Red wings General Manager Corey Stevens appeared tired but happy with the teams draft. He wanted to draft for skill and size and they did just that.
#17 Overall A.J. Thelen, D, Michigan State (NCAA)
Stevens on Thelen: When you look at our system we lack some thing like size and defense and A.J. is a very solid defender. who can develope offensively as well. He goes right behind O'Sullivan on our prospects list. He should be very sold in a few years. He is 6'3 and can move well. Just what we want in a defender. We wanted him since we started looking for a first rounder and again for the second year in a row we trade up and get our man. I'm thrilled.
# 37 Jordan Smith, D, Sault-Ste-Marie (OHL)
Stevens on Smith: I will admit we though about a goalie for a hot second but with Jimmy Howard on our prospects depth chart we saw no need for it at all. I think for several reasons he is an overlooked player mostly because if you glance at a boxscore you won't see Jordan Smith on the scoring summary page that often, but we loved to take him and we did. He does have an edge to him and we filled another need in a prospects depth chart by taking Smith. Addressing our defense was our first objective in the draft and we did it with our first two picks. This pick was in the Kozlov and Barnaby deal as well and we love the pick.
#56 Bruce Graham, C, Moncton (QMJHL)
Stevens on Graham: We were looking at 4 guys here even 5 as we were looking to go way off the board with another player but we can still get him so far so good. If he was consistent all year long he would not have been here at 56. He went up and down all year but we like his up side and with our centers and O'sullivan we have time to work on a project like he could be. He has size he is big and tall. 6'6 220. A monster who can be a grinder and can score a bit as well. A second center on our prospects depth chart. Yes he is and we are thrilled. Again our farm system has been bare since before I arrived and this will take a few seasons and we have a lot of picks coming up through trades. So we will address some issues.
Wrap up of rounds 1 and 2:
How did the Red Wings feel about the draft and what is to come?
"We don't have the big name player that everyone wants in this draft but we addressed needs so far. That is more important. You also have to know that a top 5 pick could never make it a guy who everyone says is can't miss can be a bust and someone who everyone says is going to be a bust or who says who is that guy can be a good player. It is just on the player and how they are developed in their current and future systems.
We still have guys on our must take if available board and A.J. and Jordan were on that board. We can still address more needs. I am very happy so far. It went smooth and I could not have asked for anything more. I am not second guessing saying Maybe we should have taken this or that guy so that is a good sign. We did our homework on the draft and so far we got what we wanted. "