WildHBcommunity: A Look at Four Forwards in Wild's Prospect Pipeline
Zack Phillips
The Minnesota Wild will surely be looking to move on from former 1st round selection in 2011 Zack Phillips sooner rather than later. Phillips looked to be a steal at 28th overall and major part of why the Brent Burns trade was to be a signature move in the Chuck Fletcher rebuild of the Wild.
Phillips has very good hands and has shown excellent hockey IQ but he has failed to improve his skating and strength which were things that were identified as weaknesses upon his selection back in 2011. Phillips has played himself out of the top prospect column and into the bust category. On this side of the perspective on him, the QMJHL production he enjoyed looks inflated and hollow given how little he has accomplished with his ample opportunity at the AHL level.
Beyond failing to produce offensively as the organization expected upon using a 1st round pick to select him, his attitude, effort, and play in the defensive end of the rink have eliminated any chance that he would deserving of an NHL call up. Phillips is the most disappointing prospect in the Wild organization since A.J. Thelen was selected 12th overall in 2004 by Doug Risebrough.
I think everyone involved in the organization viewed this season as a last chance for Phillips to commit to improving the things that have held back his game. It would be pretty impressive for Fletcher to get anything of value for Phillips now. Phillips has another year on his entry level deal but I think kit would be a shocker for him to be in a Wild uniform next year even in Des Moines.
I don't think anyone expected Phillips to be a sniper/goal scorer as a pro but the things that are keeping him from making the impact in the AHL that was expected given his skill set and projection as a playmaker are the same things the team identified from day one. Phillips may be a project type of addition for another organization this offseason.
Tyler Graovac
In Tyler Graovac the Minnesota Wild unearthed a diamond in the rough using a 7th round selection in the 2011 NHL draft on a big pivot who was playing for the Ottawa 67's. Graovac would emerge in his second Juniors season as a Wild prospect, as the best player on a bad Ottawa team. Graovac was traded midway through the 2012-13 season to Belleville. Graovac finished his Canadian Juniors career with a 38 goal 73 point performance with elevated his stock within the Wild's organizational prospect rankings.
Graovac turned professional last year playing 64 games with the "Baby Wild" with sparse production 12 goals and 25 points but he earned rave reviews for his size and skill combination. This season Graovac has become the top scoring option on a struggling team in Des Moines. Graovac has become a top prospect for the organization from an unlikely place in the bottom of the draft which is a testament to his work ethic and growth of his game.
Graovac is still so young at 22 years old that the potential for him to grow into his 6'4" 200LB+ frame has to be very promising for Fletcher and his right hand man Brent Flahr. Graovac's performance and size/skill package is a bit of a tease given that he obviously needs another year of AHL seasoning but his presence could very well make Erik Haula expendable should the right trade be proposed to Fletcher.
Graovac although still very young and inexperienced is the farthest center prospect along in his development when you look at the organizational prospect depth chart that includes Adam Gilmour, Avery Peterson, Pavel Jenys, Reid Duke, and Chase Lang. Graovac has most definitely eclipsed Phillips as the most likely NHL call up from the Baby Wild should they require a center or a forward in general.
Graovac can skate, hit, shoot, and contribute in both ends of the ice. Graovac has the type of size and skill combination that will foster a smoother transition to the NHL game and it really appears that he could be called upon to contribute to the big club once rosters are expanded come playoff time. If Fletcher swings for the fences on a major swap the ability to call Graovac up could make a package centered around Haula make sense.
Mario Lucia
I have to admit when the Wild selected this coaches kid in the 2nd round of the 2011 NHL draft, I really viewed it as a multi-layered selection. Basically I thought the team gets a nice little public relations boost by selecting a Minnesota high school hockey player whose father just so happens to be the gate keeper for Gophers hockey.
Lucia left Minnesota before finishing his high school career to play for Penticton of the BCHL which at the time was a very curious move. Lucia scored 42 goals and 94 points playing for Penticton which is obviously an inflated number but it gave the left winger a big boost towards joining the collegiate ranks with Notre Dame. Lucia joined a very top heavy Irish squad that forced him to play a very blue collar role during his freshman and sophomore season.
This season Lucia returned to the Irish as their top scoring option on a now young team with an opportunity to grow his game and play in all situations. Lucia is a big body left wing who has proven at the NCAA level he can produce scoring and be a difference maker against any team in the nation to include his father's Gophers. Lucia is the leading the Irish currently with 18 goals in 32 games and is third on the team in scoring with 25 points.
Lucia is going to be a 50/50 to turn professional in 2015 in my mind, it certainly helps that he has carried over his puck skills and scorer mentality to being focused on by opponents of Notre Dame this season. Lucia is a true power forward prospect which at minimum means that competing against adults in the AHL and rugged defensemen in the NHL wont be a huge shock to his system next year.
Lucia's development will be closely monitored by Fletcher and Flahr which may ultimately dictate whether he returns for a Senior season with the Irish or becomes top scoring threat for the "Baby Wild" next season. Lucia was certainly impressive when I saw him up close in Eagan during the Wild prospect scrimmage this past summer. Fletcher has looked to fix how much his squad gives away size wise and the selection of Lucia was a shot across that bow in trying to address it going forward.
Lucia could also be made available should the organization hold a higher opinion of 2014 1st round draft pick Alex Tuch than him. I think both of those kids have NHL potential and would give the Wild a huge advantage size and skill wise over other organizations top prospects.
Alex Tuch
Having watched Alex Tuch play a handful of games both during the WJHC and with Boston College, I have a ton of faith that this kid will make an impact at the NHL level for the Wild in a couple years. When the Wild were on the clock at 18th overall during the 2014 NHL draft visions of Robbi Fabbri, David Pastrnak, or Josh Ho-Sang were dancing in my head but Fletcher and Flahr could not get up to the potium fast enough to announce that the United States Developmental Program member would be the selection.
Tuch is just a baby in terms of hockey experience but he has hit the ground running playing college hockey for Boston College. Tuch has scored 12 goals and 25 points in 29 games while playing on a line centered by another Wild prospect Adam Gilmour. I think all the prospect experts expected Tuch to come back to earth production wise without all world talent Jack Eichel (Boston University) setting the plate for him this year as a freshmen.
Tuch's biggest knock from what I have seen around hockey twitter and in general was his ability to handle the puck and create scoring chances for himself. I think Tuch's performance during the WJHC went along way towards eliminating that question in people's minds despite a disappointing tournament from Team USA.
Tuch is a ways out prospect wise in my mind so returning to BC next season seems nearly certain but he definitely has the top end ability to develop into a two-way forward at the NHL level. Fletcher and Flahr have to be thrilled having Tuch playing his college hockey with the most improved prospect Gilmour. That duo has carried the Eagles production wise and sit a top the team's point rankings Tuch with 12 goals and 25 points in 29 games while Gilmour has 8 goals and 23 points in 30 games.
I have to believe Fletcher and Flahr will be quietly monitoring Hockey East game for game the next couple of years with Lucia, Tuch, and Gilmour all powering their respective teams to victories. Tuch is the next generation for the Wild and his development is a huge priority towards what should be a big skilled future at the forward position. Gone is the tiny skilled finesse Wild teams of old and in a loaded Western Conference it feels good to have big bodies in the pipeline.
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