Defenseman Brosnan was chosen 196th overall in the seventh round. That leaves him with an 11% chance of making the show.

Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary likes the approach he immediately encountered from Arkko.

“He right away wanted to come over,” Cleary said. Arkko will play in the OHL this season with the Erie Otters.

It’s great. I’m super excited. We’re going to be able to see him quite a bit. My first impression of Arkko would be that he’s big, and he’s got pretty decent hands.

“He seems like a really nice kid.”

Reports That Red Wings Pick Heading to Moncton

Harvard commit Brosnan is a right-shot rearguard with high-end offensive skills. He accounted for 51 points in 30 games last season with Dexter Southfield, a New England prep school.

The senior captain was picked to play in the Chipotle All-American Game. He won the John Carlton Memorial Trophy. An award presented by the Boston Bruins, it goes to the outstanding high school senior hockey player in Massachusetts.

There are reports that Brosnan will be playing this season in the QMJHL with the Moncton Wildcats.

“Miles, he’s also got an option to go to college or junior, so we might see both those guys here at rookie tournament, which is good,” Cleary said.

Finnie Gives Hope to Late-Round Picks

It’s certainly a tougher route for late-round draft picks to make the NHL grade. It is not a cause that is lacking in hope, though. If these kids are searching for a reason to believe, all they need to do is look at Detroit’s 2025-26 rookie of the year.

“Them being late picks, you know what, what’s the advice?” Cleary asked. “Well, my advice, first thing would be you should look up Emmitt Finnie’s name.

Earning Detroit’s top rookie honors last season after scoring 13 goals, Finnie was the 201st overall selection in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

“That kid, when he got drafted, he was right away, ‘What do I gotta do?'” Cleary said.

“So he sought it out, he was hungry, wanted it, went and did it.

“That’s what you gotta do.”