from Mark Falkner of the Detroit News,

According to NBC analyst Pierre McGuire, Yzerman will "speed up" Detroit's rebuild the fastest if they win the lottery (Detroit has an 18.5% chance of getting the first overall choice) and insert consensus No. 1 pick Alexis Lafreniere into the lineup.

But McGuire says even if the Red Wings fail to earn one of the top three picks and fall to fourth overall, the rebuild and return to the playoffs after a four-year drought is on course with their last three lottery picks (Michael Rasmussen in 2017, Fliip Zadina in 2018 and Moritz Seider in 2019) as well as one of the NHL's deepest list of prospects now being driven by chief amateur scout Kris Draper in Yzerman's reorganized scouting staff.

"If you get Lafreniere, you really change the equation," McGuire said. "He's the real deal. Usually, when a player dominates at the world juniors like he did this year, they can make the NHL. He's NHL ready. I'm sure people would offer Detroit a package of players and draft picks. I can't see them trading it. I would keep the pick and take Lafreniere. No matter what, it's an amazing draft. Tim Stutzle's skill level is off the charts, too.

read on