Ex-Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland's major mistake exposed
This decision from Ken Holland and the former leadership group of the Detroit Red Wings is nothing short of haunting considering who was available to draft and what could have been.
The Detroit Red Wings had the opportunity to select a local product from the nearby University of Michigan in the metro-Detroit suburb of Ann Arbor, but instead went in a different direction in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Rather than draft defenseman Quinn Hughes, the Red Wings, who were then managed by Ken Holland, chose to pick forward Filip Zadina.
And based on how the careers of both players have turned out, the decision continues to haunt Red Wings fans to this day.
In short, Zadina's career was nothing short of one of the bigger busts in recent NHL history, while Quinn Hughes is the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the League's top defenseman.
He's also just five assists away from setting Vancouver's all-time assist record by a defenseman - and he's only in his 6th full NHL season.
According to local metro-Detroit news anchor Brad Gali, Holland informed Hughes that they weren't interested in selecting him.
Galli followed up his post by answering a question posed soon afterward of why Holland would pass on Hughes despite needing help on the back end.
It remains a total mystery to most, not only considering Hughes' local ties but also the fact that he was coached by then-Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill for Team USA at the World Championship.
After running out of chances with the Red Wings (with whom he scored a total of 28 goals in 190 games), he was traded to the San Jose Sharks, where he scored 13 goals last year in 72 games.
He's now back playing overseas, while Hughes continues to tear it up for the Canucks.
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