WildHBcommunity: MNWild 2014 Development Camp Edition: Good, Bad, and Ugly
The Good
The depth and variety of defensive prospects really shined this week for the Minnesota Wild. Never before in franchise history has a group of young blue-liners been in the prospect pipeline like this and going forward there are several kids out of this group that will make the NHL. The group closest to contributing in Saint Paul includes Christian Folin, Gustav Olofsson, and Mathew Dumba. I think that Wild fans and hockey people that took in both prospect scrimmages have a greater appreciation for how stable and strong Folin is already despite making a huge leap from UMass-Lowell to presumably the NHL this fall.
The Wild placed Folin and Olofsson on opposing squads for both prospect scrimmages which was obviously a calculated move to allow each to anchor their respective teams. Folin showed that he was looking to impose his will physically on his fellow Wild prospects and that he was very capable of separating opponents of the puck to then carry and facilitate smooth transition and zone entry as a breakout passer. Folin is physically built and ready to bang bodies in the NHL this fall and will make the team out of training camp.
Olofsson is a player I had only limited views of previous to this week but he has gotten bigger/strong and played with a ton of poise and confidence. Olofsson used his size very well closing out opponents using his body to stifle their opportunities and separate them from the puck. Olofsson is as advertised as a skater and puck handler. This kid was so calm and smart under duress with the puck making subtle moves to escape rather than panic created turnovers. The NHL has become a very puck possession driven league and the size/skill/smarts combination of Olofsson make him a top-tier talent with an NHL future.
In Dumba this week it is easy to be disappointed he didn’t have very many flash-type plays but this difference in his play from last summer is quite promising and notable.
Dumba was the most high profile player on the ice this week and it showed as the opposing team shadowed him and accounted for him at all times. He's worked on his decision making and positioning which will be a significant part of how he can become a difference maker at the NHL level. Dumba’s talent has never been in question, where as his fit and feel for how to be an asset rather than a liability is something that has certainly been a relevant concern.
I am so impressed with how Dumba has handled the Wild’s direction and decisions on his development path. Dumba used the WJHC and a return to the WHL with the Portland Winterhawks as an opportunity to enjoy hockey before he jumps two feet into the pressure cooker. I know Dumba wants to make the NHL roster out of camp but I really think he needs to experience the AHL with the ‘Baby Wild’ first. The top pairing for the Iowa Wild next year will be Dumba with Olofsson and these kids should play heavy minutes in all situations.
The rest of the defensemen group had standout performers this week as well. Guillaume Gelinas was just flat out impressive in both zones with aggressive play that translated to physical hits and goals scored in both scrimmages. Gelinas played in Val d'Or last season scoring an unreal 92 points for a slight of stature overage year defender. Gelinas is smart and feisty looking to create rather than sitting back on his heels. Gelinas will be an instant fan favorite next year with the ‘Baby Wild’ because of his aggressive mentality in both zones that has been missing from this organization.
The group of college defenders was impressive as well with 2014 third-round selection Louie Belpedio contributing a little bit of everything in all three zones in both scrimmages.
Belpedio is a smart hockey player and he will easily transition and contribute this year at Miami-Ohio. Belpedio is the type of hockey player that coaches lean on in leadership roles because of his all-effort completely bought in personality. Carson Soucy is a nice sized kid that will return to Minnesota-Duluth this season in an elevated role. I had almost zero frame of reference for Soucy before this week but he can carry the puck end to end while being strong in the defensive zone. This kid flashed several times in both scrimmages and will be fun to watch next year along with his team mates and invitee winger Alex Iafallo whose has a nice little cult following of his own.
Dylan Labbe is a lanky kid that played some in Iowa to end last year on a PTO when his juniors team had their season end early. Labbe can hit and carry the puck, he should grow some more and be ready to compete in AHL in 2015. Tanner Faith was kid that the Wild drafted in fifth round based specifically on size and potential given that injuries had cost him all but 10 games last season at Kootenay of WHL. Faith is every bit of his listed 6’3” 211lb, he profiles to develop into a stay home type but he showed some offensive skills so staying healthy this season will be extremely important for him in his development.
The ‘Baby Wild’ group included during this week was impressive in general beyond the defenders I mentioned above. The forwards were very good including Kurtis Gabriel, Brady Brassart, Zack Mitchell, and Raphael Bussieres. Those four guys specifically play the type of 200 foot hockey that Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo proved can lead this franchise deep on a playoff run towards winning a Stanley Cup. With so many 20-somethings already on the NHL roster, being able to contribute in the bottom six in a gritty defensive role will be the most likely opportunity for any of the forwards in Iowa this year. Make no mistake these four guys are skilled also with each scoring a bunch of goals and points in their previous stops in Canadian Juniors.
Special mention has to be made of 2014 sixth-round selections Chase Lang & Reid Duke who each played very fast and aggressive in both scrimmages. Land and Duke are both from the WHL and will be fun to follow as they get more playing time and get older. This two battled their tales of in both ends and even took a run at each other Monday night after Duke scored on a deflection then dealt a nasty slash to Lang’s stick. Different hockey minds praised the potential of each of these kids when they were chosen by the Wild as late round flier types. Hope they bring the same time of end to end play they showed this week back with them to their WHL teams this season!
