Detroit Red Wings: Top 3 players to draft with the fourth overall pick

3. Jamie Drysdale

The Detroit Red Wings need help across the board. They need help on defense and offense. If general manager Steve Yzerman decides to add another first-round selection to help the former, Jamie Drysdale is the best option.

Jake Sanderson has significantly lessened the gap between Drysdale and himself, but Drysdale’s still clearly the best defenseman available. He served as an alternate captain for the Erie Otters this season, posting 47 points in 49 regular season games. Drysdale also looked good at the 2020 World Juniors, putting up three points in seven games despite being in a limited role.

He’s a mobile defenseman who is one of the best skaters in the 2020 draft, though Drysdale does need to improve his strength a little bit. Drysdale isn’t afraid to carry the puck up the ice and he’s one of the best passers in the draft and the best passer among defensemen.

While he probably won’t be able to make an impact on the Red Wings next season, I think he has all the tools necessary to be a franchise defenseman. A blueline built around Moritz Seider and Drysdale looks very promising on paper.

That said, this is a very deep draft when it comes to forwards. So the Red Wings should probably not target a defenseman with the fourth overall pick.