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MNWild Select Alex Tuch 18th Overall then Address Blue Line and Goalie |
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WildHBcommunity: MNWild Select Alex Tuch 18th Overall then Address Blue Line and Goalie
Good Afternoon,
Well it is hard to complain about the Minnesota Wild selecting Alex Tuch 18th overall even though I was hoping they would select a couple other players still available. In Tuch the organization has added a 6'4" 220LB Power Forward who will attend Boston College this season and I bet find his way onto a line soon rather than later with Wild prospect Center Adam Gillmour. Tuch is a very promising combination of size and skill not unlike Charlie Coyle who had a similar scouting report into the 2010 NHL Draft.
Alex Tuch Round 1, Pick 18, Overall 18
Birth Date: 1996-05-10 Birth Place: Syracuse, NY
Height: 6-4 Former Team: USNDP (USHL)
Weight: 213
Position: C/RW
Tuch will play in one of the best NCAA progams at BC with some time to develop his game and work on his skating. Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr both state they didnt expect Tuch to be available at the 18th overall pick so when he was still on the board it eliminated their interest in trading down in this draft. The two players I had targeted in my mind Defenseman Travis Sandheim went the pick before the Wild to the host Flyers and Guelph Storm Centerman Robby Fabbri went 21st overall to the St. Louis Blues.
Fletcher and Flahr looked very pleased to add Tuch as they should be because in truth this draft class is more questions than answers so to get a big skilled kid that can slow develop at the NCAA level the value is impressive for a middle of the 1st round pick. In the Central Division and Western Conference in general size/skill combination players are the premium and the Wild have worked to catch up with the perennial powers in that regard.
The Rest of the Minnesota Wild 2014 NHL Draft
Louis Belpedio Round 3, Pick 20, Overall 80
Birth Date: 1996-05-14 Birth Place: Skokie, IL
Height: 5-10 Former Team: USA U18 (USHL)
Weight: 193
Position: D
In the 3rd round with the 80th overall pick the Wild selected an Illinois kid Louis Belpedio who is a right shot defenseman who will attend the University of Miami of Ohio this fall. Belpedio also a member of NTDP along with Tuch, has competed with the best young players in the world. Belpedio has some offensive upside to his game while being a strong defender in his own zone.
The depth of blue liners for the Wild in their organization prospects should allow for Belpedio to take his time at the NCAA level before becoming a professional. Getting a player like Belpedio in the 3rd has the feel of a Flahr steal because this is a kid that was playing Top 4 pairing minutes on that NTDP team that featured so many NHL prospect defenders.
Kaapo Kahkonen Round 4, Pick 19, Overall 109
Birth Date: 1996-08-16 Birth Place: Helsinki, Finland
Height: 6-1 Former Team: Blues (Fin Jr.)
Weight: 209
Position: G
Kahkonen is an active puck stopper who plays the game with confidence especially when seeing a heavy workload. He utilizes the butterfly but rarely swims around his crease unlike others. He goes down and pops right back up quickly and moves side-to-side well. (August 2013)
-Future Considerations Hockey
@IssHockey - "Tremendous puck mover, acts as 3rd defenseman & massive frame w/ lateral movement." - Dec. 17th, 2013
@IssHockey - "Big frame w/ active, quick feet & explosive lateral movement." - Nov. 16th, 2013
-ISS Hockey
Tanner Faith Round 5, Pick 19, Overall 139
Birth Date: 1995-10-05 Birth Place: Wilcox, Sask, Canada
Height: 6-3 Former Team: Kootenay (WHL)
Weight: 211
Position: D
Pontus Sjalin Round 6, Pick 10, Overall 160
Birth Date: 1996-06-12 Birth Place: Sweden
Height: 6-0
Weight: 161
Position: D
Sjalin is very raw, but a high-tools type of player who can skate and handle the puck very well. He’s a typical late-round home run swing.
-Corey Pronman on ESPN.go.com
Chase Lang Round 6, Pick 17, Overall 167
Birth Date: 1996-09-13 Birth Place: Nanaimo, B.C., Canada
Height: 6-1
Weight: 176
Position: C
Reid Duke Round 6, Pick 19, Overall 169
Birth Date: 1996-01-28 Birth Place: Calgary, Alta, Canada
Height: 5-11 Former Team: Lethbridge (WHL)
Weight: 189
Position: C
Pavel Jenys Round 7, Pick 19, Overall 199
Birth Date: 1996-04-02 Birth Place: Brno, Czech Republic
Height: 6-2 Former Team: Brno (Cze)
Weight: 192
Position: C
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Just My Take,
Tony Dean
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