Red Wings: Steve Yzerman has plenty of options in 2020 NHL Entry Draft
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Red Wings are approaching the 2020 NHL Entry Draft; they will have plenty of options at fourth overall when it comes time to choose.
While the Detroit Red Wings are settling in and making final preparations for the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, they should not be worrying. However, they fell from the top three draft choices in the rigged 2020 NHL Draft Lottery process to four but will still come away with elite talent.
The hope for the Red Wings should be that they will be able to select the best player available, and they will be able to capitalize on the plethora of options they have to choose from. Not to mention, Yzerman has a hefty amount of draft capital that will allow him to have a successful draft overall.
However, the focus is on that fourth overall selection; fans want to see who will be the organization’s next top selection. There are a plethora of top options, so take a brief look at a few of the top picks the Red Wings could make.
Yaroslav Askarov- Goalie
The biggest surprise of the early selections in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft could be the Red Wings selection of a Yaroslav Askarov at fourth overall. It would be the first time a goaltender was selected this high since 2003 when the Pittsburgh Penguins selected Marc-Andre Fleury.
Askarov has potential; taking him at fourth would be a surprise, but he does also warrant some consideration. A 6-foot-3, 176-pound frame mixed with a butterfly style makes him exceptional in the higher-level leagues that he has played in during his amateur years.
He played in Russia’s second-best league for the SKA-Neva St. Petersburg team of the VHL. He would play in 18 games, posting a 2.45 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He showed he deserves some looks, even with the fourth overall selection the Red Wings have.
Jamie Drysdale- Defenseman
The initial reports had defenseman Jamie Drysdale falling to the Red Wings. The shorter offensive defenseman seems like a future top-flight defender in the National Hockey League (NHL). Drysdale has been listed as the Red Wings choice on several mock drafts from various sources.
After nine goals and 38 assists for 47 total points in 49 games for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), it is easy to see that Drysdale could be an offensive weapon who views the ice well and creates scoring chances. There is a lot to like with Drysdale if Yzerman wants to add another defenseman.
However, the issue with Drysdale is that it has been reported that he can cause some off the ice locker room issues. Coping with that may not be worth spending the fourth overall selection on him with some of the other prospects available.