Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings have added another big defenseman from the top of the draft, this time via waivers.
Detroit claimed 23-year-old Olli Juolevi from the Panthers on Sunday, taking a flier on the former fifth overall pick who's still searching for his game in the NHL. Maybe he can find it in a bigger role with the Wings.
Drafted by the Canucks, Juolevi was the first defenseman off the board in 2016, the same year Detroit took Dennis Cholowski 20th overall. He debuted for Vancouver in the 2020 playoffs, then appeared in 23 games last season before being dealt to the Panthers in October of this season. He played in 10 games for Florida without recording a point.
A strong skater with a 6'2 frame, Juolevi fits the mold of Detroit's two highest draft picks on the blueline under Yzerman: Moritz Seider (6th overall in 2019) and Simon Edvinsson (6th overall in 2021). He's a left-hand shot who showed some of his offensive upside when he scored 25 points in 45 games for the Canucks' AHL affiliate in 2019-20.
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Juolevi was described as a "complete, all-around defenceman ... with high-end playmaking ability ... who thrives under pressure and can be trusted in all situations" ahead of the 2016 draft. Those traits have yet to take hold in the NHL, but time is still on his side.
On a blueline in Detroit where two veterans could be traded this month in Nick Leddy and Marc Staal, another young defenseman should have the chance to make a statement. That's assuming Juolevi doesn't get lost in a logjam that also features Jordan Oesterle and Troy Stecher.
In a corresponding move Sunday, the Red Wings optioned center Joe Veleno to Grand Rapids. Veleno has five goals and 10 points in 40 games this season for Detroit.