Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • B3

FRIDAY, WWW.FREEP.COM 3B SPORTS NHL The emphasis is on defense. As the Red Wings approach the NHL draft with their highest pick in more than two decades and 11 picks overall, the priority is mining the class to infuse the roster with what they most need. is an area that we are director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said in an interview with the Free Press this week. is deep at that position in this draft, throughout the The draft begins tonight at United Center with Round 1, and the Wings hold the ninth overall pick, their highest since drafting Martin Lapointe 10th in 1991. what 25 straight seasons of making the playoffs and four Stanley Cups do.

The Wings missed the playoffs this past season for the first time since 1990. The Wings will select 38th, 71st, 79th, 83rd, 88th, 100th, 131st, 162nd, 164th and 193rd on Day 2 of the draft. Wright said the Wings will take thebest available player at ninth, regardless of position. While the first two picks are expected to be Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick, rankings after that could differ significantly from team to team. Players who could interest the Wings in the first round include defensemen Miro Heiskanen, Timothy Liljegren, Cale Makar, Juuso Vali- maki and Callan Foote, along with forwards Owen Tippett, Michael Rasmussen, Cody Glass, Eeli Tolvanen and Nick Suzuki.

are basically talking over every scenario possible, what could happen, try to figure out the Wright said of the last-minute preparations. is pretty much set in stone as far as final rankings for us. With the luxury of having 11 picks, we have options now we have two seconds next year, as well, so whether that means we move up and spend some of those picks there is a risk factor in doing that. Or we could move back and accumulate more picks and go from there. you are talking top-10 pick, you should get good player, but you want to make sure you pick the right After using recent first- round picks to draft forwards Anthony Mantha (2013), Dylan Larkin (2014) and Evgeni Svechnikov (2015), the Wings selected defenseman Dennis Cholowski at 20th overall last year.

If they go with defense again, there are several promising defensemen who could be available, especially if they trade up to land Heiskanen, a smart, smooth skater who shows promise in all situations. Liljegren also is a player to consider moving up for he missed a chunk of the season because of illness, but is incredibly mobile, has great instincts and a knack for joining the rush. Makar is offensively gifted and good at skating the puck out of his zone. Valima- ki is a dynamic offensive defenseman with good mobility. Foote already is 6 feet 4 and shoots right, with tremendous passing instincts.

Among forwards who could be available, Tippett is anatural scorer and excellent skater capable of throwing off opponents with shifty moves. Rasmussen is 6-6 and agood scorer and passer. Glass had 94 points last sea- son and plays with an explosive style of speed and smarts. Tolvanen is dangerous offensively because of his quick release. small but quick.

Suzuki had 96 points and is especially dangerous on the power play. you get a guy that you have on your board at four or five; could you get him at nine? very Wright said. draft boards, their top 15 would vary drastically. We are confident at nine that we are getting good The Wings spent a week in Buffalo during the NHL combine putting the finishing touches on reports that have grown in detail for more than ayear. scouting combine is one piece of general manager Ken Holland said.

biggest piece is having scouts out watching and assessing skill sets. life, in pro sports, the makeup of an individual also determines their potential. Our scouts talk to the coaches. They talk to people who were around when they played midget. They see them on the road, at home, in physical games, in skill games.

Do they ramp up during playoffs? You just gather as much information as you can. 11 picks, provided we trade any of them, hopefully, we walk away with four or five of them being defensemen. You look at our team, over the last three or four years drafted a lot of forwards like Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, Evgeny Svech- nikov. We add some defense- men this draft. Defensemen are at a Contact Helene St.

James: Follow her on Twitter Red draft BOOST DEFENSE, TAKE BEST CHOICE AT NO. 9 HELENE ST. JAMES SEES EFFORT TO GET MOST TALENTED PLAYER MARISSA IMAGES Juuso Valimaki of the Tri-City Americans is among the prospects the Red Wings will consider with the No. 9 pick in the NHL draft. Valimaki is said to be a dynamic offensive defenseman with good mobility.

It appears NHL teams are pretty bullish these days on Jason draft stock. The 6-foot-2, 196-pound left wing from Northville, who led the Ontario Hockey Kingston Frontenacs in scoring with 42 goals and 39 assists in 68 games this season, could land anywhere from late in the first round to no later than the second round tonight in the NHL draft, according to mock drafts. Robertson most recently was ranked 14th by Central Scouting among North American skaters after a midterm rank of 34. In preparation for the recently held NHL combine in Buffalo, Robertson returned to his second home in Sierra Madre, to con- tinue training for the upcoming draft. always great to go high in the draft, but wherever you go, whether it be first round or second round or third round you still have to perform well and make the Robertson said.

the OHL, I was drafted in the fourth round. Looking back on it, it really make a difference because I made the team. always good to go high, and I want to get drafted the highest Ican. If I can get drafted and make the team so much quicker, going to be a lot better situation. But also kind of exciting to see where you end Robertson accounted for nearly of the goals this season.

