HFNHL Red Wings
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For the first time in many years the Wings entered the draft without a positional shopping list. Traditionally the team has drafted to fill needs but feeling comfortable in it’s organizational depth the team not only drafted for best player available but was also willing to gamble a bit more than normal for the generally conservative GM Niece.
Some may argue that the team lacks top end prospects at most positions which is not completely untrue but it is a solid group and the lack of elite talent is more the result of the teams historical drafting position rather than scouting failures.
Here is a breakdown of the Wings selections:
1st round Martin Hanzal (9th overall)
Never having drafted so early GM Niece was really feeling the pressure and right up to the last minute was considering agreeing to a very strong trade offer that had been presented to him earlier in the week.
With the pick the team was seriously considering Carey Price and even more so Alex Bourret who was very much the style of player sought by GM Niece but in the end the GM listened to his scouts who were very high on Martin Hanzal.
At 6’4†and 200 lbs Hanzal brings an enticing mix of speed, skill, and strength that left scouts drooling. Despite the rumours of inconsistent work ethic and consistency the team felt these deficiencies will fade with maturity.
2nd round Sasha Pokuluk (51st overall)
With the second pick the team might have made one of it’s biggest draft day gambles in team history. The only other contender for this title would be Vojtek Polak who was selected by the team in the 2nd round of the 2003 draft but things are looking up for Polak so it might have been a worthwhile gamble.
At 6’5†and 220 pounds Pokuluk is a big project but the teams scouts like his mobility and stick skills. Pokuluk will spend the next couple of years in college where it is hoped that he can refine his raw skills and improve on his decision making.
3rd round Marc Andre Gragnani (74th overall)
I player the Wings were happy to get this late in the draft considering the team had him ranked just inside their top 50. Gragnani is a relatively solid, if unspectacular, two way dman with no obvious flaws in his game. While the team will be patient in his development it is hoped he could challenge for a spot as early as 2008/09 as a third pairing dman
4th round Morten Madsen (113th)
A bit of an underachiever who needs to mature mentally. Madsen brings a solid mix of speed, skill, and creativity that intrigues the teams scouts.
5th round Mikhail Grabovski (153rd)
While a bit undersized, the team again went with a speed/skill player who is just coming off a strong first season in the RSL.
6th round Tomas Popperle (188th)
The team hopes to have made another steal with a goalie taken in the 6th round (see Henrik Lundqvist and Cristobel Huet who were both taken by Detroit in the 6th round).
The team could not have been more ecstatic in his availability at this position. In 2004/05 he started 16 games in the CZE 2nd tier league putting up a 1.80GAA and .940 sav% before being called up to the elite league where he played in 25 games posting even better numbers with a 1.58 GAA and .949sav%. He led the elite league in both GAA and sav%.
7th round Mike Santorelli (201st)
The Wings ended their draft on another high note as they were able to select another solid offensive player. Santorelli has put up excellent numbers in the BCHL and followed it up in 04/05 with .75pts per game in his rookie season in the NCAA. A true goal scorer, Santorelli needs to work on the defensive aspects of his game.
Day 2 of the draft was definitely a pleasant surprise as even the teams last pick was only the 12th on their day 2 list. With such a result the question begs asking … “Are Detroit’s scouts looking at the same players as the rest of the leagu?â€
Some may argue that the team lacks top end prospects at most positions which is not completely untrue but it is a solid group and the lack of elite talent is more the result of the teams historical drafting position rather than scouting failures.
Here is a breakdown of the Wings selections:
1st round Martin Hanzal (9th overall)
Never having drafted so early GM Niece was really feeling the pressure and right up to the last minute was considering agreeing to a very strong trade offer that had been presented to him earlier in the week.
With the pick the team was seriously considering Carey Price and even more so Alex Bourret who was very much the style of player sought by GM Niece but in the end the GM listened to his scouts who were very high on Martin Hanzal.
At 6’4†and 200 lbs Hanzal brings an enticing mix of speed, skill, and strength that left scouts drooling. Despite the rumours of inconsistent work ethic and consistency the team felt these deficiencies will fade with maturity.
2nd round Sasha Pokuluk (51st overall)
With the second pick the team might have made one of it’s biggest draft day gambles in team history. The only other contender for this title would be Vojtek Polak who was selected by the team in the 2nd round of the 2003 draft but things are looking up for Polak so it might have been a worthwhile gamble.
At 6’5†and 220 pounds Pokuluk is a big project but the teams scouts like his mobility and stick skills. Pokuluk will spend the next couple of years in college where it is hoped that he can refine his raw skills and improve on his decision making.
3rd round Marc Andre Gragnani (74th overall)
I player the Wings were happy to get this late in the draft considering the team had him ranked just inside their top 50. Gragnani is a relatively solid, if unspectacular, two way dman with no obvious flaws in his game. While the team will be patient in his development it is hoped he could challenge for a spot as early as 2008/09 as a third pairing dman
4th round Morten Madsen (113th)
A bit of an underachiever who needs to mature mentally. Madsen brings a solid mix of speed, skill, and creativity that intrigues the teams scouts.
5th round Mikhail Grabovski (153rd)
While a bit undersized, the team again went with a speed/skill player who is just coming off a strong first season in the RSL.
6th round Tomas Popperle (188th)
The team hopes to have made another steal with a goalie taken in the 6th round (see Henrik Lundqvist and Cristobel Huet who were both taken by Detroit in the 6th round).
The team could not have been more ecstatic in his availability at this position. In 2004/05 he started 16 games in the CZE 2nd tier league putting up a 1.80GAA and .940 sav% before being called up to the elite league where he played in 25 games posting even better numbers with a 1.58 GAA and .949sav%. He led the elite league in both GAA and sav%.
7th round Mike Santorelli (201st)
The Wings ended their draft on another high note as they were able to select another solid offensive player. Santorelli has put up excellent numbers in the BCHL and followed it up in 04/05 with .75pts per game in his rookie season in the NCAA. A true goal scorer, Santorelli needs to work on the defensive aspects of his game.
Day 2 of the draft was definitely a pleasant surprise as even the teams last pick was only the 12th on their day 2 list. With such a result the question begs asking … “Are Detroit’s scouts looking at the same players as the rest of the leagu?â€
