davetherave wrote: asq2 wrote: davetherave wrote:Finding late round gems has been key to the Detroit Red Wings' draft strategy for years.
I still wouldn't say it's a strategy. They've found quite a few, granted, but I still don't think it's as simple as "let's find some late round gems."
If that's all it took, why would anyone deal a draft pick? Why wouldn't every team make it their "strategy"?
When the Red Wings picked Datsyuk and Zetterberg, they didn't know they'd be 1/10th as good as they are now. They lucked out, and had some good players on the team to help develop them, like Yzerman.
With all due respect, cannot agree with your above points. Saying the Wings just 'lucked out' dismisses the facts. The Detroit Red Wings organization have a very precise strategy of scouting and developing players and integrating them in a well-developed team model. Their consistent success over the last decade is evidence.
In terms of Datsyuk and Zetterberg, their Head of Scouting Hakan Andersson has recounted how he knew that both of these players were special talents. The team model is designed to progressively develop that kind of talent.
As you say, nothing is simple. One can never really know how good an NHL prospect may or may not be, and thus the interface between scouting and development has become one of the most critical layers for teams.
Again, each of these elements of the strategy are a function of a balanced approach. Ken Holland would probably also say that they are constantly looking to improve, and the goaltending is one area that has been given recent attention with the drafting of Thomas McCollum (who Dash, our esteemed colleague from Brampton, would no doubt be familar with). It remains to be seen if Detroit looks at a trade or a UFA (as they did with Conklin) to address related issues.
Of course, no team is perfect.
Why don't other teams do what the Red Wings do? Only those other GMs can answer that.
To answer your question about dealing draft picks, they are, as you know, the assets that function as currency in transactions.
As for finding other 'Alfies'--late round gems--the Senators may have found one in Brian Elliott, have they not? And do they not need more of those?
Anyway, interesting topic and equally interesting discussion. Thanks.
"Lucked out" was a poor choice of diction on my part. Recall, though, that when Datsyuk was chosen, it was the second time he had entered into the draft.
Obviously, the Wings put a lot into European scouting and developing their prospects. I've vocalized my dismay that young, high potential players like Spezza and potentially now Karlsson may not have the perhaps necessary mentors to take them to the next level.
With that said, "this team could benefit from a few more Alfies" is an oversimplification as well, and pinning one's hopes on the idea that you will find great players at the lower end of the draft is incredibly risky IMO. For every Datsyuk and Zetterberg found down there, there are 5 to 10 to 20 players who never come close to the NHL.
For example, the player picked directly above Alfredsson was Bates Battaglia (actually a comparably good pick) and the players picked directly below him were Ryan Smart,Terry Marchant, Dan Juden and Yuri Litvinov, none of whom played in the NHL.
Yes, we could use more Alfies, as any team could, but do we need more Judens, more Smarts, more Litvinovs? Those players are more likely to be found, even by the Red Wings, who admittedly found a great player in Tomas Holmstrom but also picked in the lower rounds of that draft players such as: Toivo Suursoo (0 NHL games), Jeff Mikesch (0 NHL games), Jason Elliott (0 NHL games), Pavel Agarkov (0 NHL games), Doug Battaglia (0 NHL games), Frederic Deschenes (0 NHL games), and Sean Gillam (0 NHL games).
Minus Holmstrom, that's not such a great group of players to try to perpetuate future success upon.
That said, players at the top of the draft aren't a guarantee either. But I would argue that they're far more likely to help the team. Alfredsson's aren't always found at the top of the draft, but I trust I don't have to list the innumerable great players who have been.
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