INSIDE HOCKEY

If the NHL trade deadline is Christmas Day for hockey fanatics, then July 1st is Christmas Eve. The NHL entry draft, however, is not so exhilarating. In fact it's more like watching wallpaper dry, at least for Red Wings fans. It is rare for a player to be drafted by the Detroit Red Wings and have a significant affect (or even play) the next season. Because Ken Holland & Co. have done such a fabulous job drafting players over the previous 15 seasons, the Red Wings are very deep and give their draftees a few years to develop before bringing them to the NHL. It is not that no one cares about the players that the Red Wings draft, but rather that the excitement for this year's class will gradually increase four to five years from now when they get a chance to play.

Before looking at whom the Red Wings will pursue come July 1st, let's look at this year's draft class and meet the players who will don the winged wheel in the years to follow. With the exception of Thomas McCullom, none of these players should make an appearance in the NHL for at least four of five years.

1st Round, No. 30
Thomas McCollum (G) Guelph Storm (OHL)

McCollum, 18, is a big kid (6' 2", 205 pounds), which is a big reason Ken Holland chose him. He has good lateral movement and Holland told NHL.com that believes he does a good job with his rebound control. McCollum had a 2.50 goals-against-average and four shutouts for Guelph this season. In his rookie campaign the year before, he had a 2.39GAA and five shutouts. He was the OHL Goaltender of the Month for December, and was the only three-time winner of the CHL Goaltender of the Week Award for the 2007-08 season.

3rd Round, No. 91
Max NiCastro (D) Chicago (USHL)

NiCastro is a hard shooting 18-year-old defenseman from Thousand Oaks, California. He scored six goals, had 14 assists and 78 penalty minutes in 58 games for the Chicago Steel of the U.S. Hockey League. NiCastro claims to model his game after Red Wings’ captain Niklas Lidstrom, and wears number 20, which is his mothers’ favorite number.

4th Round, No. 121
Gustav Nyquist, (C) Malmo Jr. (Sweden)

Nyquist is the first Swede picked by Detroit in 2008, and though not rated as one of the top 60 players in Europe, the Red Wings have high hopes for him. Hakan Anderson, Red Wings Director of European Scouting told the Detroit Free Press: "There are other skilled 5-11 guys, but he's more intense. Works harder, chases the puck, back-checks very good. Not very physical, but skates and works and wants the puck back all the time. The last two seasons, he's averaged over a point a game." In 2007-08, Nyquist fought a shoulder injury, 31 points in 24 games last year in Sweden. He will spend next season at The University of Maine.

5th Round, No. 151
Julien Cayer (C) Northwood High School (USHS)

This 6' 4", 186 pound center hails from Longueuil, Quebec and is heading to Clarkson University next year. In 2007-08 Cayer amassed 24 goals, 32 assists and 56 penalty minutes in 42 games for Northwood High.

6th Round, No. 181
Stephen Johnston, (LW) Belleview Bulls (OHL)

In Johnston's first OHL season, he had nine points in 56 games during the regular season. In the 21 playoff games, he had seven points.

7th Round, No. 211
Jesper Samuelsson, (C) Timra (Sweden)

The second Swedish selection by Detroit was the last pick of the 2008 NHL entry draft. Samuelsson is a scoring center-man who recently signed with Timra of the Swedish Elite League and hopes to make the roster. "He's (Samuelsson) got some skill. He's played in the lower leagues (in Sweden). He's going to try and move up to the higher leagues. Hope to get lucky down the road," assistant General Manager Jim Nill told the Detroit Free Press.

When July 1 rolls around next week, don't expect the Red Wings to pursue any free agent defensemen. Ken Holland is waiting to hear back from Brad Stuart’s camp as to whether he will re-sign with Detroit. He is set to meet with Chris Chelios to discuss his future with the team next season. Chelios has said he wants to return, even if it means in a reduced role. The Detroit News reported that the Red Wings anticipate to re-sign potential unrestricted free agent Andreas Lilja by the end of this week.

Also, the Wings want Derek Meech, Kyle Quincey, and Jonathan Ericsson to see ice time next season, but with potentially ten defensemen returning, Holland has some tough decisions to make. Though it would be great to see UFA Brian Campbell in a Red Wings jersey, don't count on it.

Just fresh off their 11th Stanley Cup, the Red Wings should feel confident with next year’s team. They really have no reason to shake things up. According to the Detroit Free Press, Holland plans on resigning UFA Darren McCarty, and is waiting to hear if veteran forward Dallas Drake is retiring. If the salary cap ceiling rises to $56 million like many are presuming it will, the Red Wings will have room to make some sizable additions.

In 2009, Superstar Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen contracts expire and Jiri Hudler will be a restricted free agent. As a result, don't expect Holland to sign any UFA to a long-term deal this off season. Detroit is rumored to be seriously interested in UFA Mats Sundin, but according to Sportsnet.ca, Sundin’s top choices are Montreal and the New York Rangers. With Dominic Hasek retiring, there has been talk that the Wings would pursue a veteran goalie to back up Chris Osgood, but they also want recently drafted goalie Jimmy Howard to see some playing time. If Holland does pursue a veteran goaltender, he will be looking for a deal.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the Red Wings sign a big name veteran like Sergei Fedorov or Brian Rolston to a one year, $3-4 million dollar deal, but they will remain patient. They won't sign a player just because they can. With their 11th Stanley Cup Champion banner waiting to be raised, and with virtually the same team that won the Stanley Cup coming back next year, the Red Wings are poised for another Championship season, regardless of who they pursue (or do not) on July 1st.

Stat Sources:

Redwings.nhl.com
Freep.com
Detnews.com
www.sportsnet.ca
www.nhlentrydraft2008.com