Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Tigers rebuild took a big step forward following the pick of #1 overall mega player Spencer Torkelson. On Friday the Detroit Red Wings will anxiously wait to see what the ping-pong ball brings them during the draft lottery.
Alexis Lafreniere is the clear cut #1 player in this years NHL draft class. To put it another way, perhaps a bit more fresh Lafreniere is the Spencer Torkelson of the 2020 NHL Draft.
Torkelson was the best player by a long shot in the MLB draft and ended up being selected first overall by the Tigers. The same is being said about Alexis Lafreniere. He is the best player by a large margin. What would it mean for the rebuilding Detroit Red Wings?
Lafrenière, 6 foot 1, and a gifted left wing who had 35 goals and 77 assists in 52 games this season with Rimouski Océanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, a 2.15 points per game average that led the Canadian Hockey League. The 18 year old Lafrenière starred for Canada at the World Juniors, taking home a gold medal and MVP honors on the strength of four goals and six assists in five games.
Alexis Lafrenière combines elite decision making skills and plays with a with a physical edge, fearlessly challenging opponents and finishing checks. He makes plays and scores, and has drawn praise for his willingness to go to dirty areas. Lafrenière projects as a game changer. Along the line of a generational talent.
The NHL Draft Lottery can be cruel. Just because a team may be the worst in the league that team can draft anywhere from from first to fourth depending which logo the ping-pang ball displays.
Should the Detroit Red Wings win the prized first overall draft pick, the choice will be as easy as the draft pick the Detroit Tigers made. Not only the unanimous best player, but again a generational player who can quickly make a rebuild a thing of the past and bright days ahead.
If the Red Wings are fortunate enough to land Alexis Lafrenière, fans will go crazy. Much like they did when the Detroit Tigers announced their top pick.
