Detroit Red Wings: A Guide to the 2019 NHL Draft
By Cory Mello
For the second straight year, the Detroit Red Wings will pick 6th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Level Draft. The Wings’ failed yet again, to advance further up the draft board through the lottery, in fact, they fell back two spots.
On June 21, 2019, the Detroit Red Wings will add yet another top-end prospect to the team. With the 18/19 season ending in yet another disappointment, it’s time for Detroit Red Wings fans too finally get excited about something. For what you may ask? THE 2019 NHL DRAFT!
It’s arguably one of the most exciting times of the year, Wings’ fans will see the Detroit Red Wings pick just outside the top-five for the second year in a row. While Red Wing fans may be discouraged they were unable to win the draft lottery (really New Jersey again?) there are still going to be great players available that will be impact NHL players.
In the 2019 NHL Draft, it’s almost certain the consensus top 3 players heading into the draft expected to be 1,2, and 3 are; Hughes, Kakko, and Podkolzin. With the draft, sometimes you never know. As Red Wing fans remember, the 2018 NHL Draft saw Zadina fall from the wildly expected number three position, down to Detroit at 6.
While it was widely expected the Wings’ would be drafting a defender, they opted to take the best player available. Heading into the draft, it was expected Quinn Hughes (older brother of 2019 top prospect, Jack Hughes) would be the player the Wings’ were looking at. A product out of the University of Michigan fell to the Vancouver Canucks at 7 instead, 1 behind Zadina. Time will tell if that was the correct choice.
The 2019 Draft is crucial for the future of the Detroit Red Wings. In 2018, the Red Wings were able to draft Filip Zadina at the number six spot, along with Joe Veleno at the 30th overall in the first round. Both players mentioned have the potential to become excellent players for the Red Wings in the not so distant future. In the 2019 NHL Draft, here are the 4 players the Red Wings may be targeting as potential draft picks.