My criteria seeks to balance the likelihood of a prospect being on a NHL roster for more than a few games at some point in their career with to what degree they will be a real contributor on the the team. A sure-thing 3rd/4th liner makes it, yet there are those more skilled players who likely won't be able to make the transition to the grinder role of a 4th liner for some variety of reasons. Some players may have a significant role on some other NHL team besides the Wild because of contracts tying up roster spots. Additionally, the most recent draft class gets the benefit of the doubt. There weren't any "what??" choices this year unlike the last two years.
Finally, let me preface my amateur analysis with stating that I lack tons of information and context (don't virtually all bloggers??), and that I hope those that I say aren't very good prospects any more prove me wrong. I think -truly and honestly- it would be super cool if someone like Pontus Sjalin or Louis Nanne actually had some time in the NHL.
- Hoffman G
- Michalek G
- Gelinas D
Gudbranson DHe has size and blood (brother in the NHL), but little else. His stats were unimpressive in the OHL and he did even less in Iowa. I expect him to see a lot of games in the ECHL.- Labbe D
- Olofsson D
Palmquist DMight be good and if was 18 or 19 I'd give him the benefit of the doubt, but a solid though not stellar four year career in college doesn't scream NHL.Warner DOkay, I don't know shit compared to scouts, but I don't get this signing. They sign him at 18 years old the summer after he wasn't drafted. He's got size and racks up penalty minutes, but doesn't put up any points. The large majority of "physical" NHL players put up reasonable points in earlier leagues in which they played. To put this in perspective, they wait after two camps before deciding to negotiate a deal to sign Tyler Johnson, but sign this guy right way. Makes No Sense.- Bertschy F
Brassart- I feel like Brassart is one of a few on my list of first "cuts" who, with a good year, can become a good prospect. The reason he's on the "cut" list is because his first year in Iowa, while not bad, was quite unimpressive- Bulmer LW/RW
BussieresLooks like a 2nd round bust. In just 9 fAHL games, Ralphy scored 0 points. In the ECHL he got 16 points in 19 games. The best ECHL players get about a point a game or more and they often have a tough time in the AHL, so he has to do much better. Bussieres has to decide to become a Clutterbuck player. I don't know if he has the speed, but he just has to realize he's not going to be a top 6 player and has to hit people. Often. And then again.a lotall of these first round of "cuts".- Downing
- Gabriel RW
- Graovac C
- BelPedio RD
KnightThis fella who was acquired in the Phillips trade last year had clearly been spinning his wheels in the Boston organization. He had a couple of good years in the OHL, but I don't see the development occurring in Iowa enough to make a difference at 23 years old.- Mitchell
- Eriksson-Ek C
- Greenway LW
- Stezka G
- Kaprizov LW
- Boka D
- Bouramman D
- Sadek D
- Tuch RW
Kahkonen GSure, it's pretty cool that he scored two goals this year as a goalie, but his international play stats are unimpressive and he hasn't had any time called up to the top Finnish professional league. Beyond his performance, the performance of both Michalek and Hoffman will have a big impactc on whether they offer him a contract by the June 1, 2016 deadline.Sjalin DSeriously, what on Earth was MN thinking??? You can't tell me that he was on anyone's radar. The thing is, they have to sign this guy by next June 1st or "lose his rights". I can't see why they would or the mystery will only have deepened! I think this pick is more strategic, as in doing a favor for someone in the Swedish Elite League. His dad is an assistant coach on Ostersunds IK, a development league in Sweden. I think that is in some way the reason for this pick.Faith DAnother head scratcher. Hurt in his draft year, but prior to that completely unimpressive stats. Then, of course, he gets a season ending injury the following year. In the absence of a great year in Canada and despite his size, he won't be signed.- Lang C
- Duke C
- Jenys C/LW
- Olofsson D
- Labbe D
Soucy DI like his size but despite reports coming from the Wild organization that they are pleased with his development (mentioned now two prospect camps in a row) his Duluth statistics and his performance in games I've watched leave me absolutely unimpressed. He must "become" a shut down and -even better- mean, nasty player to make himself a more valuable asset.- Peterson C
Draeger DHasn't done much in 3 years at Michigan State. You can't sign every prospect and he seems like one to let go. I'm completely confident that nobody in MN Wild management will say, "I wish we had signed him."DeJong DHe's scored 0 goals in two years at the University of Michigan. What's he going to do when he goes pro?- Gilmour C
NanneAnyone have any guesses why this player was drafted? Anyone? Obviously because of Grandpa Nanne, and perhaps that is wise. He was poor on a team and in a league where only a very few of the absolute best players see the NHL. I am very anxious to see if he is even offered a contract. Given he decided against going to the University of Minnesota because of pride, I suspect he will realize that if/when a contract is offered.Seeler DUnimpressive stats in Omaha -even under a great coach- plus a year off means his chances are remote at best of hitting the NHL.- Lucia LW
GustafssonSo good in Sweden, so bad in North America. Despite MN holding his rights, he won't be back.
- Hoffman G
- Michalek G
- Gilmour C
- Bertschy F
- Bulmer LW/RW
- Downing F
- Gabriel RW
- Graovac C
- Mitchell W
- Eriksson-Ek C
- Greenway LW
- Stezka G
- Kaprizov LW
- Boka D
- BelPedio RD
- Bouramman D
- Sadek D
- Tuch RW
- Lang C
- Duke C
- Jenys C/LW
- Olofsson D
- Labbe D
- Peterson C
- Lucia LW
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