WildHBcommunity: MNWild 2014 Prospect Development Winger Group Preview
The Next Generation of Minnesota Wild Prospects Waiting in the Wings
The Minnesota Wild lacked top tier prospects in their system for so long that the fan base has been spoiled a bit recently with young players being fast tracked to the NHL. With so many of the highly touted 20-somethings graduating to the NHL roster successfully in the past 2 seasons it has created an unrealistic expectation for this next group of prospects in their development and ascension through the different levels of hockey. It sure seems like Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher and Assistant General Manger Brent Flahr are focusing on slowing down the development process throughout the organization’s prospect pipeline.
The signings of several unconventional free agent young players (Michael Keranen, Brady Brassart, Zack Mitchell, and Cody Almond) should allow for extended time frames on the likes of Mario Lucia, Alex Tuch, Raphael Bussieres, Kurtis Gabriel, Reid Duke, and Chase Lang. This next group obviously is highlighted by the top tier types like Lucia and Tuch who both profile to become Top 6 power forward on the wing eventually but Bussieres and Gabriel may find themselves in the NHL sooner because of their ability to contribute with rugged play which may allow for them to crack the bottom of the roster without it affecting their development.
No position in the organization better illustrates the change in system and mentality than the wingers because with the focus on size and ability to play a two way style of hockey the next generation of prospects has been hand selected to fit that mold. Really the only departure of size and strength by the Wild in acquiring young wingers has been Keranen who is a dangler with a slight build from Ilves Tampere who has been nick named the “Ilves Datsyuk… which is lofty for the late bloomer.
Another Skilled Finn Added to the Bunch
In Keranen the Wild has added another talented Finn who is rumored to be spending the summer training with Mikael & Marcus Granlund in Finland. Keranen is 24 years old 6’1… 176lbs and coming to North America after leading his team and the league in scoring with 17 goals and 52 points in a breakout season that put him on the map with scouts. Keranen has very good hands and vision so he definitely fits the profile of a player that could succeed in the NHL despite a slight frame but as we saw with “Finnish Jesus… during his rookie campaign the transition is never guaranteed.
I am glad Keranen is being included in this summer’s prospect development camp because every bit of ice time on the smaller ice surface will provide him with a better idea of what to prepare for. Keranen is a bit a of mystery as he really only has one true impressive season of production in Europe and although there exists multiple highlight reels on YouTube, I am not sure if he will stay in North America if/when he does not make the Wild’s NHL roster this fall. Certainly Keranen will have an opportunity to earn a spot but he will be battling the likes of Jason Zucker, Justin Fontaine, and Brett Bulmer.
Minnesota Ties & Coach's Kid Enough to Get Fans Excited for Mario
Mario Lucia a winger at Notre Dame has the bloodlines and pedigree as a coach’s son to write a storybook type career of hockey but he will be provided plenty of time and opportunity to enjoy the college experience. Lucia will be featured by the Fightin’ Irishmen this season in a more prominent role after the graduated a group of player that had been cemented in their Top 6 forwards. Lucia is an interesting prospect because he has an NHL body now but people have differing opinions on his skill set.
Lucia scored a ton of goals two years ago after leaving Minnesota high school hockey for Penticton of the BCHL and now after 2 seasons at Notre Dame he has scored 28 goals and 54 points. With an elevated role and increased ice time will Lucia become a premier NCAA goal scorer? I think Lucia will turn pro next year depending of course on how his junior season goes but his size and skill combination should serve him well as he graduates to the pro game.
2014 18th Overall Selection Headed to Boston College This Fall
Alex Tuch is the Wild’s 2014 1st round selection 18th overall from the United States National Development Program. Tuch is headed to Boston College for his freshmen season to hopefully play on a line with fellow Wild prospect Adam Gilmour. Tuch has a huge frame at 6’4… 220lbs but he has shown very good hands and offensive ability for a player his size. Tuch could potentially play some center as well but he profiles very similar to the Wild’s Charlie Coyle who was large skilled teenager when Fletcher swung the Brent Burns trade to bring him to Minnesota.
The NHL has evolved to a much more skilled brand of hockey so players that are skilled with the size of Coyle, Lucia, and Tuch truly are at a premium. Tuch should be afforded at least 3 seasons at BC to develop his game before looking to become a professional. Tuch will be a valuable prospect for the Wild and is sure to be included on US National Team during future international competition as well. Tuch needs to work on his puck carrying and generating his own shot. Tuch also needs to work on being more physical at the NCAA level.
Veterans of the Baby Wild After Just One Season Will Provide the Nasty
The Wild has a pair of grinders with some scoring acumen in Gabriel and Bussieres. Both players played in Iowa last year and will be depended on to set the tone physically this year. Gabriel is 6’4… 215lbs a 3rd round selection from 2013 is sure to be a fan favorite for the ‘Baby Wild’ this season as he plays a passionate physical brand of hockey. Gabriel was a leader in every sense of the word for Owen Sound of the OHL which caught the eye of the Wild’s scouting department.
Gabriel’s ability to influence the game physically while still being capable of relevant hockey skills is something to look forward to as he develops in Iowa. Gabriel certainly will have a shot to make himself among the first call ups to Saint Paul to add some toughness and grit to the bottom of the roster this year.
