Detroit — The Red Wings still don’t know where their second first-round pick will be in the NHL Entry Draft.
They’ll pick either 17th or 18th, depending on how the Florida Panthers’ playoff series against Toronto goes — which, in the large scale of things, isn’t a huge difference. The pick was obtained from Vancouver (via the New York Islanders) when the Wings dealt defenseman Filip Hronek to the Canucks just before the trade deadline.
But, one thing is for sure with that additional pick on June 28 in Nashville (the Wings have their own pick, ninth pick overall, earlier in the evening). In a deep draft, with some players likely to rise or fall — as they usually do on draft night, causing ripples throughout the draft board — there are likely to be some intriguing choices for the Wings.
There are some Europeans in this class who haven’t excelled playing against men in pro leagues but have dominated in junior hockey. There are also players who might have one flaw, which, if corrected or refined, can turn the player into a prime prospect.
Toward the end of the first round, there’s always a level of projecting.
With more than a month remaining before the actual draft, here are some players who could interest the Wings with their second first-round draft selection:
▶ Axel Sandin Pellikka, defenseman, 5-foot-11, 181 pounds, 16 goals, 20 assists, 36 points, Skelleftea (Sweden): Great skater and transporter of the puck. Has a nice shot, too, and enjoys leading the rush. But, the size is a concern. Pellika is scrappy and enjoys throwing his body around, but he needs to get stronger physically.
▶ Samuel Honzek, left wing, 6-foot-4, 186 pounds, 23 goals, 33 assists, 56 points, Vancouver (WHL): Intriguing prospect in that his best hockey could likely still be ahead of him. Honzek has a lot of filling out to do physically but he’s been scrappy in junior. Honzek skates well for a big man, but his instincts need work offensively.
▶ Koehn Ziemmer, right wing, 6-feet, 195 pounds, 41 goals, 48 assists, 89 points, Prince George (WHL): Ziemmer projects as a power forward in the NHL who isn’t afraid to go to the net, play in front of the net, and make plays in tight spaces. Ziemmer has shown his ability to get his shot off in tight spaces. He knows how to use his body to shield the puck.
▶ Otto Stenberg, center/left wing, 5-foot-11, 181 pounds, 11 goals, 15 assists, 26 points, Frolunda (Sweden): The Wings are familiar with Frolunda, and Stenberg projects to be a capable NHL player. He’s a good skater, has an accurate shot and is responsible defensively. Some scouts would like Stenberg to have more hockey sense, and his playmaking isn’t elite.
▶ Oliver Bonk, defenseman, 6-foot-2, 174 pounds, 10 goals, 30 assists, 40 points, London (OHL): Bonk is a player who is moving up the draft board, and for good reason. The size is there, although he needs to get bigger physically. The mobility is impressive, and Bonk isn’t lost defensively. He could be a player who continues to bloom as he gets experience.
▶ Gavin McCarthy, defenseman, 6-foot-1, 182 pounds, 8 goals, 19 assists, 27 points, Muskegon (USHL): McCarthy had a promising season in Muskegon and is committed to play at Boston University. McCarthy fits well to the profile of the new-age defenseman, a fine skater who can move the puck. He’s physical for his size but needs refinement defensively.
▶ Kasper Halttune, right wing, 6-foot-3, 207 pounds, 0 goals, 1 assist, 1 point, HIFK (Finland): So, how do you analyze Halttune? As a 17-year-old playing against men, Halttune had the one point in 27 games and didn’t exactly stand out. But, after being sent down to juniors, Halttune had 18 goals in 18 games. He’s a good skater and has appealing size. A good gamble?
▶ Andrew Cristall, left wing, 5-foot-10, 165 pounds, 39 goals, 56 assists, 95 points, Kelowna (WHL): Cristall is an interesting prospect, given the levels of disagreement early in the process. Some scouts love him, given his pure goal-scoring ability, and the Wings need that. He has a great shot and sees the ice well. But, the concern is the size, plus the fact he’s not a smooth skater. He does know how to score goals.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan