I really would like a forward but the real decent ones will all be gone by the time we pick unless something really unforseen happens. If Galchenyuk is available and we pass this organization will have made a major mistake.
I am leery of Reilly because of the knee issue. Look at Tyler Cuma and Ondrej Fiala; multiple knee injuries and while they may be different there is something to be said for the luck this team has; or in this case doesn't have.
Reilly certainly would be that smallish defender with loads of skill; ala a Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson type, but the knee thing bothers me a lot.
I voted for Griffin Reinhart. He won't be a big point producer, but he's a big body who by everything I've read is getting better and better. I could definitely see this team drafting Olli Maata or Reilly though. Either way, I think we're going to draft a defenseman either because it is an area where we really only have one bluechip candidate and because they are likely the best player available when we make our pick.
Still, I'd like to see us draft speed and scoring with our 2nd round pick. I'd like to see us select Bozon or Winther at that spot if it all possible because our prospect pool is still devoid of pure finishers. We have some power forwards, some good set up guys, but no real pure snipers.
And he has a good hockey pedigree too. I think the Wild have missed out on signing some good finishers when we didn't snag Matt Read and Tyler Johnson after attending our prospect camp. Maybe its just me, but I wouldn't waste contracts on guys like Kris Fredheim; and I think we have some flotsam in our pool that should be washed out.
Bozon fits that role of finisher, and Winther isn't too bad either.
I think is is BS to say that all the quality forwards/D will be gone by #7. Not pulling it up, but I am damn near sure that all star players have been picked up after #7 in every draft since my birth year. There's going to be an all star drafted after #6. Just hope Fletch and co. draft him.
In terms of rankings, most people have the top four forwards going quickly, and then there are a half dozen defensemen all clustered together.
The Wild could have the "worst" of the top forwards fall to them or pick the "best" of the defensemen.
If they have literally zero preference among the defensemen, they could move back a few spots, but I guess they have 1-2 guys targeted and try to nail the pick.
It will be fun to see who rises and falls. I wonder if Grigo falls. Something tells me Dumba could be picked early. Murray might fall, might go #2. Should be interesting.
It will be fun to see who rises and falls. I wonder if Grigo falls. Something tells me Dumba could be picked early. Murray might fall, might go #2. Should be interesting.
I could see Murray falling. Edmonton's not going to pass up Yakupov. I don't see Columbus drafting a defenseman with a #2 pick; they'll be looking for a star forward that puts butts in seats. Montreal's a toss-up if Murray's still on the board, but I think they'll be looking for a center.
Carolina's organizational needs differ so much from ours. Trouba only has one vote compared to our 30-something votes. Looks like they really like Teräväinen. Their team as an affinity for Finns (like us), but they don't shy away from skilled, undersized forwards like Jeff Skinner. They're also looking for some center depth ala Radek Faksa.
Carolina's organizational needs differ so much from ours. Trouba only has one vote compared to our 30-something votes. Looks like they really like Teräväinen. Their team as an affinity for Finns (like us), but they don't shy away from skilled, undersized forwards like Jeff Skinner. They're also looking for some center depth ala Radek Faksa.
They could be a very intriguing team to trade down with.
i would be more open to taking a forward if we bolstered our D through trade at the draft (and of course via a FA Suter) but we neeeeed defense. **** that stupid "you never draft need" ********...what happens when the best player available every year is a goalie? That's what i thought.
i would be more open to taking a forward if we bolstered our D through trade at the draft (and of course via a FA Suter) but we neeeeed defense. **** that stupid "you never draft need" ********...what happens when the best player available every year is a goalie? That's what i thought.
If you draft for "need", it must be for the long term, not the short term. It's quite rare that a short term need could be filled through the draft. And the short term needs for an organization can change from year to year due to trades, injuries and free agency.
..and if you look at the Wild defensive prospect pool, it is quite thin outside of Brodin in terms of top end talent...much more thin than our pool of forward and goalie prospects.
i would be more open to taking a forward if we bolstered our D through trade at the draft (and of course via a FA Suter) but we neeeeed defense. **** that stupid "you never draft need" ********...what happens when the best player available every year is a goalie? That's what i thought.
Goalies can be found all over the draft, they really never are the BPA.
It's more difficult to find a 30-40 goal scorer in the 3-7th round or a 1st pairing defenseman...
If you draft for "need", it must be for the long term, not the short term. It's quite rare that a short term need could be filled through the draft. And the short term needs for an organization can change from year to year due to trades, injuries and free agency.
..and if you look at the Wild defensive prospect pool, it is quite thin outside of Brodin in terms of top end talent...much more thin than our pool of forward and goalie prospects.
Agreed - you want to have depth at all positions, and D is quite thin. If Brodin makes the Wild next fall, we will again have little in the pipeline at d, although Scandella/Brodin is a nice core to build around.
Its kind of a defense heavy draft relative to skilled forwards- there's no question MN looks at skill in the 1st round, and Teravainen fits the mold to a tee.
There are a few guys who project to be rock solid 2's, maybe weak 1's in this Draft, so with skilled forwards at a premium I'd rather snatch one of those up.
I understand what you're saying, but "skilled forwards [are] at a premium" doesn't make a compelling argument to me about drafting one. High-end goalies (in terms of draft position at least) are a rarity in this draft as well, but no one would argue for that to be reason to draft Subban. Our organization's defensive pool has Brodin, a giant empty space, then Seeler and Cuma. Even if there was only a single quality forward in the draft, we might still be better off picking a defenseman. We could pick defensemen with every one of our picks and I wouldn't necessarily say we picked enough of them this year.
Neither team really has incentive to trade up/down one pick if their targeted player is still on the board.
If the Wild view two players as roughly equivalent, and Carolina is worried we might pick "their guy" or worse, trade down to Winnipeg's spot, they would possibly be inclined to move up. Think about the Vikings at their draft. They could trade down because of the threat of someone else moving up.
I don't think it's really likely, but I wouldn't rule out a trade with Carolina.
