With the 71st overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, the Red Wings select defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo out of the USHL. This pick was acquired in the trade that sent Thomas Vanek to the Florida Panthers.
Here’s what we know:
He’s a strong, physically developed 190 pound stay-at-home defenseman with an impressive understanding of defensive positioning. He is a fairly good skater for his size and has noticeable on-ice strength that allows him to be a physical force in his own end. He has smooth strides and good balance, allowing him to fend o forecheckers with his size and move the puck up to a teammate.