I have to admit, the 2011 NHL Entry Draft has been on my mind since watching the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. I was in grade school the last time the NHL Entry Draft was in Minnesota back in 1989. My favorite team, the Minnesota North Stars decided to play to the home crowd as much as possible when they selected Rochester John Marshall High School’s Doug Zmolek with the 7th Overall pick. Zmolek did not turn into the stud defenseman the North Stars had hoped and was just one of many failed 1st round picks over the franchise’s history which often kept them starved for talent. The Minnesota Wild find themselves in a similar situation. Drafting woes, especially in the 1st round where busts (A.J. Thelen – 12th Overall, 2004) underwhelming results have left the organization lacking high end talent that can allow the franchise to reach its primary goal which would be continual appearances in the playoffs. It has almost become cliche, but the league’s best teams that seem to be battling for a Stanley Cup in mid-May all have one thing in common in the fact they have built themselves up with a core group of players they selected in the NHL Entry Draft. So almost needless to say, if you want to be amongst the league’s elite you better do well at the draft to have the pipeline of talent that will keep you at that level for many seasons.
I would like to acknowledge that The State of Hockey News has teamed up with Bruce, perhaps better known to Wild.com’ers as KISSArmyMan. We have come together to identify the team’s biggest draft needs and that has led us to come up with 5 players we feel would be the best for the Wild to select with the 10th Overall pick that would likely be available when Minnesota is able to make its selection. As I have done in the past we will produce 3 preview articles before we issue a complete mock draft of the Wild’s 6 selections (barring trades for more or less picks of course). As was the case in the previous previews we will also consult the opinions of expert consortiums like the Hockey News, the International Scouting Service, and HockeyProspect.com. We believe the Wild’s draft priorities by position should be: 1. Forward, 2. Defenseman, 3. Goaltenders based on the team’s relative prospect depth.
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Teams like the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators have been the pre-eminent examples of how draft day success means continued appearances in the NHL’s post-season. Both clubs have made their 1st round picks count, but perhaps more notably is their organization’s uncanny ability to find quality talent far beyond the 1st round. For the last 5 years I have tried to identify who the team was going to select with its 1st round pick.
2010 The State of Hockey News’: Draft Preview – Forwards
After another season out of the playoffs the Wild draft 10th Overall barring some unforeseen trade. I think the Wild’s greatest need is pretty clear; they were 26th in the NHL in scoring and the team had just one forward, Martin Havlat, that scored more than 20 goals this season. This team needs a skilled goal-scoring forward. In many ways, to replace the only goal scoring forward this team has ever drafted in its very first draftee, Marian Gaborik (3rd Overall, 2000). The fact the team has drafted just one proven goal scoring forward in the franchise’s 11 drafts says just about all you need to know about why the organization has struggled offensively throughout much of its history.
So we started to think about traits the Wild need to focus on as it looks to draft a forward and we decided to focus on these 3 traits in our selections.
1. Goal-scoring ability – The Wild need to try to add snipers because it already has a bounty of playmakers in its prospect pool and lineup. Any player that looks to shoot first and pass second should be the Wild’s priority.
2. Speed – A lack of wheels has hurt the Wild, especially as it attempted to play Todd Richards‘ up-tempo forechecking system. The team just didn’t have the wheels to win the race for the puck off the initial dump in and the result was a complete practice in futility as more often than not the opposing defenseman won the races to the puck and was able to take control without too much pressure. The team also misses a speedster that turn and burn and force opposing defenses to sit back a bit for fear of being burned off the stretch pass.
3. Willingness to go into the high traffic areas – The Wild were much better along the wall, but too few times where players willing to skate the puck to the crease and bang away at it from point-blank range or show a penchant for standing near the crease and screening the goaltender. The Wild tried to fill this need a few years ago with Mark Parrish but he wasn’t able to finish enough to offset his defensive limitations and he was bought out.
So without further adieu here is the Top 5 forwards that fit our criteria and will likely be available when the Wild are able to make their selection.
