| Detroit Free Press
Texan Cross Hanas on being drafted by Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings draft pick Cross Hanas on a Zoom call, Oct. 7, 2020.
Roughly 12 hours after capping a long day with interviews lauding their first-round pick, the Detroit Red Wings embark on a busy Day 2 of the 2020 NHL draft.
The Wings hold nine picks in rounds 2-7 (11:30 a.m., NHLN), three of them in the second round.
“We know we have work to do,” director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said. “We also realize that a big part of us getting back to where we want to go is going to be drafting and developing.
“We’re looking forward to making those picks.”
[ Watch highlights of every Detroit Red Wings 2020 NHL draft pick ]
The Wings hold picks at 32, 45, 55, 63, 65, 107, 125, 156 and 187.
They used the 32nd pick on Swedish defenseman William Wallinder, a 6-foot-4, 191-pounder who plays for MODO. He’s a mobile puck carrier with an eye for creating offense.
While they were on the clock for the 45th pick, the Wings traded it to the Los Angeles Kings for picks 51 and 97. The Wings used the 51st pick on Theodor Niederback, a Swedish center who plays in Frolunda’s system. He’s 5-11, 172 and shoots right.
The Wings went with an American at 55th, drafting winger Cross Hanas (6-0, 167), out of the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks. They chose defensemen with the next two picks, drafting Donovan Sebrango (6-1, 189) and 63rd and Eemil Viro (6-0, 165) at 70th. Viro plays in the Finnish men’s league for TPS.
Sam Stange, a 6-0, 200 pound right-shot right wing committed to play at Wisconsin in 2020-21 was selected at 97th. At 107th, the Wings drafted Czech goaltender Jan Bednar (6-4, 196).
On Tuesday, they drafted Swedish winger Lucas Raymond at fourth overall.
[ Steve Yzerman: Lucas Raymond has no glaring weaknesses ]
The draft is being held virtually this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Teams are ensconced in home bases; in the Wings’ case, Draper and personnel including assistant general managers Pat Verbeek and Ryan Martin and chief amateur scout Jesse Wallin are at a conference room at Little Caesars headquarters.
General manager Steve Yzerman is working remotely because he was recently exposed to a person who tested positive for COVID-19. Yzerman has tested negative multiple times.
More: Draper on Wings draft pick Lucas Raymond
Amateur and pro scouts are also partaking via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Red Wings picks
Round 1 (fourth overall): F Lucas Raymond, 18, 5-10, 183 pounds
Round 2 (32nd): D William Wallinder, 18, 6-4, 191 pounds
Round 2 (51st): C Theodor Niederbach, 18, 5-11, 172 pounds
Round 2 (55th): LW Cross Hanas, 18, 6-0, 167 pounds
Round 3 (63rd): D Donovan Sebrango, 18, 6-1, 189 pounds
Round 3 (70th): D Eemil Viro, 18, 6-0, 168 pounds
Round 4 (97th): D Sam Stange, 19, 6-1, 201 pounds
Round 4 (107th): G Jan Bednar, 18, 6-4, 196 pounds
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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. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings will be published October 13 by Triumph Books. To order, go to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.