NHL Draft 2011: 7 Players the Detroit Red Wings Could Pick in Round 1

With the 2011 NHL entry draft just days away, I believe it is time to take a look at seven players that the Detroit Red Wings might pick 24th overall. 

The Wings will likely use the pick to draft a defenseman, seeing as how Rafalski retired this offseason and Lidstrom is likely to retire after the 2011-12 season.

You also have to factor in that the Wings also have better forward prospects then defensemen prospects. The Wings seem pretty well off at forward with prospects such as Tomas Tatar, Teemu Pulkkinen, Calle Jarnkrok, Riley Sheahan and Gustav Nyquist.

The only real good defensemen that are young/prospects in the Wings system are Brendan Smith and Jakub Kindl.

1. Oscar Klefbom (D)

Vitals: 6'2", 201 LBS

2010-11 Team: Farjestads BK Karistad (SEL)

2010-11 Stats: 23 games played, one goal, one assists, two points

Klefbom is a good skater with nice mobility and a great stride. He competes hard and possesses a great defensive game. His offensive upside is limited, though, and he needs to show improvement in his next season.

He would get plenty of time to develop with the Detroit Red Wings, who are known for giving their prospects all the time they need to round their game together. Top prospect Brendan Smith projects to be more of an offensive defenseman, so a defensive guy like Klefbom would be a perfect pick for the Wings.

2. David Musil (D)

Vitals: 6'3", 191 LBS

2010-11 Team: Vancouver Giants (WHL)

2010-11 Stats: 62 games played, six goals, 19 assists, 25 points

A defensively responsible defender, Musil is not a flashy player but is a safe bet to have a nice and long career, just like his father Frank Musil. He is not overly physical for a player of his stature, but he plays a safe game and makes a great first pass out of his own zone.

Like Klefbom, Musil is geared more to the defensive side of the game but possesses more offensive potential then Klefbom does. Musil would also take a while to develop and would need at least three more seasons of WHL/AHL hockey until he is NHL ready.

3. Tyler Biggs (RW)

Vitals: 6'3", 200 LBS

2010-11 Team: US NDTP (USHL)

2010-11 Stats: 20 games played, seven goals, four assists, 11 points

Committed to play college hockey at Miami University (Ohio) next year, Biggs is a power forward, as he uses his size to his advantage and possesses great speed to go along with his great hands and physicality.

Biggs is probably the most physical player expected to go in the first two rounds and would be a nice fit on the Wings roster, as they could use a winger who isn't afraid to get involved in the rough stuff.

Biggs is a player who could take as long as five years to develop, so he would be perfect for the Wings and their patient front office.

4. Jonas Brodin (D)

Vitals: 6'0", 172 LBS

2010-11 Team: Farjestads BK Karistad (SEL)

2010-11 Stats: 42 games played, zero goals, four assists, four points

An outstanding skater with great mobility, Brodin possesses a great outlet pass and some offensive potential despite his low point output in the highly competitive Swedish Elite League.

Brodin should be given more freedom with Farjestads next year, and he will be able to show the hockey community exactly what he is capable of.

Brodin would be a great pick for Detroit. He could play one more year in the Swedish Elite League and then they could bring him over to play in the AHL for two more years to fine tune his offensive game.

5. Jamie Oleksiak (D)

Vitals: 6'7", 240 LBS

2010-11 Team: Northeastern University (NCAA)

2010-11 Stats: 38 games played, four goals, nine assists, 13 points

A very huge defenseman that uses his size to his advantage, Oleksiak is projected to be more of a defensive defenseman when he makes the jump to the NHL.

Like a lot of guys his size, Oleksiak needs to improve on his foot speed and side-to-side mobility.

Oleksiak would be an intriguing pick for the Wings as their blue line doesn't usually consist of the biggest players except for Jonathan Ericsson and Jiri Fischer over the last decade.

6. Joe Morrow (D)

Vitals: 6'1", 198 LBS

2010-11 Team: Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)

2010-11 Stats: 60 games played, nine goals, 40 assists, 49 points

Joe Morrow had a break through playoffs for the Winter Hawks this year, averaging a point per game from the blue line and leading Portland to the finals, where they would eventually lose to the Kootenay Ice.

Morrow is a superb skater, and his shot from the point is one of the best in the WHL. He also makes a good outlet pass. Morrow still needs work on the defensive aspects of the game. 

Out of anyone on this list, Morrow is the guy I want the Wings to draft the most, but I am afraid he may be gone by the time the Wings picks. Morrow is going to be a great NHL defensemen. 

7. Connor Murphy (D)

Vitals: 6'3", 185 LBS

2010-11 Team: US NTDP (USHL)

2010-11 Stats: Nine games played, three goals, one assist, four points

Committed to play college hockey at Miami University in Ohio, Murphy had a tough season this past year but improved his draft stock with a very good performance at the Under-18 Championships, where he scored the gold medal-winning goal. 

Murphy is a very mobile defensemen who skates well, plays a two-way game and has a mean streak to boot. The Wings will have to be weary of his injury history, as he has battled stress fractures in his L5 vertebrae in the past.

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