Detroit Red Wings: A Guide to the 2019 NHL Draft
By Cory Mello
Center – U.S. NTDP, 5’11 185lbs | GP:37 | G:27 | A: 35 | P:62
If the Red Wings miss out on the opportunity to draft what they need, a defenseman in Byram, nobody should be upset about having Alex Turcotte in their prospect pool. After recovering from an early-season injury in which he missed 22 games, Turcotte still managed 1.67 points per game. Regarded as the best U.S player behind only Jack Hughes, Turcotte has made himself a name playing with the U.S. NTDP.
What makes Turcotte such a highly sought-after player is that you get an all-around player that has excellent speed that causes the oppositions defenders to turn over the puck. With stats like Turcottes’, one would expect him to just strictly be an offensive threat. Well, you would be wrong. Turcotte is also on the penalty kill as he makes smart defensive plays which are rare for players that tend to have such offensive skill as himself; Alex Turcotte is the real deal.
The most admirable part of Turcotte’s game is his relentlessness. Turcotte never stays stationary, as his feet are always moving which enables him to find himself in the right positions consistently. One thing the Red Wings need, it’s a player who never stops battling until the end of the game. Turcotte’s that guy.
If Byram gets selected by the L.A Kings, this isn’t a small consolation prize. He’s a high-end talented player, at 5’11 185lbs, Turcotte is committed to the University of Wisconsin of the NCAA. This is not a rare move for a player that will be seeing a significant upgrade in the skill level he will play against, and that will only strengthen his game. Keep an eye on Turcotte.