Detroit News 2023 NHL mock draft 2.0: Who makes sense for Red Wings in first round?

Detroit — The Red Wings are in good position to acquire two prime prospects in this week’s NHL Entry Draft.

Now, whether they get that opportunity remains to be seen.

This year’s draft on Wednesday (Round 1; 7 p.m. on ESPN) and Thursday (Rounds 2-7; 11 a.m. on NHL Network) in Nashville has a lot of premium talent, but where that talent goes is going to be interesting.

The Wings are just one of many teams who have been rumored to be in trade talks for established players who are on the trade market (Alex DeBrincat, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Erik Karlsson, Travis Konecny). It’s safe to say a first-round draft pick would be part of the package going the other way, which would likely upend any mock draft, given a team’s different needs.

General manager Steve Yzerman said during a draft preview Zoom call with media last week he isn’t planning on moving his first-round picks. But it’s likely those plans could go awry if a quality forward becomes available.

The Wings also have three consecutive picks in the second round — No. 41, No. 42 (from St. Louis) and No. 43 (from Vancouver) — that could be tremendous value picks or valuable trade chips.

Another variable concerning the top of this draft: Russian forward Matvei Michkov might be the second-best player in this draft but is signed to play in Russia through 2026. And given the political uncertainty there, it’s not clear when Michkov could play in the NHL.

But Michkov’s talent could be worth the wait for a gambling team.

The top of this draft class, highlighted by center Connor Bedard, is as deep as any in recent years. It would be a surprise if any of the top four or five teams trade down, given the quality of talent available.

Here is a final look at how Wednesday’s first round could go:

▶ 1. Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard, C, Regina (WHL) — This pick has been easy to guess since the second Chicago won the lottery. Bedard is a generational talent who’ll go a long way toward rebuilding the Blackhawks to prominence.

▶ 2. Anaheim Ducks: Adam Fantilli, C, Michigan (NCAA) — General manager Pat Verbeek obviously isn’t giving any clues, and there has been speculation Anaheim might be tempted to select Michkov. But Fantilli is just too good to pass up, you would think.

▶ 3. Columbus Blue Jackets: Leo Carlsson, C, Orebro (Sweden) — Columbus apparently really likes Fantilli, but it would be far from disappointed in landing Carlsson. Having searched for a legitimate No. 1 center for so many years, the Blue Jackets will likely get one regardless of how the draft plays out in these top few picks.

▶ 4. San Jose Sharks: Will Smith, C, U.S. National Team Development Program — The Sharks need offense and Smith, with his speed and playmaking, will inject the Sharks with game-breaking ability. Possible home for Michkov, too, given the Sharks are nowhere close to contending and have the ability to wait.

▶ 5. Montreal Canadiens: Ryan Leonard, C, USNTDP — Many teams are searching for that Matthew Tkachuk-type of player this summer, an offensive force who plays with an edge. Leonard isn’t big but he plays hard and has skill. If the Canadiens stay in this spot, and there’s no guarantee of that, Leonard would be a good fit here.

▶ 6. Arizona Coyotes: David Reinbacher, D, Kloten (Switzerland) — Arizona is another team that has the time and patience to wait on Michkov, if necessary. But the Coyotes are thin on defense, and Reinbacher isn’t far from reaching the NHL.

▶ 7. Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (Russia) — Maybe it’ll be the Flyers, possibly some other team via trade. But it just feels a team will step up here and take Michkov before Washington surely would at No. 8.

▶ 8. Washington Capitals: Zach Benson, LW, Winnipeg (WHL) — Disappointed at not getting Michkov, in this scenario, the Capitals take a high-compete, high-offensive talent winger who complements the age the Capitals have up front.

▶ 9. Detroit Red Wings: Dalibor Dvorsky, C, AIK (Sweden) — If the Wings stay here, they’ll be tempted with Nate Danielson, who has been linked to them from early in the process. But Dvorsky still seems the safe pick, as a dependable, pro-ready two-way center who could arrive in the NHL fairly soon.

▶ 10. St. Louis Blues: Oliver Moore, C, USNTDP — Danielson is still available and is a good prospect, but Moore’s speed and creativity is what the Blues need in their organization.

▶ 11. Vancouver Canucks: Nate Danielson, C, Brandon (WHL) — If Danielson falls to Vancouver here, the Canucks will be mighty happy. Danielson checks off a lot of boxes, doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses, and this fills a need in the organization’s depth chart.

▶ 12. Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa): Gabriel Perreault, RW, USNTDP — The Coyotes could go in so many different directions. But getting a player who earned 132 points in junior hockey and has dazzling skill (but lacks size) is something the Coyotes can’t pass.

