If Detroit Red Wings assistant general managers Kris Draper and Shawn Horcoff say they couldn\u2019t help but notice University of Michigan center Adam Valentini this past season they mean exactly that.<\/p>\n
Draper and Horcoff both had sons playing for the Wolverines and every time they watched their boys play they also saw Valentini buzzing around the ice in impressive fashion. As a 17-year-old freshman, he produced 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points. That made him the highest scoring college player under 18. He turned 18 in April. <\/p>\n
\u201cI try and model a couple guys like (Kirill) Kaprizov and Brandon Hagel, just the way to play with their brain (and) compete,\u201d Hagel said at NHL scouting combine.<\/p>\n
The Toronto native has a Tasmanian Devil-like style, often becoming a human cyclone on the forecheck. That helps him both offensively and defensively. He is just under five-foot-10, but he always has a big impact.<\/p>\n
This is how Valentini describes himself: \u201cI think just a player that plays 200 feet of the ice really hard. I play each inch of the ice really hard, and my compete and my hockey IQ sets me apart from other players.\u201d<\/p>\n
TSN\u2019s Craig Button ranked him 40th for the 2026 draft, meaning it\u2019s possible he could be there when the Red Wings make their second-round pick at No. 47. They traded their first-round pick (15th overall) in the Justin Faulk acquisition.<\/p>\n
The Red Wings did interview Valentini at the combine. He admits that becoming a Red Wings prospect is appealing to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019d be cool,\u201d Valentini said. \u201cMy teammate\u2019s dad (Draper) was interviewing me, so it\u2019s pretty cool.\u201d<\/p>\n
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