Bussieres was a 2nd round selection in 2012 from Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL after scoring 29 goals and 68 points in 60 games during the 2012-13 season. Bussieres turned pro last year playing in Iowa he scored 5 goals and 19 points in 61 games which is hardly lighting the world on fire in his rookie campaign. Taking it in perspective a bit the upheaval of the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate from Houston to Des Moines certainly played a part in a rough first season of existence for the ‘Baby Wild… but it is certainly concerning.
Bussieres is a bit of a puzzle to figure out as a prospect because he certainly has proven he can played a skilled brand of hockey in Canadian Juniors but his future role doesn’t seem to be as a top 6 forward. Bussieres is 6’1… 198lbs which was certainly big enough to impose his will during his juniors career but at the professional level he will have to develop into a much shiftier in an agitator type of role. Bussieres doesn’t shy away from physical play which will serve him well as he attempts to carve out a role for himself with the Wild. It is still very early in his career so I am not trying to dismiss him by any means as a skilled forward but I think what we have seen thus far is that he is not a sniper or a power forward either.
The Rest of the Group Tough to Tell at This Point
I have seen very little of Zack Mitchell, Reid Duke, Chase Lang, and Louis Nanne to this point but all of these wingers definitely register among the Wild’s prospect rankings and each could elevate his status and profile within the organization and scouting community. Mitchell was signed out of Guleph of the OHL as an overage free agent. Mitchell had a very good juniors career and nearly pushed his team to a Memorial Cup this year. Mitchell is a fiery winger with a scoring touch and nice motor. Mitchell should be among the driving forces offensively for the ‘Baby Wild’ this season. Mitchell is 6’0… 185lbs and a right shot winger, he battles in the corners while also being capable of creating his own shot something that was missing in Iowa last year. Mitchell will be in his rookie season in the AHL this year so I don’t want to build him up to let down but I expect the way he plays the game to translate to success in Iowa but I am not sure about his NHL ceiling yet.
In Duke and Lang the Wild went mining for potential on two wingers that will spend the next couple years playing in the WHL for Lethbridge and Calgary respectively. Duke was a player I saw people identify as a sleeper prospect type while others believe Lang is capable of generating a bunch of offensive production in the coming years. Both will be interesting to follow as down the road type prospects.
The Nearly Graduated Prospects Group
The wingers in this group that are the most compelling to attempt to figure out are the older and farther along prospects like Jason Zucker, Justin Fontaine, and Brett Bulmer. Each has seen NHL action so they all fall into the tweener category of young professionals and prospects. I think we all have seen at least two of these three in about every rumored deal with young players headed elsewhere to address the needs of the NHL roster. Each of these guys has NHL talent but they have failed to completely launch which has created differing opinions and doubt about their futures in Minnesota.
With Zucker has skill set and speed have made him an instant favorite among the Team 18,001 in the State of Hockey. Zucker’s aggressiveness offensively was certain refreshing on a team that seems to defer to the pass almost entirely. Zucker has scored goals and provided exciting signature moments in each of his hockey stops thus far in his professional hockey career and college. Zucker is tough to figure out though with regard to his role in the Wild’s lineup because he has been on the wrong side of Head Coach Mike Yeo for a lack of defensive ability and awareness in his game.
It has been mentioned that if Zucker is not playing in the Top 6 forwards in Minnesota then he will not be playing at all which drives many of us crazy. Zucker’s offensive abilities should serve to balance out whatever he lacks in the defensive end but in truth that has not proven to be the case yet. Hopefully playing with more skilled line mates on a skilled new look 3rd line this season is the answer to keep Zucker in the lineup and in a Wild sweater. I think many of us hope that to open the 2014-15 season, the 3rd line will include Zucker centered by Erik Haula and with Nino Niederreiter or Justin Fontaine on the other wing.
In Fontaine the Wild has a player that although he is undersized and less heralded than their other young forwards just seems to contribute but any means necessary. Fontaine was a member of the national champion Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs squad and he signed with the Wild as a NCAA free agent. Fontaine then spent two seasons in Houston scoring 39 goals and 111 points. Fontaine played in 66 games last season with the Wild scoring 13 goals and 21 points while bouncing up and down the line combinations. Fontaine is another talented offensive player without a defined role for the Wild. He is too small to play a more physical defensive bottom 6 role and not quite fast enough or consistent offensively to challenge for a top 6 spot.
Last but certainly not least it Bulmer who is a favorite of mine dating back to his 9 game stint in 2011 before being returned to Calgary of the WHL. Bulmer has battled a string of injuries the past couple years that have opened the door for the Wild’s other talented young forwards to pass him up on the way to the NHL. Bulmer has flashed at different times a combination of speed, skill, and physical play to would be valuable to the Wild who could use some boom in their lineup. Bulmer appeared in only 43 games in both of his first two years as a professional. If Bulmer can show up to training camp this year and prove ready to contribute to the NHL squad this year he could be a perfect complement to the 4th line of Kyle Brodziak, Matt Cooke, and Cody Almond.
The Wild don’t have a no doubt goal scorer type in the organizational prospects at the wing position or otherwise but they have added players that will fit their current system. It now appears they will attempt to have the ‘Baby Wild’ playing a similar style to what Yeo has installed in Saint Paul. I think while none of these guys profiles to light the world on fire it doesn’t mean they will not be successful or exciting to see develop over the next couple years. I think it is really a case of knowing what to look for with this group of wingers.
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Just My Take, Tony Dean Follow Me on Twitter @TonyDeanTHW Also Like the WildHBcommunity of FaceBook here: WildHBCommunity on FaceBook