WildHBcommunity: MNWild 2014 Prospect Development Center Group Preview
Christmas in July as the Minnesota Wild Showcases Young Talent
I have been writing about the Minnesota Wild for a little over 4 years now and my interest in becoming a content generator (Blogger, Writer, and anything else you consider me to be) can be directly attributed with the arrival of Chuck Fletcher & Brent Flahr to The State of Hockey. Their aggressive pursuit and acquisitions of young talent to begin the redefinition of this franchise truly captured my attention and imagination. I was hooked on finding out more and more about that 2010 Wild draft class that included a highly touted puck wizard from Finland, a captain of the WJHC winning Sweden squad, big winger with speed and a nasty streak out of Canadian Juniors, and a all go all show high flying winger out of the desert.
Each year since the summer of 2010 the Wild has used their prospect development camp as an introduction to the organization for their prospects while allowing the fan base in on the action like it is an inside secret between close confidants. The summer development camp has featured many activities for the young hockey players from paintball leadership building competitions to power skating lessons with an industry expert. Most of the camp is captured by the production cameras for the Wild produced ‘Becoming Wild’ which is basically a very popular behind the scenes glimpse at the inner workings of the organization. In offering up 2 free to the public prospect scrimmages it allows the fan base the opportunity to get a taste of what the future holds for the organization’s young talent and helps to build the brand and following.
Something very interesting about this summer’s prospect development camp for the Wild is that they are shuffling the deck on their AHL roster after allowing several mainstays like Tyler Cuma, Kris Foucalt, Steven Kampfer, Carson MacMillian, Warren Peters, and Jake Dowell. The infusion of young skilled talent this year will surely be a means to help build the fan following and brand of the ‘Baby Wild’ and the first glimpses of key contributors will take place in the Twin Cities this week.
I have decided the best avenue of approach for me to preview the Wild’s prospect development camp and organization prospects in general is to separate it out into position groupings. Below I will profile each of the current Wild’s center prospect that will either attend the camp or that have not fully graduated to the NHL yet.
The Minnesota Wild's Organization Prospects Center Group
I think this position group is a bit of a weakness for the Wild as they have yet to truly get a great indicator that any of their top prospects at the position will eventually have a future in the Top 6 at the NHL level. They have added talent to this group though and have a wide range of options in the pipeline at every level of hockey though so maybe one or two of the kids in this group take a step forward.
It will be interesting to see how Zack Phillips, Tyler Graovac, and Brady Brassart are deployed this season in Iowa. Each has NHL size to play the pivot but all must put together strong AHL season to reinforce their potential. Phillips is entering a crucial season in his professional career as he has yet to have his QMJHL production translate to the AHL which has created doubts about his NHL future.
Phillips is a gifted playmaker with great vision and excellent hands but his skating has limited his ability to drive the possession and create scoring against other professionals. Phillips being a former 1st round selection as a part of the Brent Burns trade will always add scrutiny and pressure but just 60 points in 147 games at the AHL level is cause of concern given the projection of his potential by the front office and scouting staff.
Phillips was often paired up with Graovac on his wing during the first season of Iowa Wild hockey largely in part to the lack of offensive fire power on that roster. I am interested to see if they keep those two paired up which would most likely mean limited ice time as a center for Graovac who was limited to 64 games last year with injuries scoring a paltry 13 goals and 25 points. Brassart is a rugged pivot he seems to profile as a Kyle Brodziak-esq type who will center a line in the bottom six for the Wild if he ever reaches the NHL. Brassart plays a strong two-way game and should play a major role on the penalty kill for the ‘Baby Wild’ after he signed an entry level deal with the organization as an overage free agent.
The organization added several other young centers who are 2-3 years at least away from even reaching the AHL like Avery Peterson, Adam Gimour, Christoph Bertschy, and Pavel Jenys. Each of these young guys may take a large step in their development this season and change opinion and perspective on their NHL futures but as of right now I don’t think any is viewed as more than projects with potential.
Gilmour has the blood lines and will hopefully be featured in a prominent role for Boston College this season after adding production and skill to their 4th line in his freshmen tour of duty. Gilmour could also be paired up with fellow Wild prospect 2104 1st round selection Alex Tuch who will is a freshman at BC this year something the Wild previously has pushed for with other prospects.
Peterson is a former Mr. Hockey Minnesota who is a very under the radar type prospect despite scoring 35 goals and 65 points in just 25 games for Grand Rapids high school. Peterson joined Sioux City of the USHL for 27 games last season scoring 6 goals and 21 points. He will attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha this fall giving us a better look at him against NCAA competition.
In Bertschy and Jenys the Wild invested late round fliers on European projects that may never materialize into professional hockey players. Bertschy is a speedy Swiss pivot that looked to fall off the map prospect wise a bit last season before returning from injury and improving his production and role with Bern of the NLA. Bertschy when selected was identified as a sleep type late round prospect so his inclusion on the Switzerland WJHC team was a good sign but an injury caused him to sit out this year.
Jenys is from the Czech Republic, his size and strength is possibly his most promising trait as he has been very good along the boards battling with opponents in international competition with national team. Jenys may develop a more skilled game but at this point his frame and aggressiveness is a good sign he could potentially grow into something more. He will play for HC Krometa Bmo of the Czech league this coming season.
The Return of Yeo Favorite Cody Almond to the State of Hockey
The other interesting news to come out this morning was the return of former Wild center prospect Cody Almond who left the organization despite appearing on the verge of cracking the NHL lineup before the 2012-13 lockout shortened season. Almond was a 5th round selection of the Wild in 2007 who played a major role for the Mike Yeo led Houston Aeros before signing a 2 year deal with Geneve-Servette of the NLA where he scored 26 goals and 64 points in 83 regular season games over 2 season with the Swiss club.
Almond will add grit and physical play to the Wild’s 4th line this year so his return could mean that he play the wing with Kyle Brodziak or he takes over as the 4th line center should the veteran be on the move via trade. Almond is a player Yeo knows well and his return to the organization after 2 seasons abroad is an interesting monkey wrench in the plan for the bottom of the NHL roster. I doubt Almond would agree to return to Minnesota to play in Iowa so this is yet another indicator that Fletcher is still looking to maneuver this summer.
The Wild Have Depth and Versatility Down the Middle
The NHL roster for the Wild has 5 players right now capable of playing the center position in Mikael Granlund, Mikko Koivu, Erik Haula, Charlie Coyle, and Kyle Brodziak. At current the Top 9 center positions are locked up but the 4th line pivot could become an open competition if Fletcher is able to move Brodziak which it has been rumored he has actively working on.
Whether or not Haula or Coyle will eclipse Koivu this season to become the second line center remains to be seen but ultimately both are versatile enough to be effective on the wing so it gives the Wild flexibility and depth down the middle. I think usage and role for Coyle, Haula, and Nino Niederreiter this season could be the most contentious talking point among the Wild faithful as Yeo will be under the microscope to make the most of his young core forwards.
I am not a huge fan of Coyle when used as a center BUT we have seen he doesn’t carry the puck or create his own shot very much so maybe focusing on a two-way playmaker complimentary type role could benefit him and the Wild going forward? If Coyle materialized as a more polished pivot next season he could be slotted in as the third line center and the Wild would be as strong as any team in the NHL down the middle of the ice.
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Just My Take,
Tony Dean
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