Ferraro falls to Red Wings
Landon Ferraro is expected to be a first-round pick in this weekend's NHL draft
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Updated: June 30, 2009 4:21 PM
Burnaby’s Landon Ferraro spent more than four anxious hours sweating it out as team after team took other players in the first round of the NHL draft in Montreal. After being projected by many to go in the top 30, he then had to take that disappointment to bed. But in the morning he didn’t have to wait long for his nerves and disappointment to evaporate.
The powerhouse Detroit Red Wings selected him second in the second round.
“Sitting here today with a Red Wings jersey on you can’t be too upset. This is such a great organization,” Ferraro told NHL Home Ice on XM Radio shortly after getting picked.
Ferraro, son of former NHL player turned TSN analyst Ray Ferraro, scored 37 goals this past season for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League.
“His father was a great hockey player,” Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill told the Detroit Free Press. “Landon’s an offensive, skilled player. He’s got a chance to have real upside to his game.”
Earlier in the year his coach, Jesse Wallin, arranged to have former Detroit star Steve Yzerman, who still works for the Red Wings, on the phone to give Ferraro some advice.
“He talked to me about becoming more of a complete player, and how he had to make the switch,” said Ferraro. “At the beginning of the year [my defensive play] was pretty much something everybody worried about, but Jesse made sure it was something I worked on everyday. He was more happy when I was good on the penalty kill, or win a draw in the last minute of a game rather than me scoring two goals.
“I’ve come a long way, but I’ve still got a bit to go and I’ve got a couple of years to do that.”
Ferraro said he’s looking forward to attending the upcoming Red Wings prospects camp and then training camp in September.
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