Embed from Getty Images Let’s get this out of the way, the NHL lottery is flawed. The Detroit Red Wings who were the worst team in the COVID-19 shortened NHL regular season are picking #4 while a playoff team will have the first pick in the draft it boarders on a joke. That said in a very deep, very talented the Detroit Red Wings are in position to get a player who can help the rebuild.
Detroit Red Wings general manager said that he and his scouting department are not looking at one key area on the team. Yzerman said he wants a player who will “move the needle.”
The Detroit hockey team is in need of scoring. With young defensive players moving up in the minors, offense would be an area the Red Wings could look at with the teams top five draft pick. So who could that player be?
Right Wing-Lucas Raymond is a player who both should be there when Detroit picks and a player who can help quickly. Raymond who is 5-11, 170 plays a strong two way game with excellent vision, intensity and a good wrist shot. The 18 year old is regarded as having a nose for the net and has shown himself to be a tremendous asset on the power play and the penalty kill. Raymond is an An explosive winger who is equally dangerous with his shot or pass. Lucas moves with quickness and handles the puck at a high level even at top speed. His puck skills are fluid, controlled and capable of embarrassing defensive players.
Another player who should be there is Center/ Left Wings, Cole Perfetti. The Red Wings need offense Perfetti could be their guy. Not only is he a deadly shooter, but he also uses his smarts to dish off when the opportunity arises. Perfetti is an excellent puck handler with great puck skills, vision and execution are on another level. Perfetti is elusive and can turn on a dime, evading checks and giving himself time and space to utilize his offensive arsenal. He has incredible hockey IQ and a feel for the game, can slow the play down to his pace, draw the attention of every defender and finds a pass no one else in the arena sees coming.
Either Raymond or Perfetti will be there when Detroit picks. For an organization in need of offense, I look to one of these guys as a strong possibility to wear a Winged Wheel after the first round of the 2020 NHL Darft.
