Welcome to our annual 31-in-31 Summer Series here at DobberProspects! Every day in July we will be bringing you a complete breakdown of a team’s draft, notes from their development camp, and insights into their off-season moves so far. Following this up, the August 31-in-31 Series will dive into every team’s prospect depth charts with fantasy insights and implications for the upcoming seasons. Check in often, because we plan on filling your hockey withdrawal needs all summer long!

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Draft Review

The Red Wings were loaded with 11 draft picks in 2019, highlighted by the sixth overall pick and three selections in the second round. Steve Yzerman focused on big mobile defense, evidenced by his first two picks in Mortiz Seider and Antii Tuomisto, the first two of five defensemen in total. Seider was somewhat of a surprise going at sixth overall as he was ranked between 12-20 on most lists. Yzerman did try to trade back but could not find a fit to make a deal.

Round 1 – 6th Overall – Moritz Seider, D

Photo:nhl.com

Seider is a very mobile right-handed defenseman with good hockey sense and size who can play in all situations. He was rookie of the year playing against men for Adler Mannheim, in Germany’s top league Deutsch Eishockey Liga. As a 17-year-old double under ager at the 2019 U20 World Championship, Seider lead the German team to a gold medal as captain, with a goal and seven points in only six games. He was named Best Defenseman of the tournament. Seider needs to work on his puck skills, but projects as a top pairing, two-way, minute munching defenseman who won’t take long to make it to the NHL.

Round 2 – 35th Overall – Antii Tuomisto, D

Photo: nhl.com

Another right-handed big defenseman (6-4, 195) who possesses a heavy and accurate shot, Tuomisto was third amongst defensemen in scoring (nine goals, 26 assists in 45 games) playing for Assat in the Finnish junior league. Tuomisto likes to play physical, has good hockey sense, and makes good passes out of his own end. He needs to work on his defensive game and getting faster and stronger. Tuomisto, who will return to Finland this year, plans on continuing his development playing college hockey after that, so he’s looking like a long-term project.

Round 2 – 54th overall – Robert Mastrosimone, LW

Photo: nhl.com

In the second round, the Red Wings selected a small but skilled LW. Mastrosimone is a stickhandling sniper with an attitude. Known for his creativity and hands, Mastrosimone has a high-octane motor and enjoys playing a physical and competitive game. As one of the top wingers in the USHL, Mastrosimone scored 31 goals and put up 29 assists in 54 games for the Chicago Steel. He can make plays or use his hard shot from anywhere. Mastrosimone will need to work on his skating to transition to the next level.

Round 2 – 60th overall – Albert Johansson, D

Photo: nhl.com

With their fourth pick the Red Wings selected their third defenseman of the draft, choosing Albert Johansson, a smaller but fast smooth skating puck-mover who likes to shoot. He has good hockey sense and puck handling skills with the agility to match. Johansson put up five goals and 24 points in 40 games for Farjestad of the Swedish SuperElit league last year. Johansson will have to work on his overall strength before coming over to North America.

Round 3 – 66th Overall – Albin Grewe, RW

Photo: nhl.com

Albin Grewe is an agitator with skill who models himself after Brad Marchand. He’s a good skater with a motor that doesn’t stop. Grewe is a fierce competitor who loves to throw hits and inspire his teammates. He was fourth on his team (Djurgarden SuperElit) last year in the Swedish junior league, with 34 points in 25 games and first in penalty minutes with 102. Grewe will need to work on his top end speed and discipline to succeed at the NHL level.

Round 4 – 97th Overall – Ethan Phillips, C

Photo: nhl.com

Phillips is a small but quick and energetic center who scored 16 goals and 43 points with Sioux Falls of the USHL last season. Way too early projections see him as a potential shutdown forward down the road.

Round 5 – 128th Overall – Cooper Moore, D

Photo: nhl.com

Continuing the theme for the Red Wings in the 2019 draft, they selected Cooper Moore who is seen as a great skating defenseman with offensive upside. Moore will play college hockey in the fall for North Dakota where he will work on his all-around game.

Round 6 – 159th Overall – Elmer Soderblom, RW

Photo: nhl.com

A 6-6 forward with hockey sense and puck skills in round six? Yes please! Like most bigger prospects, Soderblom will need to improve his skating.

Round 6 – 177th Overall – Gustav Berglund, D

The Red Wings went with another offensive defenseman with good size (6-2, 194) in the sixth round. Berglund is one to keep an eye on over the next few years as he continues to develop.

Round 7 – 190th Overall – Kirill Tyutyayev, LW

A “swing for the fences” selection in the seventh round, Tyutyayev is a small and skilled winger who was a point a game player in Russia’s top junior league.

Round 7 – 191st Overall – Carter Gylander, G

As they often do, the Red Wings selected a netminder with their last pick.  Carter Gylander appeared in 22 games for the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the Alberta Junior Hockey League last year, posting 16 wins and four losses with a 2.43 GAA and 0.915 save percentage. The 6-5 goalie will play college hockey for Colgate University next season. 

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Development Camp Notes

Photo: nhl.com

Stand outs at camp included Moritz Seider who showed off his skating as well as his offensive instincts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDBXnN-CSIU

Taro Hirose, who made a case for himself at the end of last season, continued where he left off, scoring and setting up goals in the scrimmages. 

Jonatan Berggren looked good after sitting out most of the year with a back injury. Berggren seemed to get better each day, making creative plays and buzzing around the offensive zone with the puck. He will need to keep adding strength to be able to fend off NHL defenders.

Red Wings 2019 second round pick Robert Mastrosimone suffered a broken ankle during camp.

Full camp roster here:

https://nhl.bamcontent.com/images/assets/binary/308031780/binary-file/file.pdf

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Offseason Moves

The signing of Calvin Pickard gives the Wings some depth in goal and provides Filip Larsson a mentor in the AHL.

Defenseman Patrik Nemeth provides a replacement in case Niklas Kronwall does not return and will likely pair with either Mike Green or Filip Hronek. This will also make it a bit more difficult for Dennis Cholowski to make it out of camp for the second year in a row, but he still stands a good chance against the likes of Jonathan Ericsson and Trevor Daley.  Newly signed Oliwer Kaski is also a dark horse in the mix. 

With Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Vanek and Martin Frk all not returning there should be openings up front for two or three of Filip Zadina, Evgeny Svechnikov or Taro Hirose. The signing of Valterri Filppula meanwhile, means that Joe Veleno will face an uphill battle in starting the season in Detroit. Starting in Grand Rapids instead, would not be the end of the world for the Wings future number two.

It’s possible that both Joe Hicketts and Dominic Turgeon may stick with the club this year as they require waivers to be sent down.

July 1 – Signed C Valtteri Filppula, D Patrik Nemeth and G Calvin Pickard to two-year contracts

May 28 – Signed D Oliwer Kaski to a one-year, entry-level contract

May 9 – Signed D Dylan McIlrath to a two-year contract extension

May 1 – Signed Joe Veleno to a three-year contract

April 19 – Named Steve Yzerman executive VP and GM

April 15 – Signed G Filip Larsson to a three-year, entry level contract.