Potential draft targets for the Red Wings and Oilers
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News: The Detroit Red Wings would like to draft a potential all-star defenseman and one could fall to them at No. 6 – Bowen Byram.
If not, a top center would be their next choice and the top of the first round will have some options – Dylan Cozens, Kirby Dach, Alex Turcotte and Trevor Zegras.
Jim Matheson: The Edmonton Oilers are one team that is taking a significant look at Swedish defenseman Philip Broberg at No. 8. Broberg sounds a bit like a young Oscar Klefbom.
Trade candidates … Marleau in Arizona fits … Red Wings – Point offer sheet? Rangers options on the blue line
Dan Rosen of NHL.com: (mailbag) There were 30 trades last year between June 8th and 30th, with 16 involving draft picks.
Players that could be on the move by the draft include P.K. Subban, Alex Killorn, Ondrej Palat, J.T. Miller, Phil Kessel, Jacob Trouba, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Nikita Zaitsev, Jason Zucker, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Kyle Turris.
Patrick Marleau may be a nice fit in Arizona. They are closer to the playoffs than the LA Kings, he could help with some of their young forwards, and the Coyotes tempo suits Marleau. The Coyotes might also be able to take on Zaitsev. The Maple Leafs may not want to take back much salary and they would like to get a young forward like Christian Dvorak, Lawson Crouse or Christian Fischer.
Don’t think Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman will be aggressive in free agency. Talk around the league that it may not be a surprise if they tried to offer sheet someone like Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point. A slow rebuild is likely.
Believe the New York Rangers could/should target Winnipeg Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba. They could use a top pairing right-handed defenseman. They could offer back the Jets first round pick from the Kevin Hayes trade.
The Rangers could look to trade restricted free agent defenseman Neal Pionk. Right-handed RFA Tony DeAngelo could be a second-third pair, with Adam Fox another righty in the top-six.
Trading Kevin Shattenkirk would be ideal, a buyout is another option.
