The lone consensus is the Red Wings will select a forward with their top pick for the third year in a row, after taking centers Marco Kasper (eighth overall in 2022) and Nate Danielson (ninth overall in 2023) in the past two drafts.
They have a good core of young defensemen in Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson on the NHL roster for 2024-25 and Axel Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder, Shai Buium and Andrew Gibson in the pipeline.
A goal-scoring winger is their most pressing organizational need.
Here is a look at who some mock drafts are projecting general manager Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper, his assistant in charge of the draft, will take:
NHL.com: Michael Hage, 6-0, 187, C, Chicago (USHL): Adam Kimelman writes, “Hage plays with a physical edge and impressed with his ability to take over games late in the season.” He is committed to Michigan starting in 2025-26.
NHL.com: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, 6-1, 198, RW, Mora (Allsvenskan, Sweden): Mike Morreale says Brandsegg-Nygard “is a hard-working two-way player with good first-step quickness, decision-making and vision.” The Norwegian played in Sweden’s second men’s division.
TSN.ca: Brandsegg-Nygard: Says draft analysts Craig Button, “He is a hard-driving winger that just wants to make a difference in the game. Hard-working. We’ve seen the Red Wings have a lot of success in Sweden.”
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