Dylan Sadowy – McKeen's Hockey

Detroit – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 09:14:04 +0000

For years, the Detroit Red Wings deservedly held the reputation of being among the most astute drafters in the game. The rosters of those teams that famously went to 25 consecutive playoffs were littered with not only players that were developed in-house, but many of whom were mid and late round draft picks. Notable players drafted by the Red Wings after the second round include Vladimir Konstantinov (11th round, 1989), Sergei Fedorov (4th round, 1989), Niklas Lidstrom (3rd round, 1989), Slava Kozlov (3rd round, 1990), Mike Knuble (4th round, 1991), Tomas Holmstrom (10th round, 1994), Pavel Datsyuk (6th round, 1998), Henrik Zetterberg (7th round, 1999), Jonathan Ericsson (9th round, 2002), Valtteri Filppula (3rd round, 2002), Johan Franzen (3rd round, 2004), and Gustav Nyquist (4th round, 2008).

In addition to the remarkable run of middle and late round success experienced by the organization, notable about the above players is that, for all but Knuble, they were drafted out of Europe, particularly Sweden and Russia. The folks responsible for those selections deserve as much applause as we can give. But for all of their success drafting Europeans late, the Wings, like all other franchises, drafted many players in the later rounds who never panned out, including players from Europe as well as North America. Witness the 2011 draft class, whose top impact player (Dmitri Bykov) spent one season in the NHL before returning to Russia. Or 1996. The Red Wings got 49 games out of first rounder Jesse Wallin, and a grand total of zero out of the remaining eight players drafted.

Looking at their past few draft classes, the ones whose products are largely featured in this space, we can see that the Wings have continued to invest heavily in Europeans in the 3-7 rounds. Between 2011-2016, the Red Wings made 31 total selections in those rounds. 16 of the players taken were Europeans. I am no Don Cherry, bemoaning the growing wave of Europeans taking up spots from good old Canadian boys, but in Detroit’s case, there seems to have been the feeling that what worked in the past will continue to work in perpetuity. That had a magic touch with Europeans.

What they missed was that an undervalued edge that they once had was no longer undervalued across the NHL. High-end European players were no longer there for the taking. Russians were no longer so unwilling to come over to North America. The Europeans available after the second round were generally no better than the North Americans available at that point and could not promise any special value. And so we see that, despite such a heavy lean into Europeans in recent drafts, only three of the top 20 were actually drafted out of European leagues. With nine selections between the third and seventh rounds this year, the Red Wings may have learned that lesson. The sample is very small, but with only one of the nine drafted from a European league, the Red Wings seem to be ready to draft for talent, wherever it may be found.

Another downside to their recent approach, whether due to geographical lean, or simply how things have shaken out, is that the Detroit system, while deep in prospects that have NHL upside, is virtually bereft of true high-end, dynamic players. Of course, they have also very rarely had high picks, what with their long-time playoff streak finally coming to an end this past season, but they rarely were able to grab players who have developed into more than they had seemed on draft day. At present, none of the following twenty players, the top twenty in the pipeline, project as more than second line/second defensive pairing players.

1 Michael Rasmussen – A big player with skill, Rasmussen has uncommon touch for a man of his size (6-6”, 215). He is especially effective in the cycle when he is able to get a shot off from the half-wall on in. The Red Wings used a top ten pick on him despite the questions about the wrist injury that shortened his season and the fact that an outsized portion of his draft year production came on the power play. Needs to prove he can be a force at 5-on-5.

2 Evgeni Svechnikov – To Svechnikov’s credit, his 51 point rookie pro season (fourth among AHL rookies) ensured that no one would forget the talents that are inherent in the player drafted 19th overall in 2015. He plays a heavy game, has a very strong shot and plus puck protection skills. Despite the skill set, watching him this year, there was a sense that he would take shifts and games off and his intensity would waiver noticeably. His next hurdle will be consistency.

3 Tyler Bertuzzi – Essentially, the inverse of Svechnikov. Bertuzzi plays a very intense brand of hockey, which he supplements with enough skill to profile as a highly productive pest. In spite of injuries limiting his time on ice in his second season with Grand Rapids, Bertuzzi’s point production increased and he was lights out in a Calder Cup run. Can play in all situations and should be ready for his first full NHL season.