1. Sven Bartschi ~ LW – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Height: 5’10” Weight: 181lbs Shoots: Left
2010-11 Stats: 66GP 34G 51A = 85pts 74 PIM’s +23
Talent Analysis: The speedy, Swiss-born winger had an outstanding season for a very strong Portland Winterhawks squad that some would say underachieved by not winning a WHL championship when you consider all of the talent they had at their disposal including last year’s 5th Overall pick and Bartschi’s countryman Nino Niederreiter. While he is not very big at just 5’10”, 181lbs; his speed, hockey sense make him very elusive on the ice where he can both outmaneuver opposing defensemen or just turn on the afterburners and blast right on by them. Bartschi is a terrific stickhandler who can dangle the puck very effectively in tight spaces and for a player with his smallish-frame and is not afraid to pull the puck through opposing defenseman to place himself in a better scoring position. Once in scoring position Bartschi needs very little time to unleash an accurate wrist shot but he also is adept at drawing attention towards him which opens up passing lanes where he can be very effective as a set up man as well. Any team that drafts Bartschi is going to get a high-octane offensive talent, and that means accepting the fact he is just average defensively. The only other major flaw in his game is the fact he doesn’t show a great urgency to battle for pucks along the boards or get his nose dirty in the physical parts of the game.
Why the Wild should draft him: I think it is pretty obvious, but the team needs players that want to score goals first instead of playmakers, as well as personalities that are assertive and willing to create opportunities on their own. Bartschi’s speed, another element the Wild could definitely use make him the quick strike offensive force the team has lacked since it let Marian Gaborik walk away as a free agent. The team has plenty of other players to fill the shutdown role, the checking role and the playmaking role but precious few guys who are a threat to score every time they touch the puck and Bartschi is that kind of player. Check out the YouTube clip and I guarantee you’ll like what you see.
2. Mark McNeill ~ C – Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Height: 6’1″ Weight: 209lbs Shoots: Right
2010-11 Stats: 70GP 32G 49A = 81pts 53 PIM’s -4
Talent Analysis: The right handed centerman really was a workhorse all season long for a struggling Prince Albert squad. What has many scouts salivating over McNeill’s potential is his NHL-sized frame at 6’1″, 209lbs and uses his big body to finish his checks to great effect. Unlike many kids his age he’s clearly paid some serious dues in the weight room where he showcased reasonable strength at being tied for 1st at the NHL Scouting Combine in the bench press at 13 reps at 150lbs, and 1st in grip strength at 162lbs for both his left and right hand. In addition to having Bobby Ryan-type build, he is an excellent skater who has soft hands and is an adept finisher. He loves to tee up the one-timer but can show great patience and sublime skill as he makes goaltenders look foolish from in close. McNeill also spent time running the Raiders’ power play and is a capable set up man as well. The Edmonton-native is also excellent in the faceoff circle. His biggest flaw is in his defensive game where he shows little urgency to get back into position to help out on the backcheck.
Why the Wild should draft him: McNeill is a center with the size, strength, speed and scoring ability that this team has never really had. In some ways he almost reminds me of Brian Rolston, but possessing more of a physical edge with the way he creates opportunities for his teammates with his willingness to fire the puck.
3. Joel Armia ~ RW – Assat (Sm-Liiga)
Height: 6’3″ Weight: 198lbs Shoots: Right
2010-11 Stats: 48GP 18G 11A = 29pts 24 PIM’s +8
Talent Analysis: The 6’3″, 198lbs Finnish winger who loves to dangle and has a goal scorers mentality. He possesses good speed, puckhandling skills and soft hands near the net as well as a lethal and accurate wrist shot. He does not use his size to punish opponents, but he uses his frame well enough to protect the puck and drives well to the net making him difficult to defend against. After showing he could score in late-stint in Finland’s top league he had a solid second season for Assat scoring against men considerably older and more experienced than himself. The native seems to raise his game to another level when he feels he has an opportunity to score and keeps battling until he’s managed to light the lamp. Armia had a pretty disappointing performance at the U-20 World Junior Championships, registering just a single point but some scouts dismiss this as simply being a sniper with no real good set up man to work with. The only other major flaw mentioned in the scouting reports say that he can be completely disinterested in playing defense.
