Steve Yzerman announces intentions for 2023 NHL Draft

We are now only just over a week away from the 2023 NHL Draft that will get underway on June 28 from Nashville. And as it currently stands, the Detroit Red Wings have two selections in Round 1 at No. 9 and No. 17, respectively. 

Red Wings general manger Steve Yzerman spoke earlier today and announced his intention as of right now is to use both selections, while also hinting at the possibility of a deal.

"I think it’s just general practice leading into the draft, you check with teams around you to see what their interests are and the costs to move up or back," Yzerman said Tuesday. "I think pretty much every team looks into that. Ultimately, the decision to do that really comes as your pick is coming up. 

"As I sit here today, I plan on picking ninth."

The Red Wings also have the No. 41, 42, 43, 73, 117, 137, 169, and 201st selections. 

"Ultimately draft classes to be measured on how good is it at the top and this year it looks very, very good at the top," Yzerman said. "As you go through each round, it gets more random, but as we go through our meetings, and talk about the players and create our list, we are excited at pick 43 that we are going to get one of these group of players. So we think it looks like a pretty good draft."

This may or may not go over well with the Red Wings fan base, many of whom would like to see Yzerman package one of those Round 1 draft selections and acquire additional goal scoring talent, which the team sorely needs.

Michigan-native Alex DeBrincat has been linked to the Red Wings, but no deal has yet to materialize.