DETROIT >> There was a lot of speculation all week about a multitude of trades sure to come Friday as the NHL Draft got underway.

And there were some, for sure.

But the Red Wings weren’t involved in any, though general manager Steve Yzerman said they tried.

“We’ve talked to every team in the league,” Yzerman said Friday night after the completion of the first round. “You have some conversations with some teams that are interested in our assets and vice versa, and ultimately, at least up to tonight, haven’t found anything that’s a fit for myself or anyone I’ve been speaking with.”

The Wings were contacted by teams beneath them in the first round, attempting to see if they’d move down the draft order while getting more picks. But with forward Carter Bear still available when the Wings picked 13th overall, the Wings weren’t interested.

The Wings gladly drafted the tenacious, offensively-skilled left wing.

“We had a couple of teams call us as our pick was coming near, to see if we would move back,” Yzerman said. “As long as Carter was on the board, we stayed there. There were a couple other players as well that we would have been comfortable in selecting.

“(Wings fans) are getting a very intelligent player, extremely competitive, he can really score at the junior level, and we think all of his game translates to the NHL.”

Bear scored 40 goals before suffering an Achilles injury in March that ended his season. Bear is expected to be ready for training camp.

“We were aware of that, examined it fully and we expect it to heal,” Yzerman said. “He didn’t tear it but had a cut with a skate and partial tear that our doctors feel will heal 100 percent. It wasn’t a concern for us at all.”

This weekend’s draft is “decentralized,” with the 32 teams back in their home offices and some draft picks, commissioner Gary Bettman, and a limited number of team representatives back at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

Friday’s first-round lasted over four hours, but Yzerman felt it was a success.

“I like it,” said Yzerman of not having all 32 teams on the draft floor. “It’s easier, quieter, it’s a little bit more relaxed. Judging from the pace (Friday), it’ll probably drag on (Saturday) but I like the format. We’re in our offices, in our confines, and it’s not as noisy as a big arena.

“I’m in favor of doing it from our home building.”

The Wings had eight picks in Saturday’s rounds from second through seven. Kris Draper, the Wings’ amateur scouting director, is excited about the players still available.

“There’s some good hockey players that’ll come out of this draft,” Draper said before the day’s action started. “You saw a lot of forwards, a lot of centermen who got drafted early. This is a really good group.

“There are some names, certainly in our second-round pick (Saturday), we’re excited to have an opportunity to draft them but like tonight, we have to wait. We go down our list and make our decision from there. It’s wait and see.”

Draper was impressed with Bear’s tenacity, competitiveness and offensive skills while scouting Bear’s Everett team in the WHL. Draper was thrilled Bear was available when the Wings picked 13th.

“Very skilled, very tenacious, we like the way he thinks the game,” Draper said.

“He’s a player that played in all situations. He can play up and down the lineup. He’s the type of player when you go watch him play, you walk out of the rink and really appreciate the effort he gave.

“We added a real big piece to our prospect pool.”