Center is slowly becoming a position of strength for the Red Wings. The club selected Nate Danielson ninth overall in Wednesday night's NHL Draft, a year after taking fellow center Marco Kasper No. 8.
"Truthfully, we're looking to add at every position," GM Steve Yzerman said on ESPN moments after the pick was announced. "But we like the fact that he’s a big, strong two-way centerman, we see him playing in all situations. I think it’s just a valuable type of player to have on your team and in your organization."
The 6'2 Danielson scored 33 goals and 78 points in 68 games last season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. Ranked No. 7 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting -- up six spots from the midseason rankings -- Danielson told ESPN he considers himself a strong skater who plays a 200-foot game.
"I think my skating is one of my best parts of my game," he said. "Also think I have a very well-rounded game. Defensively very responsible and offensively very creative and skilled," he said.
Danielson, who turns 19 in September, added that "it's been a dream of mine ever since I was little to get drafted, so to be part of the Red Wings, I’m super excited."
Asked about the Red Wings' outlook coming off the team's seventh straight season missing the playoffs, matching a franchise-worst drought, Yzerman said Detroit is still rebuilding after selling off players for draft picks at this year's trade deadline.
"With the picks we have with the moves we made at the deadline, we’re still in a rebuilding phase, collecting assets through the draft," Yzerman said. "We’re still there. We’re not at a point where we feel like we can really start to go for it, so to speak.
"We’re progressing and I hope to be there sooner than later, but where we are, again, is trying to use these draft picks, use them wisely, and build a stable of good young players."
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