With Weeks Still to Go, NHL Draft Buzz Builds Around Red Wings’ Potential Pick
The 2025 NHL Draft may still be weeks away, but speculation is already running wild — and in one prominent projection, the Detroit Red Wings are eyeing a hard-nosed winger who fits their mold. In his latest mock draft for The Athletic, NHL draft analyst Scott Wheeler has the Red Wings selecting Justin Carbonneau, a competitive right-shot winger from the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, with the No. 13 overall pick.
Red Wings Prioritize Grit Over Position
While many teams in the top 15 will be zeroing in on centers, Wheeler sees Detroit taking a different route. Thanks to recent first-round selections like Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson, the Red Wings have built up solid depth at center. That gives them the flexibility to focus on the best player available rather than drafting for positional need — and in Wheeler’s view, that player is Carbonneau.
“Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson mean the Red Wings don’t necessarily have to chase a center like some other teams might feel they have to,” Wheeler noted.
Carbonneau Checks the Boxes for Detroit
Carbonneau’s profile — physical, driven, and athletic — is the kind of player Detroit has gravitated toward in recent drafts. Wheeler even draws parallels to last year’s pick, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, another gritty, right-shot winger who fits the team’s identity.
“There are also some of their ‘types’ here in the strong, athletic, competitive and skilled Justin Carbonneau and Carter Bear,” Wheeler wrote. With injury concerns surrounding Bear, Carbonneau may have the edge when the time comes to make the pick.
Another Piece in Yzerman’s Puzzle
Selecting a high-character, high-effort winger like Carbonneau would mark another step in Steve Yzerman’s strategic rebuild — one that prioritizes toughness, character, and two-way potential alongside pure skill. While this is only a mock draft, it provides insight into how Detroit could continue shaping its already impressive prospect pool.