He posted 27 points during his final 13 regular-season games, adding five goals and 13 assists in 11 games as Kingston reached the second round of the OHL playoffs. Robertson nearly tripled his offensive numbers this season for Kingston after scoring 18 goals and adding 14 assists during his inaugural OHL season in 2015-16. Robertson, who turn 18 until July 22, has been building a strong portfolio as an NHL prospect. a skilled he said. like I said, I feed off my teammates and I try to make the players around me better.

a goal scorer, a smart player who really has an outstanding hockey If been any predraft knock on Robertson, it has been about his skating ability, but something he has been concentrating on during the off-season. really had a strict training regimen for the combine and now Robertson said. really focusing on on ice and off ice strictly for the draft in preparation for whatever team drafts me in their development camp. working a lot on my off-ice strength, lower body and mobility. I know going to transfer from off ice to on ice.

what really focusing Robertson, who played for the Don Mils Flyers Midget Minor AAA team in Toronto in the 2014-15 season before going to the Ontario juniors, more than likely will have some familiar company next year in the OHL. His younger brother Nick, 15, a 5-7, 145-pound forward, was drafted in the first round (16th overall) by the Peterborough Petes. play them eight times, so going to be pretty interesting this upcoming Robertson said. excited to go against my little Local hopeful Robertson could get an early draft call By Brad Emons hometownlife.com KINGSTON FRONTENACS Jason Robertson led the Ontario Hockey Kingston Frontenacs with 42 goals and 39 assists in 68 games this season. Defensemen Timothy Liljegren Measurables: 6feet, 188 pounds.

Stats: 1 goal, 4 assists with Rogle BK of Swedish Hockey League. Skinny: Shoots right. Had a tough time while missing chunk of season, but he's a smart, skilled skater with offensive upside. Miro Heiskanen Measurables: 6-1, 172. Stats: 5 goals, 5 assists in 37 games for HIFK Helsinki in Finnish elite league.

Skinny: Smooth skater, great vision. Standout at U-18 World Championship. Cale Makar Measurables: 5-11, 180. Stats: 24 goals, 51 assists in 54 games with the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Skinny: Shoots right.

Good skater. Juuso Valimaki Measurables: 6-2, 204. Stats: 19 goals, 42 assists in 60 games with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Skinny: Played for his native Finland in the World Junior Championship, where he had two goals in six games. Callan Foote Stats: 6-4, 212.

Stats: 6 goals, 51 assists in 71 games with Kelowna Rockets of Western Hockey League. Skinny: Son of former NHL defenseman Adam Foote. Plays in all situations. Forwards Owen Tippett Measurables: 6-0, 203. Stats: 44 goals, 31 assists in 60 games for Mississauga Steel- heads of Ontario Hockey League.

Skinny: Shoots right. One of the best shooters and skaters. Michael Rasmussen Measurables: 6-6, 221. Stats: 32 goals, 23 assists in 50 games with Tri-City Americans of WHL. Skinny: Excellent on power plays, good offensive instincts, good skater considering size and has a instinct.

Eeli Tolvanen Measurables: 5-10, 170. Stats: 30 goals, 24 assists in 52 games for the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League. Skinny: An excellent skater and shooter, with good hockey smarts. Nick Suzuki Measurables: 5-11, 183. Stats: 45 goals, 51 assists in 65 games for Owen Sound of the Ontario Hockey League.

Skinny: Shoots right. Considered ahigh-end passer with terrific vision. St. James targets EDMONTON, The Edmonton Oilers traded forward Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders on Thursday for forward Ryan Strome. Eberle has scored at least 20 goals in each of the past four seasons, and had a career-high 34 in 2011-12.

But he had just two assists in 13 playoff games this spring and was criticized for his lackluster play. Eberle, 27, is entering the fifth year of a six-year contract worth $36 million and had been a frequent subject of trade rumors. something never gone through before, a different Eberle said. something I definitely knew would eventually come. For me right now, definitely excited to be a New York The Oilers selected Eberle with the No.

22 pick in the 2008 draft. He has 165 goals and 217 assists over 507 career NHL games, all with Edmonton. The move frees cap space for the Oilers, who have some big-money signings coming up. Leon Draisaitl is due for a huge raise when his entry-level contract finishes July 1. League MVP Connor McDavid is entering the final year of his entry-level deal.

think moving forward this will be a new chapter, be great with a new fresh start and a new Eberle said. Strome, who turns 24 next month, was selected fifth overall by the Islanders in 2011. He had 30 points (13-17) in 69 games last season and has 126 points (45-81) in 258 career games. Roundup RICK PRESS Jordan Eberle scored at least 20 goals each of the past four years. Oilers trade Eberle to Isles for Strome Detroit Free Press News Services FAST FACTS What: NHL draft.

Where: United Center, Chicago. Round 1: 7 tonight on NBCSN; Round 2: 10 a.m. Saturday on NHL Network..