings.
Outside of Jeff Blashill telling Ken Holland he’s scared of coaching in the NHL, Blashill will get the job.
NHL Draft:
NHL Draft will be June 26 and 27th in Florida. In this years draft it is simple for the Red Wings, they’re need to be going in the direction of defenseman for the first round. So why not look at some of the top prospects for the Red Wings in this years draft?
The Prospects
Jeremy Roy – Defenseman
Height: 6’0
Weight: 186 pounds
Amateur Team: Sherbrooke Cougars
Shoots: Right
Scouting Report from Draftsite.com calls him an “Elite skating defender who is compact-sized but whose offensive prowess and skating burst is giant-sized. An aggressive attacker. He plays fairly physical and handles attackers and the front and has decent gap control and stays with attackers. His true strength is his as a dynamic attacker and puck carrier. Very solid puck handler who is strong on his carries but also precision-like in his outlets and set-ups.”
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The Red Wing Angle:
Jim Devellano said a couple of weeks ago, that he didn’t see a defenseman in Grand Rapids that had potential as a top two defenseman in the NHL.
It’d make sense to draft a guy like Roy, Who when you watch him, he moves the puck very well and is a good skater. He is likely a guy who can be the quarterback of a power play.
Niklas Kronwall is getting older than younger, he is the guy who gets the Red Wings power play going. So I could see this pick. Roy is a fantastic player it’s amazing he’s only a mid-first round draft pick.
Thomas Chabot – Defenseman
Amateur Team: Saint John Sea Dawgs
Height: 6’2
Weight: 180
Shoots: Left
Draftsite.com scouting report reads “Athletic puck moving defender who has made big strides in a year in the QMJHL.”
Red Wings Angle:
The Red Wings need a guy on defense who shoots right, but depending on who falls to Detroit, Chabot is a guy I would put 4-5 on my draft board. I like Chabot, he’s a good defenseman shows the intellect to eventually become a top two defenseman.
The reason I like Chabot is his size and he moves the puck great, watching him in the QMJHL, Chabot came into his own, not many expected the speed he has, but he catches teams off guard a lot.
You watch him and he reminds you of Duncan Keith, he’s a guy who is all around good at his game and just loves to play the game.
Paul Bittner – Left Wing
Height: 6’4
Weight: 195
Shoots: Left
Amateur Team: Portland Winter Hawks
Scouting Report by Draft Site calls him a “Lanky winger with plenty of potential. Emerging Western League winger with great size, strength and solid skills. Displays prototypical size, along with toughness and a strong shot. Possesses tremendous smarts, vision, mobility, maturity, and over-all skill set that may apart from much of the class as time goes on.Has good awareness and hockey smarts and excellent vision, a long reach that combined with his above average hands project as a formidable pro.”
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Red Wings Angle:
I originally said defenseman, but if this guy drops to Detroit I don’t think Ken Holland will pass him up. Bittner is projected to go a pick before Detroit, but this kid is just so talented. He’s a strong skater, Detroit loves those guys.
Bittner to me is the real deal when you watch tape from Portland this guy specifically stood out. It is outstanding at how easy it was for him to create space and while on the power play he’s a guy who made quite an impact.
Each season, he’s gotten better and better. The Red Wings love when a guy progresses overtime and this guy could be a guy who might fall to Detroit, and for me personally you can’t pass him up.
Nicolas Meloche
Height – 6’2
Weight – 195
Shoots – Right
Amateur Team: Baie-Comeau
Draftsite.com says of the young Meloche “Usually young defenders who display strong two-way game don’t come with a full package and toolbox. Not so here. He is player who is strong positionally but also displays mobility and strong physicality. Already mature in his understanding of his position. Reads the outlets and is precise in his passes, causing odd-man breaks at the other end. Is developing as pointman on the PP. A big man with excellent mobility. Looks destined to go early.”
Red Wing Angle:
This guy is 3rd behind Roy and Bittner, I love Meloche. Very good puck handler, great with the power play, makes the hard plays look easy and he’s a big body and he makes attackers go on the outside.
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When you look at Meloche he reminds you of Drew Doughty, and I love the way he plays. When I say Drew Doughty, I mean it the way he moves the puck and plays defensively for me, I can’t believe he’s projected to go in the 20’s when his play seems much better than some.
Don’t count on free agents, however maybe trades?
Being completely honest with you, this free agent market is really bad and I don’t think Holland is going to be active on the free agency market. However, I do see some potential trades that the Detroit Red Wings could make.
I don’t see Weiss on this team next year. I think the Red Wings will go young, but in return I think they’ll make a trade for a defenseman and Dion Phaneuf is likely the guy that could be involved in a trade.
You’re likely asking, “Why would Toronto trade Phaneuf”, listen Toronto is a dumpster fire I think they will try to go young and this is where I could see Detroit making a trade.
Toronto is a rebuilding team, I don’t think they’ll be keeping guys who might not want to be there.
What do you think this offseason will entail for the Detroit Red Wings now that the Babcock watch is over? Let us know below and don’t forget to stay connected to Detroit Jock City for all you Red Wings new as the offseason continues on.
Next: Did Dylan Larkin choose to go back to college or go pro? Check out here!