Shout-out to all the Minnesota ties kids that participated this week as well shows high school is going strong here! Michael Shibowski, Tyler Sheehy, Avery Peterson, Vinni Lettieri, Grant Opperman, Hunter Warner, and Zach Palmquist all played well and should be proud of their efforts and hard work to earn this opportunity!
The Bad
I thought that Alex Tuch and Adam Gilmour produced some mixed results with their performance this week as both were better at the X than they had been in Edina on Friday. Gilmour had a surprisingly productive freshman season at Boston College last year despite being buried as the fourth-line center because an experienced talented roster of upper classmen. Gilmour showed a bit more of what I expected on Monday with regard to his ability to play the pivot and handle the puck.
Gilmour even scored on a nice back hand but I think the Wild is hoping that he can be a primary distributor and catalyst for Tuch during the next couple years at BC together. On Friday Gilmour and Tuch played on a line together that looked to be stuck in the mud. Neither was able to carry the puck with success or create much offense at Braemar.
Michael Keranen is definitely a wild card type prospect for the organization given that he is already 24 years old and signed to just a one-year deal after a breakout production wise season in the Finnish Elite League. Keranen is certainly talented but he produced very mixed results this week. Keranen was not able to get loose or do anything dynamic on Friday at Braemar against a lineup full of kid defenders which should be a bit of a red flag. Keranen found more space and opportunity Monday night at the X but I have to believe if he plays in North America this fall he will begin the year in Iowa.
Keranen needs to add to his frame and figure how to adjust to a more physical brand of hockey on this side of the pond.
I didn’t notice the goaltenders much this week which is not surprising given that they are all young and playing with team mates who are unfamiliar to them. Kaapo Kahkonen the Wild’s fourth-round selection in the 2014 NHL draft has yet to even play in a men’s league in Finland so his getting scored on early and often is not a huge deal. Alexandre Belanger only played in Friday’s scrimmage and is probably a kid that will not ever make an appearance in a Wild jersey besides development camp. Michael Shibrowski was pretty good as an invitee but he is buried behind Adam Wilcox for the Gophers so I am not sure what his future holds between the pipes or with the Wild.
The Ugly
I think the ugly of this week is the reality that although these kids were fun to watch and have a ton of talent, not one of these kids profiles to be an elite level goal scorer type in the NHL. Mario Lucia and Tuch are probably the next wave of top tier forward prospects in the pipeline for the Wild and both project to be power forward net crasher two way types.
The Wild could have added a dynamic speed/carry type at No. 18 in this year’s draft with many different players but instead went with a safe pick. I think Tuch was a good pick but honestly I was rooting for Robby Fabbri or Josh Ho-Sang because with so many playmakers and complimentary types throughout the organization someone has to be the alpha to take advantage.
Zack Phillips is a kid that has shown he is quite capable of creating offense with his vision, hockey IQ, and very soft hands. Phillips though has been tasked with improving his skating since his selection by the Wild as the 28th overall pick in 2011. Phillips for better or worst ended up being the most productive ‘Baby Wild’ forward prospect after Jason Zucker and Erik Haula had been promoted. Phillips looked average to be kind this week which should be a HUGE red flag given the level of competition and the expectations of his talent and potential. Phillips obviously feels the pressure and can hear the 1st round bust whispers but not unlike the now departed Tyler Cuma sometimes it just doesn’t work out.
Phillips was paired with Gabriel this week to see if they could generate some offense and sustained possession I would assume as both will be in Iowa next year. Phillips unfortunately was outshined by several other players this week and his skating and ability to drive possession of the puck was suspect. Phillips has to realize turning in a mediocre week as an elder statesmen type prospect means he must work that much harder between now and training camp.
The goaltending position in the Wild’s prospect pipeline is bit underwhelming to be honest with just Johan Gustafsson looking as though he may have an NHL ceiling. Having graduated Darcy Kuemper and traded Matt Hackett in the past 2 seasons it has created a talent gap of young developing netminders. Stephen Michalek and Belanger probably will not get a sniff even at the AHL level so it is almost forgone that the organization will go outside the organization should Kuemper stumble. Gustafsson did not receive much help last year so given how much talent is being added to the ‘Baby Wild’ blue line this season it will surely be sink or swim for him with regard to his development and NHL potential. I still think kuemper will begin this season in Iowa too as the #1 unless Niklas Backstrom or Josh Harding are moved or unavailable.
In his second season as bench boss of the ‘Baby Wild’ I hope that Kurt Kleinendorst can make the most of the infusion of talent he is being entrusted to lead and develop. I think it is very easy to view last year in Des Moines as a throw away season given the relocation of the franchise from Houston and the talent starved roster. I think we still have yet to see what Kleinendorst has to offer though and with as many first year professionals as this team will be adding the pressure is on. Kleinendorst has a Calder Cup and Gold Medal on his resume guiding young players in addition to being a Minnesota native but I am still going to take a wait and see approach with him because last year was pretty terrible for the Iowa Wild.
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Just My Take,
Tony Dean
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