Defenseman or forward?
The Detroit Red Wings ended up with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NHL entry draft, and while this year’s crop of first-round prospects isn’t considered particularly strong, there will be intriguing players available when the Wings make their highest pick since 1990.
Based on the NHL’s year-end listing, defenseman Cale Makar is ranked ninth, the highest of any defensemen. He’s listed as 5-foot-10/11, 180 pounds, and he shoots right. Makar, 18, had 24 goals and 51 assists for 75 points in 54 games this season with the Brooks Bandits in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.