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.
And when you can do that at 6-4, 220, you're going to have a really good shot to be an NHL player. He's only going to get better at BC, too.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) June 28, 2014Fletcher 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.
MIN select Tuch (my rank: 21), huge forwards with legitimate skill are tough to find and Tuch has it. Won't be a primary puck carrier though
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 28, 2014The 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.
Really like Belpedio who MIN took. Small, but plays well in both-ends.
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 28, 2014With Belpedio, think Jared Spurgeon light. #mnwild
— Dan Shrader (@ShraderD) June 28, 2014
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)
@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
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
#mnwild scout Paul Charles was a big fan of Faith. Tough, hard to play against but couldn't stay healthy.
— Dan Shrader (@ShraderD) June 28, 2014
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.
MIN takes Pontus Sjalin. Mentioned him as a possible sleeper here http://t.co/k3GpWrZ6uP
— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 28, 2014Chase 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
Outstanding pick by Minnesota with Chase Lang at 167. His offensive production will explode over next 2 years. #2014NHLDraft
— Ross MacLean (@rossmaclean) June 28, 2014Reid 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
Outstanding 6th rnd value for #MnWIld: Reid Duke #THW Prospect Profile by @RyanNPike http://t.co/2JL89KN4LS #NHLdraft ; Christopher Ralph (@ChrisRalphTHW) June 28, 2014
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 Follow Me on Twitter @TonyDeanTHW Also Like the WildHBcommunity of FaceBook here: WildHBCommunity on FaceBook