Why the Wild should draft him: I must admit, the more I think about this kid I don’t like the thought of the team drafting him. Yet, its hard to deny the potential of a 17-year old who managed to score goals in a quality European league against grown men. He loves to shoot, and he has a knack at getting his shots through the traffic and on goal and that in itself is a good combination to score and set up secondary scoring chances. If the Wild have a coach that preaches defense first, then that might make Armia’s lack of commitment to defense a deal breaker, but if the team is looking for a goal scoring talent then Armia is a player the State of Hockey has to consider taking a chance on.
4. Matt Puempel ~ LW – Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Height: 6’0″ Weight: 196lbs Shoots: Left
2010-11 Stats: 55GP 34G 35A = 69pts 49 PIM’s -33
Talent Analysis: Last season, the Minnesota Wild really had its heart set on taking Kitchener’s Jeff Skinner with its 1st round selection, and when he was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes the team was forced to take Mikael Granlund. While that may work out well for the Willd in the long run, the team may have a chance to get a player with very similar talent and skill set in Peterborough’s Matt Puempel. Simply put, Puempel is a deadly efficient goal scoring machine. Blessed with reasonable speed, great hockey sense and a deadly accurate shot has combined to make him one of the most explosive offensive talents available in this year’s draft. He is a reasonable skater, but you would not call him explosive in this category. At 6’0″, 196lbs he still needs to add strength to his frame but he shows an innate ability to slide off checks. Puempel’s best skill in his shooting ability where he has an incredibly quick release, but his true knack comes from his understanding of how to get a goaltender moving a little in one direction before unleashing a shot that finds that elusive window. He is a player who is not afraid to go into the high traffic areas on the ice and isn’t afraid to be involved physically in battles for the pucks along the boards, but you wouldn’t call him a physical player. Puempel’s totals would’ve been more impressive if he hadn’t sustained a hip injury 3/4ths into the season. The injury has been thoroughly evaluated by doctors who say its a non-degenerative condition but that may make some teams skittish of drafting Puempel. Apart from concerns about this injury, Puempel’s most notable flaw is consistency. At times he can be the most dominant player on the ice and at others you can barely recall he played in the game. Another nagging issue with Puempel is his penchant for using his stick as retaliation which can lead to foolish penalties.
Why the Wild should draft him: This is probably a player the Wild should consider selecting if it decides to trade down a bit in the draft. Puempel is a high risk, high reward kind of selection as he is perhaps the most gifted pure goal scorer of this year’s draft. If you agree with the doctors about Puempel’s health, then you take him with the thought he is the assertive triggerman the team has been sorely lacking.
5. Tomas Jurco ~ RW – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Height: 6’2″ Weight: 187lbs Shoots: Left
2010-11 Stats: 60GP 31G 25A = 56pts 17 PIM’s +46
Talent Analysis: The 6’2″, 187lbs Slovak was a key component of the Saint John Sea Dogs’ amazing run to winning the QMJHL championship as well as the Memorial Cup. Jurco is an immensely skilled stickhandler who loves to dangle and his 1-on-1 moves are as good as any player available in this draft. He has tremendous hockey sense and seems to find the right place on the ice to be time after time, and has the soft hands to finish as well. Jurco has a terrific wrist shot, which is both accurate and quickly released. His skating is reasonable but he does not possess blistering speed and in many ways his game sort of reminds me of Martin Havlat. One area that he distinguishes himself from Havlat is his willingness to deliver hits (as well as his assertiveness in shooting the puck), and he did throw his weight around a bit at the Memorial Cup. Some scouting reports have questioned Jurco’s conditioning level, but the only other flaw they agree upon is the fact he has a tendency to over handle the puck at times. Defensively he is average but he has made significant improvements in this area of his game.
Why the Wild should draft him: This is a kid who has game-breaker potential and another player who I think you strongly consider if the Wild trade down. He outstanding hands, decent finishing ability and NHL-ready size is an enticing combination.
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