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Wings select Evgeni Svechnikov with first-round pick in NHL Entry Draft
The Red Wings continued to shape the nucleus of their future tonight, selecting highly skilled, Russian-born left wing Evgeni Svechnikov in the first round of the annual NHL Entry Draft in Sunrise, Florida.
Svechnikov, 6-feet-2 and 195 pounds, played with Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, scoring 32 goals among 78 points in 55 games with the Screaming Eagles.
Some scouts believe he's an NHL-ready winger, but that's not the Red Wings way. Detroit General Manager Ken Holland is a big believer in developing all of his prospects, figuring it's better for a youngster to be over-ripe than underdeveloped when he gets to the NHL.
"We'll bring him to training camp and give him an opportunity," Holland said. "With guys like Dylan Larkin, we're hopefully putting together a group of forwards over a couple of years here that will form a nucleus that we'll have for a number of years."
Scouts project Svechnikov, 18, as a first-line scoring winger, comparing him favorably to NHL winger James van Riemsdyk.
He is, by most accounts, the prototypical Russian winger who can both score and make plays. He needs to work on his skating, but scouts rave at his explosive first step typical of elite Russian players.
"Exceptional physical tools. Big horse is like a freight train gathering speed as he barrels down the wing," says the Red Line Report's annual draft guide. "Has a long, deceptive stride and is agile and well-balanced laterally. Breaks through small openings and gets to scoring territory.
"Skilled winger with soft, quick hands. Can dangle at speed and finishes around the net with a sharp, accurate wrist shot. Plays well in traffic and along the boards. Has made a quick transition to North American game and is not afraid to play mean -- chippy in scrums and uses his stick to make room for himself."
One detractor, Red Line scouts say: "Effort away from the puck needs to be much more consistent."
It's a good bet he can work on that with another year in junior hockey before he makes the jump as a professional in Grand Rapids.
Holland used the team's 19th overall pick to select Svechnikov. He had hoped to trade down in order to pick up a second-round pick that he gave up in the trade-deadline deal for Erik Cole in March. He's also kicking the tires, though less optimistic, in an effort to add a defenseman who can put points on the board.
"We did a lot of talking, but there's nothing on the horizon," he said. "I'm sure we'll be talking again tonight and early tomorrow morning. But if we don't do anything, I'm comfortable going with our younger players."
NOTEBOOK:
Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk underwent surgery today to repair ruptured tendons in his ankle, an injury sustained when he blocked a shot late in the season, the team said. Recovery is 4-6 weeks, and he should be ready to compete when training camp opens in September.
Checking forward Joakim Andersson has agreed to a one-year contract, General Manager Ken Holland confirmed. It's worth $815,000, according to multiple reports. Andersson, 26, scored three goals among eight points with 22 penalty minutes in 68 games, playing primarily with Luke Glendening and Drew Miller.
Andersson is the first of three restricted free agents forwards to agree to terms. Now Holland turns his attention to wingers Gus Nyquist and Tomas Jurco.
