Red Wings Have History on Their Side with 15th Pick in 2024 NHL Draft – Hockey Writers – Detroit Red Wings

With the NHL Draft Lottery taking place on May 7, the Detroit Red Wings (and the rest of the league, for that matter) find themselves in the impossible position of picking number 15 in the 2024 Draft. While the Red Wings have picked in that slot a few times in the past 10 drafts (Dylan Larkin in 2014, Sebastian Cossa in 2021), there have been many situations in the past that should help give fans hope and excitement that the team can finally find a player who will be a big part of the future.

2019 – Cole Caufield

Ranked third among North American forwards in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, Cole Caufield looks set to land in the Montreal Canadiens’ 2019 Draft at pick 15. He’s been one of the most exciting rookies in the league, thanks to him. bad shooting. He has helped bring hope and excitement to Canadiens fans about the future of the team and is certainly one of the league’s rising stars. Red Wings fans can only hope that a player of Caufield’s caliber falls to the team in this year’s draft.

2008 – Erik Karlsson

In the 2008 Draft, the Ottawa Senators selected defenseman Erik Karlsson with the 15th pick, and he ended up being the best defenseman in the organization’s history. During his time with the Senators, he was one of the league’s best defensemen and won the Norris Trophy twice (2012 and 2015) before being traded to the San Jose Sharks. He won another Norris Trophy with the Sharks in 2023 before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins last season. Although he is not known as a prototypical defenseman and lacks a bit of defensive edge, Karlsson continues to be one of the league’s most exciting defensemen to watch on the offensive ice.

1991 – Alexei Kovalev

The New York Rangers struck gold when they were able to take Russian-born Alexei Kovalev in the 1991 Draft. He had a 19-season career in the NHL, and nine of those were spent in a Ranger uniform. Not only has he been an attacking team player throughout his career but he has also played an aggressive style of game. He played a key role for the Rangers in their Stanley Cup winning season in 1994 when he put up 23 points.

Related: Red Wings: 3 Big Needs in 2024 NHL Draft

Kovalev ended up making several more stops in his career, including time with the Penguins, Canadiens, Senators, and Florida Panthers. To this day, he ranks among the top 10 in regular season points (1,029), goals (430), and assists (599) among all Russian-born NHL players.

1987 – Joe Sakic

A player most fans know best from the rivalry between the Colorado Avalanche and Red Wings in the 1990s, Joe Sakic played a key role in that rivalry. He was both a trouble to play against with his endless drive and play in the defensive position, as well as being an offensive force as well. He is another player with a long career, playing a total of 20 seasons, all with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche organization, and achieved All-Star status 12 times in those 20 seasons. His best season came in 2000-01 when he won three awards, including the Hart Trophy (NHL MVP), Lady Byng (sportsmanship), and the Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player as selected by the NHLPA).

Sakic’s performance in the playoffs was one of the best of his entire career in the league, including scoring eight overtime goals for the Avalanche while helping the organization to two more Stanley Cups. He is the organization’s regular season leader in eight major offensive statistical categories including games played (1,378), goals (625), and assists (1,016). He also ranks in the top ten among all Canadian-born players in regular season points and is sixth all-time in playoff points with 188 points. He is also a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame after being inducted into the 2012 class, as well as being named one of the 100 greatest league players in 2018.

1981 – Al McInnis

Known for his superior slapshot and body-smashing hits, the Calgary Flames found himself a future Hall-of-Famer in the 1981 Draft at pick 15 with defenseman Al MacInnis. He may not have the accolades or Stanley Cups of Sakic or Kovalev, but he put together a solid and long career. He played a total of 23 seasons between the Flames and St. Louis Blues when he was a 12-time All-Star and another player who received the honor of being one of the 100 greatest league players of all time.

MacInnis is third all-time among Canadian-born defensemen in assists (934) and points (1274). A player who could be a physical force on the ice and possess the level of offense that MacInnis possessed would clearly be a welcome sign for any organization.

1977 – Mike Bossy

A player whose career was not nearly as long as many of the players mentioned above, but who deserved the Hall of Fame, comes in the form of the 1977 New York Islanders 15th overall pick of Mike Bossy. He only played 10 seasons in the NHL but reached 65 points twice in that stretch in the 1978-79 season (69 goals) and the 1980-81 season (68 goals). During his ten-year career, he was one of the top scorers in the NHL while helping lead the Islanders organization to four straight Stanley Cups (1980-1983).

Individually, Bossy won the 1978 Calder Trophy (NHL Rookie of the Year) and being the Lady Byng winner three different seasons (1983, 1984, 1986). In addition to winning the Stanley Cup four times, he was a seven-time All-Star. He earned Hall of Fame status in 1991 and joined Sakic and MacInnis on the top 100 list of all-time hitters.

History Shows There Is Opportunity

While all teams hope to get lucky in the lottery and pick as high as possible on the roster, history has shown that the Red Wings have a strong chance of landing a player who will contribute the most to the organization. I’m not at all saying that a player of Bossy’s or Sakic’s caliber will be what they get in the 2024 Draft, but picking an impact player or anything close to what Dylan Larkin had on the team could end up being over. being a strong addition to the already strong farm system that Steve Yzerman helped build.