Defense Addressed

from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

The Red Wings addressed that over the weekend at the NHL Draft. Of their 11 picks overall – they acquired an extra pick Saturday in Buffalo – they selected five defensemen, including three of their first four overall selections.
The five defensemen collectively have good size – something, it appears, many organizations took account of watching St. Louis’ and Boston’s big bodies in the Stanley Cup Finals.
“As a staff, we identified this as being a pretty deep draft defensively,” said Tyler Wright, the Wings’ director of amateur scouting. “I don’t think we’re quite in a position where we have to start really picking by position. It just happened to be that defense was kind of top-heavy in this draft.
“You watch the playoffs and you see the size of these guys with St. Louis and Boston being in there – that doesn’t mean they’re just big.”
Meaning, size with skill. And the Wings are optimistic they picked some big bodies who can do a variety of things.

read on

from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

Hakan Andersson, the Wings’ director of European scouting, shared anecdotes about both Albert Johansson and Albin Grewe after the Wings wrapped up the 2019 NHL draft having made 11 selections. Antti Tuomisto headlined Saturday’s haul as the Wings chose him 35th overall, selecting a second straight big defenseman who shoots right.
“This is a guy that’s 6-foot-5 and plays with a real bite to his game,” director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said. “He’s got good sense. He can find the middle of the ice. We really liked him. We’d targeted him for a while at 35.”
Andersson described Tuomisto as a very good skater with a bit of a bite to his game.
“We all liked him,” Andersson said. “Tyler certainly had a little bit of a crush on him. He’s got some physical game in him, and he also has a very heavy, good shot.”

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Defense Addressed

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