Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman made no trades in Wednesday’s first round of the draft, but he did make two organizational demands.
The Red Wings chose the well-sized two-way center Nate Danielson from Brandon (WHL) with the ninth pick and took the experienced, right-shooting Swedish defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka from Skelleftea in 17th place.
“We have a lot of priorities,” Yzerman told the media at the Nashville draft. “We think we’ve been able to address two of those here tonight.”
Danielson (6-2, 186) is described as a good all-around center, right-handed shooter who prides himself on defensive play and has an offensive advantage. At age 17, he was named captain of the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings and had 33 goals and 78 points in 68 games last season.
“He’s a pretty good size, he’s a good skater, he’s got good skills,” Yzerman said. “There’s really a lot I like about him. Just a solid all-round perspective.”
Connor Bedard, the generational talent picked first by the Chicago Blackhawks, described Danielson as his toughest defenseman in the WHL.
“Ever since I was young I’ve always taken pride in playing the best players on the other team and trying to knock them out,” Danielson told media at the Bridgestone Arena. “It’s just the way I’ve played my whole life, just being responsible and knowing when to push through and when to hold off a little longer.”
Yzerman also appreciates Danielson’s character.
“Our western scouts know him well and he’s a really solid young man, very professional,” Yzerman said. “We all want good people around us. I think he’s a good young man.”
Danielson said he’s looking forward to learning from some of the team’s best young players.
“Mo Seider is pretty exciting; Him and Lucas Raymond, two of the younger guys that I’ve been following as a hockey fan for a while,” Danielson said. “There are a lot of people at the Red Wing that I would look forward to meeting.”
But his dream linemate would be former Red Wing Pavel Datsyuk.
“He just changed the game, just the way he played,” Danielson said. “He was so creative and skillful and off defense he was so good with his racquet that he could take the puck away from people. It would definitely be fun to play with him.”
Sandin Pellikka (5-11, 180) was ranked as one of the top attacking defenders in the draft. Last season he was split between the Skelleftea junior team (16 goals, 36 points in 36 games) and the men’s team (two goals, five points in 22 games).
“He walks well, he has good puck ability, he has a very good feel for hockey,” Yzerman said. “A little bit different than what we have in our system. We think it fits well.”
Sandin Pellikka said it was great to join an organization with a rich history of Swedish players, citing Nicklas Lidstrom in particular.
He said he’s at his best when he’s “having the puck as much as possible and just playing with confidence.”
Sandin Pellikka had quite an adventure coming into the draft. He arrived in New York from Sweden at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, but his connection to Nashville was canceled. Then he, his agent, family and friend Liam Dower Nilsson, Detroit’s fifth-round pick in 2021, drove 15 hours Wednesday to get to Nashville on time.
“In the last four hours while driving my arms started to get numb. I looked at my agent, he’s lying there asleep,” said Sandin Pellikka. “It was a new experience for me. I’ve only had my driver’s license for about a month.”
Despite numerous rumors linking scoring right wing Alex DeBrincat with Detroit, the Ottawa Senators didn’t deal him Wednesday.
Yzerman said he had some discussions with teams about getting promoted or relegated on each pick, but ultimately liked the players available.
The Red Wings currently have eight picks as of Thursday, day two of the draft, including three consecutive second-round picks at 41, 42 and 43.
More: Pros and cons of trading with Alex DeBrincat