Best Fits for Detroit Red Wings in the 2015 NHL Draft

The Detroit Red Wings have a history of success when it comes to the NHL draft, and things will be a little different this June. The Red Wings enter this draft with a new head coach in Jeff Blashill, and he's a person with a hockey mind who is adept when it comes to coaching young players.

He is looking to step in and keep business as usual, because replacing Mike Babcock is no easy task. Detroit has only a few picks in the upcoming draft, but they will still have an opportunity to add some quality players.

With than in mind, here's a look at some of the best fits for Detroit with the upcoming draft.

General Team Needs, Roster Breakdown

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Players Signed for Upcoming Season, via General Fanager

Forwards

• Centers: Pavel Datsyuk, Stephen Weiss, Darren Helm, Riley Sheahan, Luke Glendening
• Left Wingers: Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Tatar, Justin Abdelkader, Drew Miller
• Right Wingers: Johan Franzen

Defense

• Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Kyle Quincey, Jakub Kindl, Danny DeKeyser

Goaltending

• Jimmy Howard, Petr Mrazek

Biggest Needs to Address via Draft

Right Wingers: The Red Wings have Anthony Mantha and Martin Frk in the system on right wing, but the franchise really could use some more depth in that regard. Damien Cox of Sportsnet reported the Wings are open to trading Mantha, and that makes the situation even more interesting. Regardless of Mantha's status with the team going forward, it is clear Detroit needs some help on right wing in the prospect pool.

Defense: For a number of years, defense was a key strength for the Red Wings, but it is now a sore spot. Detroit lacks top defensive prospects, and that is an issue given the current state of the blue line. The Wings are known for their slow maturation process when it comes to developing players, so there is a chance they will pick a diamond-in-the-rough defender in a later round.

Round 1, No. 19 Overall: Evgeny Svechnikov

Evgeny Svechnikov is a talented Russian winger who could really help the Red Wings in a few years as they transition to a world without Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on the roster. The 6'2", 199-pound winger was the No. 17 overall North American skater, and he played for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

He finished with 32 goals and 78 points in 55 games, and according to NHL.com, he was described by Troy Dumville of NHL Central Scouting in the following manner:

"He proved to be a very skilled skater, strong on the puck and a player capable of doing a lot of things well. He plays a physical game, doesn't back away, is aggressive on the forecheck and finishes checks.”

The Red Wings are a team that likes players who can generate offense from defense, and Svechnikov certainly has shown he can do that at the CHL level.

Round 2: Red Wings Trade to Dallas for Erik Cole and 2015 Round 3 Pick

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The Red Wings' second pick of the 2015 draft went to the Dallas Stars along with Mattias Backman and Mattias Janmark in exchange for Erik Cole and a third-round pick for 2015.

Cole spent 11 regular-season games with the Red Wings, and he scored three goals and added three assists for six points. A spinal contusion injury limited the Oswego, New York, native to only three playoff games, and it was a case of bad luck for Detroit.

In theory the deal should have benefited the Wings, because Cole had proven he was a veteran scorer who could be counted on for depth.

Round 3, No. 73 Overall: Nikolai Chebykin

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Wings' GM Ken Holland (right)

The Red Wings' original pick was dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets in order to move up in the third round of the 2014 draft, so they will settle for using the pick acquired from the Dallas Stars.

Historically the Red Wings have had an affinity for Russian players, and with that in mind, it is hard to see the franchise passing on someone as promising as Nikolai Chebykin.

The No. 50 overall prospect is a 6'4", 183-pound winger who spent the season in the MHL. He only had two goals and six points in 32 games, but his size makes him worth drafting late in the third round.

Late-Round Targets

The Red Wings' latest picks are in Round 6 and 7, and here is a look at two players they could potentially consider.

Sergei Zborovsky: The Russian defender is 6'4" and 190 pounds, and he spent the season with the Regina Pats. After his selection in the CHL import draft, and according to the Regina Pats' official site, Pats general manager Chad Lang described him as a puck-moving defender who is a solid skater that can play in all situations. He finished the season with 19 points in 71 games, and could probably spend another year or two in the WHL and a year in the AHL before making his NHL debut.

Steven Ruggiero: The Red Wings could look to take this budding defender in the seventh round, as he is a player with size and potential. The 6'3", 201-pound Ruggiero spent this season with the U.S. National U18 team and tallied 15 points in 66 games. 

List of draft picks via Draftsite.com, and stats and rankings via NHL.com and Elite Prospects unless otherwise noted.