With the 29th selection, the Detroit Red Wings select ..., Part 3

 

Over the past two days we have examined who the Detroit Red Wings might select with the 29th pick overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft beginning Friday in Montreal.

From the three rankings and two mock drafts we have reviewed there have been four players identified as potential Red Wings selections. Those players are  Louis Leblanc , Joonas Nattinen ,  Nick Leddy and  Kyle Palmieri.

For more on these players and the rankings and mock drafts that identified them please read the two previous parts to this story: Part 1, Part 2.

Today we will conclude our analysis of players that might be available for the Red Wings to select by examining four more mock drafts. Not surprisingly four more names are offered.

From NHL.com Adam Kimelman predicts the Red Wings will select Calvin DeHaan of the Oshawa Generals. DeHaan is a 6'0" 170-pound defenseman with good offensive instincts, patience and makes very few mistakes.

DeHaan is ranked 25th among North American Skaters by Central Scouting and 36th by International Scouting Services. The Hockey News (THN) ranked him 22nd and Ryan Kennedy of THN had him going to 25th to the Boston Bruins. Bob McKenzie and TSN ranked DeHaan 23rd overall. Fellow writers at NHL.com Shawn Roarke did not have DeHaan among his top 30 selections and Brad Holland had DeHaan being selected in the 26th spot by the New York Islanders. Pierre Maguire of TSN in Canada and NBC in the United States had DeHaan going to the Bruins with the 25th slection. Rounding out our panel is former NHL general manager Craig Button who had DeHaan being selected 26th by the Islanders in his mock draft.

Reviewing Brad Holland's mock draft reveals yet another possible player to be selected by Detroit as he indicates he thinks they will select Marcus Johansson. Johansson is a 5'11", 189-pound center from Karlstad, Sweden and he played in the Swedish Elite League for Farjestad this past season. His scouting report indicates he has a good shot, natural offensive instincts with the presence of mind of playing well defensively and can play both center and the wing.

Johansson is ranked eighth among European skaters by Central Scouting and 93rd overall by International Scouting Services who didn't have anything bad to say about him in their assessment of his play, so the ranking is a bit confusing, especially compared to where others have him ranked. The Hockey News ranks him as the 30th best prospect and TSN and McKenzie ranked him 33rd. Maguire, Button, Kimelman and Roarke do not rate Johansson as a first round selection.

Craig Button is an analyst on the NHL Network and formerly the general manager of the Calgary Flames from 2000 to 2003. His mock draft has the Red Wings selecting Carl Klingberg from Sweden. Klingberg is NHL size already at 6'3" and 205 pounds, and is a right handed shot who plays left wing. International Scouting Services rave about his offensive abilities especially on the power play and mentioned he is a good skater who plays physical.

Klingberg is ranked seventh among European skaters by Central Scouting and 32nd by International Scouting Services. The Hockey News ranks him 37th overall while Kennedy did not have him included in his first round selections. TSN and McKenzie rank him 34th. Roarke has slotted Klingberg 28th on his draft board as Chicago's first round pick, Kimelman has him sliding past Detroit and being chosen by the Penguins with the 30th pick and Holland of nhl.com, and Maguire don't include him in their first round picks.

Maguire's mock draft has the Red Wings selecting Peter Holland from the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. Despite being a point-a-game player Holland has dropped from the 9th rated North American skater at mid-season to 19th with the knock against him being that he doesn't compete every game. Scouting reports indicate that when he does compete he is very noticeable. He is a 6'2", 185-pound centerman who excels offensively and defensively playing both the power play and penalty killing.

Holland is ranked 19th among north American skaters and 15th by International Scouting Services. The Hockey News ranks him 19th and Kennedy from THN and Holland from NHL.com had him being drafted 20th to the Calgary Flames. TSN and McKenzie rank him 24th while Roarke of NHL.com had the Carolina Hurricanes selecting him 24th overall and Kimelman had him going to the St. Louis Blues 17th overall and Brad Holland. Button did not have Holland among his top 30 choices. 

And as a further recap on the players profiled in Part 1 and Part 2, here are where today's new analysts had them ranked.

Louis Leblanc was rated 28th by Kimelman and Holland while Maguire had him at 18 and Button at 23.

Joonas Nattinen was not rated in the first round by any of today's new analysts.

Nick Leddy was rated 27th by Holland and 25th by Button. Kimelman and Maguire did not have him in the first round.

Kyle Palmieri was rated 26th by Kimelman, 19th by Holland, but not included in the top 30 by Maguire or Button.

Again please check Part 1 and Part 2 of this series for more information of the potential Red Wings selections at the 29th overall spot at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft which begins on Friday. Also on Friday you will have the chance to vote for who you would like the Red Wings to select form among this group of players.

Check back tomorrow for an update on the Hockey Hall of Fame selections, Chris Chelios' press conference and news on Mike Babcock coaching the Canadian Olympic Team in 2010.