Dennis Cholowski

4 Dennis Cholowski – After a single season with St. Cloud State, the Wings signed Cholowski away from college. He will need at least two seasons before he is ready for the NHL, but the former first rounder is mobile and very steady in the back. He already demonstrates plus ability to read game situations and should be the type of player who is far more valuable in real life than in fantasy hockey.

5 Givani Smith – Although his scoring has yet to take off, stuck as he has been on a moribund Guelph team in the OHL, Smith, the Wings’ 2016 second rounder, has a power forwards’ build and playing style. A strong skater for his size, he has untapped puck skills and has been reliable in all situations for the Storm. Penalty minutes are a problem, as his exuberance often spills over into belligerence, but the tools are there for added offensive output given better teammates. This could be a big year for Smith.

6 Filip Hronek – Drafted only a few picks after Smith in 2016, Hronek had a stellar first season in North America, playing with Saginaw of the OHL, scoring over one point per game. Generally on the right side of the puck, Hronek’s effectiveness is easy to underappreciate, as he shows many of the little things that should allow him to move quickly through the system. He has plus mobility and very good puck moving skills.

7 Axel Holmstrom – Not related to longtime Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom, Axel’s game will remind many Wing’s fan of their former hero. While injuries made this past season (his third in the SHL) a write-off, he came to North America before the year ended and should spend most of next season in Grand Rapids. Not a great skater and not a threat from a distance, he is effective because he is next to impossible to dislodge from the crease. Great reads and soft hands.

8 Keith Petruzzelli – Although none of the skaters in the system project as first line/first pair players, Petruzzelli has the potential to one day be a starting netminder. That day is far into the future, but the future Quinnipiac goalie has incredible size, plus athleticism and a high compete level. He needs to also prove that he can hold up under a big work-load, as his 37 games played this year were a career high.

9 Joe Hicketts – A rare high-profile undrafted free agent out of the CHL, Hicketts fails the eye test, standing only 5-8”, 174. But he makes those inches count. On the offensive side of the game, he is aggressive and effective, sensing openings and attacking them. Off the puck, he needs a responsible partner as he will pull himself out of position chasing a play, but he uses his stick well and plays bigger than his size.

10 Vili Saarijarvi – Undersized (not as much as Hicketts, but still quite small), Saarijarvi has put up points from the blueline wherever he has gone. His amateur career ended on a strong note, with 15 points in Mississauga’s run to the OHL finals. He can be soft off the puck, but his plus mobility and puck moving skills will give him a good chance to be an impact player.

11 Ryan Sproul – Had injuries not made last season a near write-off, Sproul would not likely be eligible for this list. After three full AHL seasons, he spent all of last year in the NHL, but only got into 27 games. His ceiling may be that of a third pairing NHL defender, but he is already there. Does not have any standout tools, but has enough of everything that he should not be a liability in a sheltered role.

12 Jordan Sambrook – Another blueliner who does a little bit of everything, Sambrook was an instrumental player in Erie’s run to the OHL championship and the Memorial Cup title game. A two-way defenseman who has been pivotal on both special teams units, he will have to prove this year that he can continue to produce offensively on a much depleted OHL team. Another good year will move him up this list more than a few spots.

13 Gustav Lindstrom – The Wings’ 2017 second round pick, Lindstrom has strong puck skills and a high hockey IQ, made more interesting by the fact that he has only been playing in a competitive league for three years. He was competent as a rookie teenager in the Allsvenskan and there is more room for growth with this prospect than with most of the others in this region on the list.

14 Martin Frk – Exposed to waivers last year, Frk, a former Wings’ second rounder was claimed by Carolina. He got into only two games with the Hurricanes before they, too, exposed him and the Red Wings re-claimed their man. He spent another season with Grand Rapids and continued to prove that he is ready for an NHL chance. He has an NHL shot, but the rest of his game fails to excite. His career will be dictated by the percentages.

15 Jared Coreau – In his fourth season as a pro, after signing as a free agent out of Northern Michigan, Coreau finally received an NHL opportunity, appearing in 14 games for the Red Wings, shutting out both Montreal and L.A. A big body who guards his posts well and does a respectable job controlling rebounds, he is limited by his lack of athleticism, which affects his lateral movements. The team likes him, and exposed Petr Mrazek in the expansion draft, confident in Coreau’s ability to take over the backup job. Vegas passed over Mrazek, though, and barring a trade, Coreau will spend another season on the farm.

