from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

The Red Wings options could include one of three centers from the U.S. National Team Development Program Will Smith, Oliver Moore or Ryan Leonard. Right wing Gabe Perreault, another USNTDP forward, might be available to them as well.

Slovakian center Dalibor Dvorsky and Canadian centers Matthew Wood and Brayden Yager are other possibilities with Detroits top pick or even the Red Wings second first-round selection.

The Red Wings own the New York Islanders first-round selection via the Filip Hronek trade to Vancouver. That pick will be at No. 17 if Florida defeats the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the playoffs (the Panthers lead 3-0). If the Leafs come back and win that series, the selection will be 18th. Thats because the four teams that advance to conference finals get the final four picks in the first round, so Floridas selection (which was traded to Montreal) would drop from 17th and the Islanders selection would move up a spot.

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There's the current depth chart and contract status. Yes, I moved Raymond to RW as he shoots right.

I also would like to move Rasmussen to a 2nd line LW if Detroit would knock off the non-sense of wanting him to be a centre. I'd also like to move Chiarot to RHD#2 and Wallinder to RHD#3 which would give Albert Johansson and Jared McIsaac a look--but I expect an UFA RHD to be a Detroit target and the preverbal better to play in the AHL than sit in the press box non-sense.

So with that in mind...assuming they don't trade the picks (which I think they should)...Detroit's top two picks should be forward and at least one of them a centre.

1)b/c it's an organizational need

2)b/c this draft is better for forwards than d-men (and b/c Austrian d-man David Reinbacher is not likely to be around when the Wings pick)

...but with 5 picks in the top 43 the Wings should take at least 1 RHD (in round 2).

As far as named dropped above:

Will Smith will likely be gone by 9. Long gone. Going in top 5.

Dalibor Dvorsky(perimeter shooter with lack of NHL speed so will be limited to a winger in the NHL). Offensively talented with both wrist shot and one timer accuracy. Uses his size to win puck battles and compete. Could be a 1st line winger. Player comparison William Karlsson. Likely going 7th or 8th pick.

Oliver Moore has speed (best skater in the draft with NHL elite edgework) and a bit of scoring touch (but will be more of a 2nd line winger/#3 centre). He should be available. He is the USNTDP 2nd line centre and is on PP2 and PK1. His player comparable is Jean-Gabriel Pageau. I think Wings take him or Leonard.

Ryan Leonard (shoots right. college commitment to BC) is more a responsible 200 foot RW'er that has skill (hands) with physicality but won't be great offensively or defensively as he lacks playmaking skills (vision) and size (5' 11.5"). 2nd line RW'er. His player comparable is Artturi Lehkonen. I think Wings take him or Moore.

Gabe Perreault (lack of NHL speed so NHL winger) broke Auston Matthews' USNTDP single season point record (but so did Will Smith). Great stickhandler. Can score. projects as a 2nd line winger. Player comparable Lucas Raymond.

Matthew Woods (6' 3.5" with a lack of NHL speed) offensively gifted (wrister and one-timer). Inconsistent (takes games off). Game will frustrate NHL coaches as talent outweighs physical size and compete level currently shown. Player comparable Drake Batherson.

Brayden Yager(high end shot) all-situations center. Hasn't put it all together yet as his scoring didn't materialize this past year (lacks vision to get it through). Middle six player. Player comparable Vincent Trocheck.

The two other players that could intrigue the Wings if they fall are:

Zach Benson (5'9" size concerns) great passer, responsible defensively, but is an average skater. Middle six player. Player comparable is Jonathan Marchessault. Could go 7th, could go 11th.

Matvei Michkov (Russian with a 3 year KHL commitment) Elite stickhandling. Elite vision. Elite hockey sense. Player comparable: Nikita Kucherov. Should go 3rd overall but Sharks GM is on record stating wants to reload rather than rebuild. 3 years plus a year to accumulate to the North American ice might be a problem for both San Jose at 4 and Montreal at 5.

 I agree Paul. Very well done dca. Useful and well organized read.

Zadina- waivers

Lindstrom- GR

Trade for a R Dman if nobody jumps out in camp

Chiasson extra forward

I also think they need to chose between Veleno and Suter- not both (Veleno for me)