MONTREAL — The Detroit Red Wings drafted nine players during the 2022 NHL draft Thursday-Friday, including three in the top 52.
They also acquired goalie Ville Husso for a third-round pick before the start of Day 2.
Let’s take a look at the haul gathered by general manager Steve Yzerman in his fourth draft with the Wings:
F Marco Kasper
Drafted: No. 8.
Size: 6 feet 1, 187 pounds.
Scouting report: Ultra competitive center who can also play either wing, has good speed and good hands. Likes to engage in physical battles and is comfortable making plays and shooting the puck. Excellent around the net. Yzerman emphasized Kasper is more about efficiency than flash. One of those players who does everything well.
More: Wings’ first-rounder Marco Kasper: A really competitive player
More: Steve Yzerman: This is why I drafted Marco Kasper at No. 8
F Dylan James
Drafted: No. 40.
Size: 6-0, 177.
Scouting report: Physical left winger who uses body positioning well and likes to drive to the net. Led all draft-eligible forwards in the USHL with 61 points in 62 games. Plays a 200-foot game and can be trusted in all situations. Committed to North Dakota.
F Dmitri Bulchenikov
Drafted: No. 52.
Size: 5-10, 163.
Scouting report: The war in Ukraine cast uncertainty on drafting Russians, so it speaks how highly Bulchenikov was rated by Wings’ Russia-based scout Nikolai Vakourov. Bulchenikov had 75 points in 56 games with SKA-1946 St. Petersburg in Russia’s top junior league (MHL). Plays a skilled, smart game.
[ Steve Yzerman had busy couple days at NHL draft, wanted to accomplish more ]
D Anton Johansson
Drafted: No. 105.
Size: 6-4, 172.
Scouting report: Highly regarded both by Kris Draper, director of amateur scouting, and Hakan Andersson, chief European scout. The right-shot blueliner spent much of the 2021-22 season with Leksand’s U20 squad, recording 10 points (six goals) and 12 penalty minutes in 22 games. At the U18 level, Johansson logged three goals and five points, a plus-seven rating and four penalty minutes in six games. Good size, good shot and moves the puck well.
F Amadeus Lombardi
Drafted: No. 113.
Size: 5-10, 165.
Scouting report: Posted 18 goals and 41 assists in 67 games with the Flint Firebirds (Ontario Hockey League). He’s a playmaking center with good hockey sense and a dash of creativity who can drive the play. Fast skater and hard worker.
F Maximilian Kilpinen
Drafted: No. 129.
Size: 6-0, 165.
Scouting report: Left winger who recorded 25 points in 27 games with Örebro’s under-20 team in Sweden’s top junior league, plus nine points in six playoff games. He’s another of Andersson’s finds. The Wings like Kilipinen’s skating and hockey sense.
D Tnias Mathurin
Drafted: No. 137.
Size: 6-2, 200.
Scouting report: Recorded 15 points (three goals) and a plus-17 rating in 44 games last season with North Bay (OHL), plus four points in 13 playoff games. Didn’t play in 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Wings like his size and ability to move the puck.
F Owen Mehlenbacher
Drafted: No. 201.
Size: 6-2, 189.
Scouting report: Has spent the past two seasons with Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL), posting 42 points and 56 penalty minutes in 2021-22. Committed to Wisconsin, which will put him under the development of former Wings assistant coach Tony Granato.
F Brennan Ali
Drafted: No. 212.
Size: 6-0, 193.
Scouting report: Had 34 points in 27 games with Avon Old Farms High School (USHS Prep), and one assist in two games with the USNTDP U18s. Committed to Notre Dame. Fashions himself as a power forward who likes to play a well-rounded game. Driven to get to the NHL.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames. Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter. Her book, The Big 50: The Detroit Red Wings is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.