When the Detroit Red Wings entered the 2012 NHL draft without a first round pick this year, they had to count on their scouting department to pull a rabbit out of a hat and they did. With the 49th pick of the second round, they may of pulled off a huge steal by drafting from Halifax of the QMJHL, Martin Frk. Frk was projected to be a late first round to early second round pick. So when he fell the the Red Wings, Ken Holland and the Red Wings staff jumped at the chance to draft the 6 foot, 193 pound forward.
Frk had a up and down year last year with the Halifax Mooseheads. He suffered a concussion during the preseason, causing him to miss 29 games and the chance to represent the Czech Republic at the 2012 World Junior Championship. When Frk returned, he scored 10 goals and 17 assist in 24 games to end the year. Frk excelled in the playoffs scoring 11 points in 17 games for Halifax.
“Every shift, he works, works, works,'' Jiri Fischer, Red Wings director of player development, said. “He really can finish. He's got a good shot. He can play the point on the power play. He can find loose pucks around the net. He's relentless on the forecheck."Fischer said Frk needs to focus on becoming a better skater.“ He's quick enough, he's smart enough, he's not a bad skater,'' Fischer said. “Just to be an elite player in the NHL, that's one area he's going to have to work on.''
“He was a big surprise for us; we didn't think he'd be there,'' Detroit assistant general manager Jim Nill said. “He's a well-known player, (has) skill and size and he plays hard.''
Written by:
