I was going to write a little about the new Wing, Riley Sheahan, but it's getting late already. I'm getting up early to follow the draft tomorrow and I've got some other stuff to take care of, so I'll save you a rushed scouting report and compile more information for a detailed one tomorrow.

But in short: I like the pick. I described him as a defensive forward but I'd never seen him play. To haters: this isn't a Kirk Maltby replacement. A good defensive forward is a second or third line player with excellent shutdown ability -- to play against others top lines, to kill penalties, and to win a big faceoff or just be on the ice late in a game. To play on the second (or Detroit's third) line, you need some offensive ability too. While Sheahan only potted six goals, he played on an already loaded Notre Dame team and he produced big numbers in junior hockey. The Wings like his offensive game, because he's big and quick and he works hard, so the natural comparison to Johan Franzen (as in a net front forward presence, not a 40 goal scorer). So no, he's no Maltby, think more of something similar to the role Ryan Kesler or Jordan Staal plays, with less offensive upside than Staal. Being in that defense-first system under Jeff Jackson is going to lead to, hopefully, a pretty good defensive forward.

This is important. Every time I see someone write that they got another part of "the Grind Line," I'm going to slap myself across the face. Darren Helm is the Grind Line. Sheahan is so much more.

In other news, I heard last night that Detroit made an offer to KHL defenseman Evgeni Ryasensky. Since I hadn't heard of him, I figured he'd stand a good chance of signing if he really wanted to come to North America. This morning, EliteProspects reported that he's signed, and have him slated for the Griffins for next season.

I did some digging, and the rumor comes from the always reliable Dmitry Chesnokov, who is relaying information from the Russian media outlet, SovSport. He reports:

Evgeni Ryasenski, 22 year old D from KHL's Neftekhimik, told SovSport he received an offer from the #RedWings and will move to Detroit.

Ryasenskiy to SovSport: "Detroit contacted me thru a NA agent. I will attend camp. I am OK with spending some time in the AHL."#DRW

Ryasenskiy to SovSport: "I think that I can succeed in the NHL because small rinks and physical style of play fit my profile." #DRW

It seems from that report that Ryasenski is saying he has already signed. However, Jim Nill disagrees, and has said as much to The Windsor Star's Bob Duff.

“His agent contacted us, so he's probably called every team,” Nill said. “He's 23, so he'd still be on an entry-level deal which would pay him $60,000 in the minor leagues. If he doesn't make your team, is he going  to want to stay and play for that? That's the risk you have to decide whether you want to take.”

A bit of a strange quote from Nill. He starts to downplay it and then talks about it like they never took the offer seriously. But then the end of the quote acts like they're mulling it over. Really uncertain to the Wings interest level on this one, but Duff's article makes it seem like the door is shut. Quote doesn't back that up though.

Then Duff finishes with a bit of an unexplained line that I really don't like.

Either way, Ryasenski seems like an interesting prospect. He seems committed to the AHL, and with the Griffins hurting for veteran blueliners, someone with some KHL experience might be nice. He's small, but he's supposedly physical and his numbers indicate he can produce some offense. I won't waste any more space typing about a player who might not be a Red Wing, but I felt it was a funny story and a good indicator of KHL/NHL relationships when a player believes he's signed and a team acts like they don't know who he is.

Draft day two tomorrow. All hail Hakan, King of Day Two.