16 Zach Gallant – With strong acceleration and a wide array of shots to choose from, Zach Gallant, a third round pick from this year’s draft is one to watch. He has a tendency to vary his effort level from period to period, but at his best, is a strong 200 foot player wo plays a physical game. Stronger at moving the puck up the ice than at executing offensive zone entries.

17 Kasper Kotkansalo – The first of four third round picks made by Detroit this year, Kotkansalo held his own as a tough minutes defenseman with a struggling Sioux Falls squad in the USHL. He has limited offensive tools, but has loads of hockey smarts and a pro-sized frame. He will be taking his mature, relatively mistake-free game to Boston University next season.

18 Lane Zablocki – The last of Detroit’s third rounders on this list, Zablocki was potent offensively for both Regina and Red Deer in his draft year. Despite his plus numbers with both teams, his tools do not suggest a high end scorer as a pro. If anything, his physical game is his most impressive attribute thus far in his young career.

19 David Pope – A sleeper pick whose offensive game finally show signs of life in his third season at Nebraska-Omaha. Although the offensive improvement is nice, his off-puck game is even more impressive. A good penalty killing winger and a disruptive forechecker.

20 Dylan Sadowy – After a lost rookie professional season, Sadowy will either be way higher on this list next year, or way off. A strong offensive producer with a plus shot at the OHL level, he deserves at least one full, healthy season in the AHL before writing him off.

There are several more players besides the twenty above who were considered for inclusion, including Chase Pearson, Dominic Turgeon, Robbie Russo and Malte Setkov. This is a deep system, with many players who could play roles on future Red Wigs’ teams. In a salary cap world, it is important to be able to fill out the bottom half of the roster with lower cost, preferably homegrown, players and the Wings are positioned to do just that. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, they lack in players who look to be future team leaders. Dylan Larkin, once considered a future centerpiece, took a step back in his sophomore campaign. Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou are still young but neither has yet staked a claim in the top six.

This system-wide shortage is a consequence of drafting to type. In addition to over-drafting Europeans for much of the past decade, the Wings seem to overvalue size and a power game with their forwards and quiet competence among defensemen. Neither are bad things, per se, but they need more variety to round out a competitive NHL roster going forward.

The curious case of Blake Clarke

McKeen's Staff — Thu, 01 May 2014 13:00:34 +0000

It seemed easy to project Blake Clarke at first.

A first round pick of the Brampton Battalion in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League priority selection (15^th overall), the native of Wildwood, Mo. appeared on the fast track to success as a rookie. Clarke played a big role on the Battalion as a rookie, scoring 19 times and adding 32 assists for 51 points in 68 games.

Whether one wants to attribute his second season as a sophomore jinx or the signs of a once highly-touted prospect who lost his touch, no prospect saw their production fall off quite so dramatically as Clarke’s. After suffering an injury early in the year, Clarke then asked the Battalion, who moved to North Bay in the summer, for a trade.

A change in scenery only brought more of the same for Clarke, who couldn’t tap back into his offensive prowess once dealt to the Saginaw Spirit. A disappointing two goals, 10 assists in 54 games may have taken him out of draft consideration altogether.

In some ways, Clarke could have learned from teammate and fellow draft eligible prospect Dylan Sadowy. Although not considered an offensive force, Sadowy did the dirty work Clarke was unwilling to do and as a result, found himself in the Spirit’s top six, where he flourished with his north-south style.

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Blake Clarke (2014), LW

Few players’ stock dropped more than Clarke’s, whose production dropped by a stunning 39 points, including 17 fewer goals than he scored as a rookie .. a shoulder injury sustained during the All American Prospect Game derailed his season (missed 14 games) and subsequently resulted in him requesting a trade from North Bay .. an offensive-minded player with good instincts for the game, he can create with the puck in his possession and put it into good positions .. a bow-legged skater with a deceptive quality, he has good short-term quickness but only exhibits it below the offensive blue line .. does not play with any type of aggression in either zone and looked apprehensive to engage -- always kept plays to the outside, refusing to attack the dirty areas of the ice .. an easy player to play against on the defensive side of the puck as he doesn’t engage in open ice and loses board battles quite regularly .. coasts back into plays and far too often separated himself from the action .. Clarke has potential due to his impressive first year totals and untapped offensive ability .. he needs to find a return to his 2012-13 form and should get plenty more ice time next season with Saginaw to develop.