▶ 13. Buffalo Sabres: Samuel Honzek, LW, Vancouver (WHL) — The Sabres do need defensive depth in the organization and Sweden’s Tom Willander and Russia’s Dmitri Simashev are available. But Honzek might be too good to pass on. A 6-foot-4 kid whose best days could be ahead of him, the Sabres continue to load up on offensive talent.

▶ 14. Pittsburgh Penguins: Matt Wood, RW, Connecticut (NCAA) — The Penguins need young talent at many different positions and, if they stay here, should land a premium prospect. Wood has been linked to the Penguins for a while, and a 6-4 forward with a lethal shot is a good place to begin adding youth.

▶ 15. Nashville Predators: Brayden Yager, C, Moose Jaw (WHL) — New GM Barry Trotz wants his scouts to take chances, and though Yager isn’t big, he has a ton of talent and an edge to him. Nashville needs an infusion of young talent down the middle, too.

▶ 16. Calgary Flames: Tom Willander, D, Rogle Jr. (Sweden) — The big thing for the Flames right now is getting players who want to stay in Calgary. Willander could be NHL-ready soon.

▶ 17. Detroit Red Wings (from N.Y. Islanders via Vancouver): Colby Barlow, LW, Owen Sound (OHL) — If the Wings stay in this spot, Barlow would be a fine fit. He plays a complete game, is extremely versatile and appears destined to be a top-six scoring forward.

▶ 18. Winnipeg Jets: Dmitri Simashev, D, Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia) — You are hesitant about the wait, and how quickly exactly it’ll be before Simashev arrives in North America, but the Jets would be willing to wait for a quality defenseman.

▶ 19. Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay): Otto Stenberg, C, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden) — If Stenberg falls all the way here, he’d be quite the bargain for Chicago.

▶ 20. Seattle Kraken: Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Skelleftea Jr. (Sweden) — At this point teams swing and hope for the best. The Kraken have several needs, but this defenseman has been moving up a lot of draft projections in recent weeks.

▶ 21. Minnesota Wild: Eduard Sale, LW, Brno (Czechia) — Sale is a 6-2 wing who scored big in junior hockey. He’s a bit raw, but the Wild would be wise to take a gamble.

▶ 22. Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles via Columbus): Oliver Bonk, D, London (OHL) — If form holds and the Flyers stay here, getting a safe, sound defenseman such as Bonk at this spot would be a good day’s work.

▶ 23. New York Rangers: Daniil But, LW, Yaroslavl Jr. (Russia) — Another Russian with a lot of skill and positives to his game, but how long does an organization have to wait? The Rangers have the time and patience to do so.

▶ 24. Nashville Predators (from Edmonton): Andrew Cristall, LW, Kelowna (WHL) — Cristall appears to be the type of high-level talent who lacks in some areas that Nashville wants to gamble on in this draft.

▶ 25. St. Louis Blues (from Toronto): David Edstrom, C, Frolunda Jr. (Sweden) — The Blues might very well trade this pick, given they have three in this draft. If they don’t, the 6-3 Edstrom would be a nice addition.

▶ 26. San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey): Calum Ritchie, C, Oshawa (OHL) — If Ritchie falls this far, the Sharks would be thrilled. Some drafts have him going in the teens. Ritchie is a fine playmaker.

▶ 27. Colorado Avalanche: Danny Nelson, C, USNTDP — The Avalanche have time to wait and Nelson is a 6-3 raw talent who might develop into an elite prospect.

▶ 28. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston via Washington): Charlie Stramel, C, Wisconsin (NCAA) — The Leafs are looking for the best player available here, and Stramel is a defensive-minded center with some size and grit.

▶ 29. St. Louis Blues (from Dallas via N.Y. Rangers): Quentin Musty, LW, Sudbury (OHL) — Again, the Blues might part with this pick in a trade. But if they stay here, Musty would be a great value pick. A power forward with good instincts on the ice, he’s considered a top-20 pick by many people.

▶ 30. Carolina Hurricanes: Etienne Morin, D, Moncton (QMJHL) — The salary cap might force Carolina’s hand here in the next couple years, so building up defensive depth might be important.

▶ 31. Montreal Canadiens (from Florida): Gavin Brindley, C, Michigan (NCAA) — Brindley is only 5-8, but the UM sophomore plays big and has a lot of offensive ability. He’d be a nice acquisition for Montreal this late in the draft.

▶ 32. Vegas Golden Knights: Nick Lardis, LW, Hamilton (OHL) — The Stanley Cup champs add a player with one of the better shots in the draft.