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Red Wings linked to OHL, Norwegian wingers in mock drafts
Once again, there will be no suspense at the top of the NHL entry draft, when Boston University center Macklin Celebrini is certain to be selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks.
Most expect defensemen Artyom Levshunov of Michigan State an Anton Silayev of the KHL along with forwards Cayden Lindstrom of Medicine Hat (WHL) and Ivan Demidov of the KHL to round out the top five.
The guessing game starts after that. It’s anybody’s guess who the Detroit Red Wings will select at No. 15. Early mock drafts indicate a number of possibilities.
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.”