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Dylan Sadowy (2014), LW

Sadowy registered a 25 goal improvement from his rookie season largely in part to a promotion in January into the top six playing alongside Kea and Moutrey .. the sum of his parts, Sadowy plays a simple yet effective game as he habitually drives and heads to the net as soon as his line-mates have possession of the puck .. his goals come as a direct result of his hard work -- he stays with plays, has better than average hand/eye coordination and is not afraid to sacrifice his body to score dirty tallies in the crease .. does a very good job of positioning himself well inside the offensive zone and has a knack for getting his stick on pucks .. competes at both ends of the rink but can be guilty of not moving his feet at times in the neutral zone as he gets caught behind the play .. Sadowy is an average skater with no explosiveness in his stride or prevailing gear .. also lacks balance as he tends to fall down too much .. although not a physical force, he can play a pestering style that gets under the opposition’s skin .. Sadowy put up Cy Young numbers with his goal to assist ratio (27-9).

2014 NHL Draft: Saginaw Spirit game reports, Dylan Sadowy, Blake Clarke, Brandon Prophet

David Burstyn — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:03:48 +0000

The Saginaw Spirit underwent an unspeakable event with the passing of teammate Terry Trafford recently.

The Spirit rallied in the face of adversity and are giving the heavily-favoured Erie Otters all they can handle in their first round playoff series.

Once considered a promising prospect for this draft, Blake Clarke’s stock began falling well before being traded by North Bay to Saginaw. The Chesterfield, Mo. native actually gets lower marks for playing through injury.

Dylan Sadowy, meanwhile, found his game while playing alongside two big bodies, making him an intriguing prospect for the draft. Brandon Prophet’s eagerness is noteworthy, yet his effectiveness doesn’t always correlate to his work ethic.

McKeen’s Hockey Director of Scouting David Burstyn profiles three Spirit prospects from a recent game report.

Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Dylan Sadowy (2014), RW

Confidence has been growing since lining up with two of the Spirit’s bigger players, Justin Kea and Nick Moutrey .. added an offensive element to the line .. numbers look similar to a Cy Young award-winning pitcher with 27 goals to accompany nine assists (68-27-9-36) .. modest size that could stand to fill out more to avoid slight appearance on the ice .. plays a consistent two-way game but can be prone to stop moving his feet at times in the neutral zone and subsequently being caught out of position .. an average skater with a sluggish first step, slight knock-knee and struggles with balanc and isprone to falling down .. skill-set is not elite, meaning his goals are a direct result of his hard work .. stays with plays, willingly drives the net and is not afraid to sacrifice his body .. shows strong determination inside the offensive zone and keeps his game simple showing that he can contribute .. skating needs to improve and he mustbulk up to be effective at the pro level.

Blake Clarke (2014), LW

No player has seen a decline in their offensive numbers more so than Clarke with a meagre 12 points through 54 games (54-2-10-12) .. after skating a regular shift on Brampton’s first line last season, he was shipped to Saginaw just before the Christmas break for Zach Bratina .. participated at the All American Top Prospects Game where he played through a shouldeinujuryr which heneglected to tell the training staff which resulted in a slow start .. unable to find his groove in Saginaw despite possessing solid offensive instincts and better than average puck skills .. can make plays with the puck in his possession but too often bails on plays and does not compete hard enough for the puck .. skating is OK; he is a bow-legged skater with deceptive quickness and can accelerate with the puck .. always a step behind without the puck, which negatively affects his defensive contributions .. consistently loses board battles, making him easy prey for the opposition .. apprehensive to engage and plays a more perimeter game, refusing to attack the dirty areas of the ice or driving lanes without the puck .. Clarke has soft hands and can architect plays but he needs to regain his confidence as he has shown he can produce at this level.

Brandon Prophet (2014), D

Jesse Graham’s addition was a boon for Prophet as the two play together, alleviating pressure on Prophet to ignite the offence by rushing the puck up ice and making plays offensively .. offensive zone reads and pinches are often miscalculated, subsequently leading to odd-man rushes the other way .. skating is plausible -- lateral quickness needs to be addressed and forward skating is a tad jerky .. skates with his feet too close together which affects his stride and overall speed .. pivots and overall fluidity get exposed when smaller, skilled players dance around him .. ordinary puck skills , average decision making and creativityand is not a threat to make a play up ice.. a big body who plays with some jam and is good on the PK due to his size and the amount of ice he can cover.