Red Wings Must Adjust Draft Strategy With No First-Round Pick

Over the past few years, it’s become evident that the Detroit Red Wings have a type when it comes to draft targets. “High compete,” “competes well,” and “pro style” are typical phrases uttered by Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper when commenting on their selections.

Look no further than Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Eddie Genborg, Emmitt Finnie, Anton Johansson, Dylan James, and Michal Svrcek for examples. Again, the Red Wings have a type.

The problem, though, is that Detroit now appears to have an abundance of future bottom-six forwards, depth defensemen, and complementary NHL pieces. Fewer prospects project as true offensive drivers or game-breakers. There’s depth, but not enough elite offensive talent.

Given this—and the fact that Detroit has less draft ammo than usual (no first- or fourth-round picks this year and no second-rounder in 2027)—the Red Wings need to adjust their draft strategy. Here’s what I would recommend.

Adjusted Red Wings Draft Strategy

In previous years, the Red Wings would flex their draft strategy if they had an extra pick in a round. One selection would be set aside for their typical high-compete, high-floor player, then, with the other, they’d take a swing on a skilled player with upside, but also a lower floor.

• 2022 second round: Dylan James & Dmitri Buchelnikov
• 2022 fourth round: Anton Johansson & Amadeus Lombardi
• 2023 first round: Nate Danielson & Axel Sandin-Pellikka
• 2025 fourth round: Michal Svrcek & Brent Solomon

Those upside swings are the types of bets Detroit should prioritize moving forward.

All selections don’t necessarily need to ignore compete level or two-way ability entirely, but elite traits should carry more weight than overall polish. If a prospect possesses high-end skill, vision, processing, skating, or offensive creativity, the Red Wings should be more willing to tolerate flaws elsewhere.

That’s especially true in today’s NHL. The league increasingly rewards speed, processing, deception, and offensive creation. Teams can shelter defensive deficiencies far easier than they can manufacture elite skill. Compete level and structure remain important, but offensive dynamism is what changes games.

Like I said, the Red Wings already have plenty of well-rounded prospects in the system. There needs to be some risk-taking, though, if Detroit wants to find a top-of-the-lineup player outside of the first round. Repeatedly drafting “safe” players may produce NHL contributors, but it can also leave an organization without enough star-caliber talent.

There are plenty of examples of these types of selections in the 2026 NHL Playoffs. Kirill Kaprizov, Troy Terry, Brandon Hagel, Jake Guentzel, Lane Hutson, Denver Barkey, Jackson Blake, and Logan Stankoven were all picked outside of the opening round. Some were drafted in the fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds. Suffice to say, there are gems out there – you just need to find and develop them.

A caveat to this is that a handful of these players are smaller in stature. That doesn’t mean the Red Wings should suddenly target undersized players indiscriminately. The point is to prioritize elite traits, particularly skill and hockey IQ, over completeness or size. Height is valuable, but not at the expense of offensive upside.

You can coach two-way play and compete level more easily than you can teach elite offensive instincts. That’s why skill should become the priority. Elite skill and/or hockey IQ is worth the risk. Everything else can be refined.

Final Word

It’s a new era for the Red Wings. They’re no longer rebuilding – they’re stockpiling. They have plenty of high-compete contributors, but are missing some skill. Swinging for high-ceiling, low-floor players in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft can help them address this gap.

It’s a different strategy than what Kris Draper and Steve Yzerman typically employ, but one that aligns with where the organization stands currently. The best teams can flex and adjust – it’s time to find out if the Red Wings can do the same.