from Jared Clinton of The Hockey News,

At the time of the 2017 expansion draft in Las Vegas, which came when the wounds of Detroit’s lengthy playoff streak coming to a close were still fresh, the Red Wings were icing one of the most veteran-laden clubs in the NHL. That led many to believe that Detroit would start a reset of sorts leading into Vegas, that they would expose some veteran talent and let the Golden Knights pluck one of those players from the roster. And while expose some veterans the Red Wings did – Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Darren Helm and Drew Miller, for example – they also provided one of the most stunning exposures of the draft in netminder Petr Mrazek. At the time, Mrazek was considered an up-and-comer and the potential heir to the crease, the next in line behind Jimmy Howard even despite a shaky season.

As it turned out, though, Mrazek was skipped over by Vegas, who instead selected Tomas Nosek, a winger who had, at the time, just 17 games NHL experience to his name and has since become a useful bottom-sixer for the NHL’s 31st franchise.

Will there be any stunners the next time around? Given the youth that’s available and how important they are to the future of the franchise, it seems unlikely, but who knows what GM Steve Yzerman will have up his sleeve as he rebuilds the once-perennial post-season contending franchise.

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