Steve Yzerman feeling confident heading into 2022 NHL Entry Draft

Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman knows how unpredictable the NHL Draft can be.

And with Detroit scheduled to pick eighth overall on Thursday in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Yzerman said the only certainty is what the Red Wings' strategy will be when they're on the clock.
"I only know what we're thinking," Yzerman said in a pre-draft Zoom call with the media on Tuesday. "I don't know what other teams are thinking, but we feel pretty good about where we are and think we're gonna get a pretty good prospect who will help us."

Detroit holds a top-10 pick in the first round for the sixth straight year. And according to Yzerman, the Red Wings aren't drafting based on organizational need.
"Where they're going to be in four to five years, we have no idea," Yzerman said. "So, we're gonna stick to trying to pick the best prospect available."
Yzerman has compiled a pool of talented players since re-joining the Red Wings as GM in April 2019.
In 2021, Detroit selected Swedish defenseman Simon Edvinsson sixth overall, and after agreeing to a trade with the Dallas Stars, the Red Wings drafted Canadian goalie Sebastian Cossa with the 15th overall pick.
The Red Wings selected Swedish forward Lucas Raymond with the fourth overall pick in 2020, their highest selection since taking Keith Primeau No. 3 overall in 1990. And in Yzerman's first draft as Detroit's GM, he drafted German defenseman Mortiz Seider with the sixth pick in 2019.
As he prepares for his third draft at the helm of the Red Wings, Yzerman isn't ruling out anything.
"There's been times when we've looked at a move, whether it be up or back, and simply couldn't find anybody that wanted to do it," Yzerman said. "Those are really decisions that I've found have come up on the draft floor or you touch base with some teams that are near you in the order before the draft to get a feel if they have any interest one way or the other."
Detroit enters the 2022 NHL Entry Draft with 10 total picks. It's the first time since 2019 that the draft will be held in person. The 2020 and 2021 NHL Drafts were both held virtually due to coronavirus concerns.
"I do like being in the same room with our scouts," Yzerman said. "Last year, we had a war room set up in Detroit which was better than the previous year. (But) there's a lot of value in the league coming together for the draft this year in Montreal."
The Red Wings are hosting the third annual Hockeytown Draft Party on Thursday evening, starting at 6 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena. The 2022 NHL Entry Draft begins with first-round coverage at 7 p.m., and Rounds 2-7 will take place Friday, beginning at 11 a.m.