Tyler Graovac or Erik Haula?
 

Both are former 7th round picks. Both are doing respectable on their team. If you had to pick one, who would you sign?

Tough one, but Graovac.

I agree with the doc. Either way, two great 7th rounders.

Interesting.

I would pick Haula personally. He's had more success in all of the leagues he's been in, is playing in college and hasn't been as injury prone as Graovac.

It's weird picking against him because I am a Haula fan, but I just don't know where he plays. Obviously not at C, with Koivu and Granlund; if we move him to wing, he has to pass up Zucker, which I don't find too likely. He would be an AHL call up for quite a while.

Graovac, while not as offensively talented, will probably have an easier time finding a spot on the roster. 4th C, 3rd line W possibly even 3rd line C if he continues to progress.

Anyways, I hope we don't have to make this choice.

I think if we roll three lines, Haula will find a place.

I don't see Haula ever getting a significant stretch in the NHL. Not that Graovac will be either, but I think he has a more protectable frame and skill set so that will only help him.

If he's healthy.

Haula might be a tad smaller (5'10") but he's still a gamer.

6" smaller.

stoner's a big guy. he's injured all the time. there are others. size doesn't equal durability. It certainly helps and in a clean slate situation you'd pick the bigger guy to stay healthy in a contact sport but history counts more than size. i don't recall the specifics of his injuries--if they're odd like taking a leg breaking slash or having a skate blade slice you up then no worries. if they're the kind taken in the normal course of play then...

My heart says Haula, but my mind says Graovac.

Haula for me, never like Graovac...

I do however like our Scouting staff !

Would have to be Graovac. Haula has certainly come a long long way as a 7th round pick, but as the good doctor says, how does he fit in the NHL? To be top 6, he has to beat out one of Parise/Koivu/Granlund/Zucker. Can he play a bottom 6 role? Even if you look at running 3 "scoring" lines, would he beat out a Brodziak/Larsson/Bulmer/[FA signing]/[newer draft pick]?

Graovac projects more in the line of a bottom 6 player. He certainly has a long way to go before he could play in the NHL. But he definitely fits this team better with his projection and potential. If we were talking about a different team, maybe I'd choose differently. If we were talking about Nashville, I might say that Haula is the better choice. But with the Wild, I go with Graovac 11 times out of 10.

Anybody think Haula might opt not to sign here? Maybe go to a place like Nashville or SJ where the path is a little less clogged? Depending on if the loophole isn't closed in the next CBA, I could see it happen.

Well he's not going to generate the same interest that Schultz did. He's in a bit of a tough spot in that regard. Legally, other teams couldn't let him know if there's interest, but without significant reassurance that interest is out there, can he really risk leaving his parent club (unless the Wild tell him they're not going to sign him)? I think the Schultz situation won't be repeated here. If anything, we'd probably work out a trade for his rights.

It would be a minor risk on his part, but I have to believe there would be interest from some of the shallower organizations. Definitely not Schultz-type interest, but JT Brown-type interest maybe.

Graovac for me. I don't see Haula getting a chance in the big league. Graovac might get one if he progressed in his development like this season.

Haula

I think he could beat out Bulmer personally. Bulmer might end up on the 4th line.

Graovac is a very mature kid. I talked to him over the phone for the Wild Prospect Handbook and he clearly just loves to play hockey. If I am going to spend a 7th round pick, thats the type of pick I want to spend it on, even if he isn't as skilled.

Nice thing that he is also skilled too lol

I'd take Haula. More personal exposure to him and he's really progressing more than I thought when he first started...his biggest knock was consistency last year and looks like he's licked that one. May not end up any better than Mittens but he's closer to that than Graovac is to anything IMO.

Graovac seems like he could become a player..and he's a sizable kid up the middle.

Haula is a dime a dozen prospect IMO..

as for 7th round picks they are both gems though

I would pick Haula at this point, and it's not a hard choice for me.

Haula has an all-around game that will fit somewhere at the NHL level.

I feel like they play different games, so you have to look at what the teams needs are. Graovac I feel like if successful, could be a good power/big guy on the 3rd or 4th line, maybe fill in for Brodziak in the future. Haula, on the other hand is more of a skill guy, playmaker. Which we may already have in another guy, such as Larsson or Phillips, so might have to sign a Graovac, just based on team needs

So your saying he will be capable of playing a checking role in the NHL??

Because the ONLY way he is playing a top 6 role with the likes of Heatley, Koivu, Coyle, Granlund, Zucker, Phillips, Larsson,Lucia and future FA signings around is if he plays on another team.

He will never play top 6 for the Wild. And I don't think he is capable of being a sandpaper guy in the bottom 6. Even if he develops that part of his game who is he going to beat out? Larsson, Bulmer, Zucker are WAY ahead of him not only in development of everything else but also that grittiness that it takes to be a bottom 6 guy in the NHL.

On top of that he isn't an above average skater like a Darrol Powe, Stephane Veilleux type..are those guys great players? Not really but they can skate which sets them apart from the other checking forwards and gives them a chance to play in the league..

Haula is at best a minor league semi-scorer just like a Kris Foucault type without the grittiness of Foucault even..think Chad Rau.