2018 NHL Mock Draft: Red Wings scoop up Ty Dellandrea with penultimate pick of the first round.

The Red Wings nabbed a solid defenseman in Adam Boqvist earlier in this mock draft. Having the 4th overall pick should land a very good prospect and Boqvist is likely going to be that kind of player, but the Red Wings weren’t done there. They hold pick number 30. It’s quite the benefit for a team that is trying to rebuild and having to forego numerous top picks in the first round for years.

With the 30th pick of the 2018 Hockey Wilderness Mock Draft, the Red Wings select forward Ty Dellandrea from the Flint Firebirds.

Scouting Report

Standing at 6 feet and weighing in a 184 pounds, this winger is projected to go late in the first round. He’s been one of the few bright spots on a bad Flint Firebirds team. Scoring 59 points this season, and turning 18 on July 21st, Dellandrea’s best assets are his speed and quickness. While The Last Word on Hockey states that he has a tendency to be knocked off the puck easily, that power, balance, and toughness can be developed.

When scouting himself, Dellandrea told NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman, “I want to work on my strength...If I want to play at the next level as soon as possible I need to get stronger. My first step, my first stride, getting out of the gate fast. Once I get up to speed I’m quick but getting there (needs work).”

He’s got a good shot and possesses solid Hockey IQ to make himself available in the offensive zone. He’s one to get in deep to get better scoring looks. This graph by Ian Fleming shows us from where the majority of his shots come.

While not as offensively gifted as the likely 2nd overall pick in Filip Zadina, there is benefits to playing a bad teams and that’s the ability to play in all situations all the time. Check this comparison chart from Mitchell Brown on how Dellandrea stacks up to one of the very top forwards in this draft class. Note that Dellandrea had fewer games tracked than did Zadina, but you can see that he is forced to carry the puck more both on zone exits and entries, while also providing more defense than that of Zadina. And that’s likely because Dellandrea has to be better at defense on a weaker team.

Defensively, he shows balance there as well. He tries hard, and that tenacity has landed him on the Firebirds’ penalty kill. That good hockey IQ allows him to back check well and break up passes with a good stick.

However, Dellandrea doesn’t seem to really “wow” anyone. He’s good, but it feels like Dellandrea could be had in the top half of the second round, and teams can bank on the higher upside and more skilled players than this Firebird.

How Does He Fit the Wild

Projected to be top 6, but more like a second liner in the NHL should he develop that far, certainly fits the Wild. In fact, he fits the mold of what Chuck Fletcher and Brent Flahr have drafted for years. If the Wild are looking to bank on some higher upside talents, and any of those types fall to the Wild at 24, I just can’t justify taking Dellandrea instead. But, should new Wild GM Paul Fenton trade back from 24, recoup a 2nd rounder, Ty Dellandrea may be a tad more palatable. It will depend on that trade if it happened.

How Do the Wild Get Him

Like I described above, I think if the Wild trade out of 24 for later in the first, or very early 2nd round, Dellandrea could be had, and it be considered a solid move. If they take him over other players that have far more skill and upside, then it will be an agonizing reach, in my opinion.