1. Mikael Granlund, Center
2. Marco Scandella, Defense
3. Jonas Brodin, Defense
4. Charlie Coyle, Center
5. Jason Zucker, Right Wing
6. Zack Phillips, Center
7. Johan Larsson, Left Wing
8. Justin Falk, Defense
9. Erik Haula, Center
10. Tyler Cuma, Defense
Organizational Ranking: 13th
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Good read. I found myself nodding in agreement on several occasions. However, I have a few questions and comments. :-)
For starters, I was under the impression that Charlie Coyle had been inserted as the Wild's #2 prospect upon arrival from San Jose. How closely would you rate numbers two through four on this list?
I was hoping to read a bit more about two of our goalie prospects in Kuemper and Endras. Did you have any info to pass along regarding those two?
Casey Wellman: He IS a dynamic skater with notable acceleration. There was talk of him having a good shot coming out of the NCAA, but it has not translated into NHL goals so far.
During the course of your research which prospect(s) did you feel "gained/lost" the most relative to your opinion of them pre-article? Were there any trends with scouts being noticeably optimistic/pessimistic towards any of the players?
Lastly, I was wondering if you would change the Wild's organizational ranking now that you've had another look at it. It appears to me as if 10-14 are virtually interchangeable, and that a closer examination could lead to a shuffling of places.
Lot of people I talked to love Coyle. I'm not pumping him up to top 25-30 prospect in hockey yet as he's too far away and I'm not super sold on any top-end upside. Scandella was a distant 2 from Brodin and Coyle, and I'd safely put Brodin over Coyle.
I have a bit on Kuemper, but I spend very little time researching goalie prospects, not a good usage of my resources spending time on a very minimal value position. Kuemper plays a fill the net style, using his size and isn't a flashy goalie, but squares up and absorbs a lot of pucks. There are some concerns about his mental game. Have heard sources say he could push Hackett next year in the AHL for the starting gig.
Nobody really rose, but sources kind of killed on Wellman and Bulmer.
In the middle of the pack, you're right you can interchange a lot of the systems. I did it mostly upside heavy driven, change your variables a little one way and it could change the entire complexion of it.
thanks for the extra info! The only part that surprises me is that you rate Scandella, Brodin, and Coyle clearly apart from each other. I'd guess they're closer to interchangeable, but I suppose your system provides for a more detailed ranking than my 'eyeball-metric'. ;-)
In terms of ceiling I don't think they're that far apart, but it all has to do too with likeliness of reaching that ceiling depending where and how their development has gone.
Good write! i've been watching both Brodin and Granlund alot this year and you seem to read my mind. Brodin needs more confidence on physical play, and Granlund is very underrated at defensive zone, with his hockey sense he makes it look very easy. He plays % hockey. Trying to make best possible play for the team everytime, not greedy with puck he knows when to pass it. Still amazed with his pass at WC final against sweden on 4-1 goal. It tells everything about him as a player. you can see it from 5.35 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqO9DVqLIO0 .
I like Genoway, but more of a he's fun to watch like than I think he'll be anything like. He's super agile and crafty with the puck, but he's more of a sleeper type who really has to prove it over a long pro season before I believe that there's anything real to his projection.
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Hi Corey,
Good read. I found myself nodding in agreement on several occasions. However, I have a few questions and comments. :-)
For starters, I was under the impression that Charlie Coyle had been inserted as the Wild's #2 prospect upon arrival from San Jose. How closely would you rate numbers two through four on this list?
I was hoping to read a bit more about two of our goalie prospects in Kuemper and Endras. Did you have any info to pass along regarding those two?
Casey Wellman: He IS a dynamic skater with notable acceleration. There was talk of him having a good shot coming out of the NCAA, but it has not translated into NHL goals so far.
During the course of your research which prospect(s) did you feel "gained/lost" the most relative to your opinion of them pre-article? Were there any trends with scouts being noticeably optimistic/pessimistic towards any of the players?
Lastly, I was wondering if you would change the Wild's organizational ranking now that you've had another look at it. It appears to me as if 10-14 are virtually interchangeable, and that a closer examination could lead to a shuffling of places.
Keep up the excellent work!
Cheers
out of town currently .... will get to this on Sunday
Lot of people I talked to love Coyle. I'm not pumping him up to top 25-30 prospect in hockey yet as he's too far away and I'm not super sold on any top-end upside. Scandella was a distant 2 from Brodin and Coyle, and I'd safely put Brodin over Coyle.
I have a bit on Kuemper, but I spend very little time researching goalie prospects, not a good usage of my resources spending time on a very minimal value position. Kuemper plays a fill the net style, using his size and isn't a flashy goalie, but squares up and absorbs a lot of pucks. There are some concerns about his mental game. Have heard sources say he could push Hackett next year in the AHL for the starting gig.
Nobody really rose, but sources kind of killed on Wellman and Bulmer.
In the middle of the pack, you're right you can interchange a lot of the systems. I did it mostly upside heavy driven, change your variables a little one way and it could change the entire complexion of it.
Hey,
thanks for the extra info! The only part that surprises me is that you rate Scandella, Brodin, and Coyle clearly apart from each other. I'd guess they're closer to interchangeable, but I suppose your system provides for a more detailed ranking than my 'eyeball-metric'. ;-)
Cheers
In terms of ceiling I don't think they're that far apart, but it all has to do too with likeliness of reaching that ceiling depending where and how their development has gone.
The more I think about it, the more the hyping of two recent additions - as compared to an "old" prospect - has probably influenced my thinking.
New toys always seem better than old toys, at first. :-)