Stream of conciousness thoughts

1. These random thoughts will be repeated, elaborated upon, etc, as the year(s) progress... Over the summer, I liked it when I heard in an interview that Torchetti, the Iowa Wild coach, explained to Tyler Graovac -and I suppose some others- that they probably aren't going to be going to Minnesota soon to be top six forwards. They have to be very good 3rd/4th liners. Strong defensively, perhaps good on PK and able to contribute some offensively. He noted they had to go all out for 30-45 seconds because they weren't going to be playing 20 minutes a game. 
2.  As I look at the pool of prospects for MN both in Iowa and those that are unsigned but will likely play in Iowa in a few years, it seems there are two areas where they simply don't have many prospects: Left wing and, more obviously, right defense. Gustav Bouramman, though a 7th round pick (strangely when you look at stats), has a terrific opportunity to be the best RD prospect. I expect him to be signed sometime during the year and, if he has a really good year, play in Iowa as a 19 year old Euro. Euro players can play in AHL, US and Canadian players can't until they are 20. Minnesota does have Jordan Greenway in the pool as a LW, but I think he isn't that great. He kind of reminds me of Colton Gilles but at least Greenway was a 2nd and not a 1st round pick! Mario Lucia might be good, but I seriously have no idea if he is NHL material. I REALLY hope he is our Anders Lee!
3.  I really hope that Brett Bulmer is re-signed and that he brings a positive attitude to camp this fall. He's played some NHL games already and if he stays healthy I feel he will be one of a few players that will rotate into the RW 4th line slot this next season in Minnesota. I get the feeling that he had a bad attitude and, perhaps, for that reason they haven't signed him. They may be trying to move him like they moved Zack Phillips -though that is an insult to Bulmer. 
4. This is a big season for Marc Hagel. He's already 26 and though he seems to continue to improve, he has to accelerate that improvement to be on an NHL roster or be a call-up this year or next.  I think he might be a good example of "too little, too late" to be the next Fontaine.
5. Speaking of Fontaine, if Minnesota has a good replacement in the system from Iowa, I'd expect Fontaine to be traded by the deadline.  He certainly won't be brought back for the 16-17 season.
6. I do think that Reid Duke is signed before the end of the season and probably sooner rather than later. He will be eligible to go to Iowa in 16-17. This season will determine if he goes there or back to the WHL for an "overage" season. Someone about whom I am wonder Minnesota will sign is Chase Lang. He just seems unremarkable. I don't seen an "edge" to his game. He is, however, amongst the youngest in his draft class, so that has to be taken into consideration. He has put up some points on his team, though.  
7. I expect MN to either draft another Russian in the lower rounds next summer or sign one. This will be done so that Kaprizov isn't the only Russian in the system. It would be done SOLELY to make him more comfortable to sign with Minnesota. 
8.  I don't see how/why Minnesota would sign Pontus Sjalin and Tanner Faith (must be signed by June 1st, 2016) or Nolan De Jong and John Draeger -both of whom have done nothing since they've been drafted. The same is likely true for Nick Seeler. I wonder if Adam Gilmour will even want to sign with Minnesota -just a feeling, not based on logic. Finally, despite no logical performance reason to do so, Minnesota will likely sign Nanne when he leaves school just to placate Lou Nanne, his grandfather who has strong ties to MN hockey and also to the Wild. I do think, however, that Louie Nanne, the draft pick, might be proud and insightful enough to know that he doesn't merit an NHL entry level contract.