Scouting reports on the Wings' seven draft picks
Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News gives a scouting report on the seven players the Red Wings drafted Friday and Saturday.
DENNIS CHOLOWSKI
Round: 1 (No. 20 overall)
Position: Defenseman
Age: 18
Height / weight: 6-1 / 175
Last season: Chilliwack (British Columbia Junior League), 50 games, 12 goals, 28 assists
Scouting report: Exceptional skater, sound on both ends of the rink, many scouting services project Cholowski to be a second-pair defenseman for many years in the NHL. Doesn’t get himself into trouble on the ice. Needs to get physically stronger and continue to improve defensively.
GIVANI SMITH
Round: 2 (No. 46 overall)
Position: Left wing
Age: 18
Height / weight: 6-1 / 205
Last season: Guelph (Ontario League), 65 games, 23 goals, 19 assists
Scouting report: Smith plays with an edge, as he had 146 penalty minutes while playing for a weak Guelph team. Will definitely protect his teammates. Likes to go to the net and is difficult to move out of there.
FILIP HRONEK
Round: 2 (No. 53 overall)
Position: Defenseman
Age: 18
Height / weight: 6-0 / 163
Last season: Hradec (Czech Republic), 40 games, 0 goals, 4 assists
Scouting report: On the small side physically, but a tremendous puck mover and skater who played against 20-year-olds in the Czech Republic. Red Wings love his character, say it’s “captain-like.” Despite his lack of size, isn’t afraid to play physically.
ALFONS MALMSTROM
Round: 4 (No. 107 overall)
Position: Defenseman
Age: 18
Height / weight: 6-2 / 190
Last season: Orebro HK (Sweden) 41 games, 2 goals, 6 assists
Scouting report: Good size (and still growing) and mobility while playing in the Swedish junior ranks. Plays with a mean streak, blocks shots, and competes hard. Organization loves his competitiveness.
JORDAN SAMBROOK
Round: 5 (No. 137 overall)
Position: Defenseman
Age: 18
Height / weight: 6-2 / 187
Last season: Erie (Ontario League), 67 games, 9 goals, 18 assists
Scouting report: Smooth-skating defenseman with good offensive instincts – but is also responsible defensively and can play in all situations. Doesn’t make many mistakes and can play big minutes.
Wings pick Smith loves to ‘get in guys’ faces’
FILIP LARSSON
Round: 6 (No. 167 overall)
Position: Goaltender
Age: 17
Height / weight: 6-2 / 185
Last season: Djurgarden (Sweden), 19 games, 3.86 GAA, .872 save percentage
Scouting report: Didn’t have a great season in juniors last season but remained one of the higher-ranked European goalies available. Worth taking a gamble at this spot in the draft.
MATTIAS ELFSTROM
Round: 7 (No. 197 overall)
Position: Left wing
Age: 19
Height / weight: 6-3 / 194
Last season: Malmo Juniors (Sweden), 43 games, 11 goals, 20 assists
Scouting report: A project, but there’s definitely some raw ability there, and he has size and speed. Red Wings had him among the top 10 players coming out of Europe but he dropped to this point of draft.