F Charlie Stramel - Michigan State University, NCAA (2023, 21st, MIN)

[Saga of the Elk]

Did you see their numbers vs NCAA competition? Yeah, it's different playing for the USNTDP, but it's not like they had any trouble lighting it up against college teams.

Gavin Brindley seemed to do okay. As did most of the other 2004s from the USNTDP.

I'm new to hockey. Are Adam Fantilli, Luke Hughes and Rutger McGroarty better prospects than Cruz Lucius and Brock Caufield?

 

[bringbacktheskate604]

He's a low ceiling player, but has a high floor.

There's a decent chance he has a lengthy career as a bottom 6er. There's value in having a sure thing like that.

It's not a sexy pick, but calling it the worst pick in the 1st is wild considering some of the other picks that were made.

Also Judd Brackett generally knows what he's doing.

Oh man Judd still living off picks made in Vancouver that people claimed were all on him when the reality is the guys he had a hand in never amounted to shit here. The funny thing is was our board had such a hard on against Benning they heaped praise on Judd when he didn't deserve it. He was a scout here long before Benning arrived and his 3 best picks were Brenden Gaunce, Hunter Shinkaruk and Jordan Schroeder..


I've never seen a scout get such rock star treatment, nevermind the fact that he was against EP40 and Quinn was 100% Bennings guy that Judd somehow got credit for.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I'm new to hockey. Are Adam Fantilli, Luke Hughes and Rutger McGroarty better prospects than Cruz Lucius and Brock Caufield?

What's your point? Stramel was 8th in scoring on a much lower scoring team. Lucius himself lapped Stramel on the same team, with both guys being 2004s.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Stramel's problem is up top. Not a smart hockey player in the slightest.

His size and speed may allow him to carve out a career in the bottom 6 like Julien Gauthier, but it's very difficult to see him being anything more than that with how poorly he thinks the game.

 

[AintLifeGrand]

He's a different person?

I mean Matt Wood dominated his freshman year as the youngest player in college… I dont think you can use your excuse for Stramel

 

[Ban Hammered]

Stramel's problem is up top. Not a smart hockey player in the slightest.

His size and speed may allow him to carve out a career in the bottom 6 like Julien Gauthier, but it's very difficult to see him being anything more than that with how poorly he thinks the game.

Nearly all scouting reports say he has a strong hockey IQ...so they're wrong and you're right?

 

[Hale The Villain]

Nearly all scouting reports say he has a strong hockey IQ...so they're wrong and you're right?

Yes

 

[Ban Hammered]

Yes

Well argued...

 

[Wasted Talent]

So have there been enough meh picks in the wild organization that people will finally realize Brackett sucks and wasn't "the wiz" that Benning haters used to take any credit away from Jimbo?
Boldy great pick, also an extremely obvious pick.
Not seeing a whole ton of hits in the wild system.

The guy was a hack for 5 years before Benning and has been a hack after Benning.

Too early to tell how Brackett's picks pan out in Minnesota, but Boldy was Fenton's pick.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I mean Matt Wood dominated his freshman year as the youngest player in college… I dont think you can use your excuse for Stramel

Not so much an excuse as it was a theory/prediction.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

What's your point? Stramel was 8th in scoring on a much lower scoring team. Lucius himself lapped Stramel on the same team, with both guys being 2004s.

The point is that Brindley isn't a fair point of comparison. Any player in the country would have seen an offensive bump playing with the group I mentioned. But you knew that of course.

I wasn't happy about the Stramel pick either, as his upside seems limited. But bigger players often grow and perform at a slower rate than speedy small guys. So time will tell whether it was an inspired pick or a reach based on the need for a big center that ignored the Wild's bigger need for players that can generate goals.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

The point is that Brindley isn't a fair point of comparison. Any player in the country would have seen an offensive bump playing with the group I mentioned. But you knew that of course.

I wasn't happy about the Stramel pick either, as his upside seems limited. But bigger players often grow and perform at a slower rate than speedy small guys. So time will tell whether it was an inspired pick or a reach based on the need for a big center that ignored the Wild's bigger need for players that can generate goals.

But Brindley was still a top scorer on that loaded team, moreso than Stramel was?

 

[Saga of the Elk]

But Brindley was still a top scorer on that loaded team, moreso than Stramel was?

He was, yes. I think the Wild probably look at Stramel as a shutdown-type center, not a scoring winger. There's not much point in comparing their years. One team was good, one was bad. One guy played with future NHL stars, one played with future investment advisors.

I think it is fair to compare Stramel's career outlook with guys like Perreault and Musty, for example, who were rated more highly by consensus and serve a big need for the Wild as well.

Again, I wasn't happy with the pick, but too early to say it was a wasted pick because obviously getting any NHL player in the 20s isn't a lead-pipe cinch.

 

[Juxtaposer]

If scouting reports are saying that Stramel has high hockey IQ, that’s the first I’m hearing about it. Stramel is basically a guaranteed 4th liner at worst and could carve out a career as a 3rd liner due to his physical tools and defensive acumen, but he just doesn’t have the anticipation or creativity to score in the NHL. I watched quite a bit of Stramel over the past two years and a lot of the time, he’s just there. Skating around, following the puck, but never truly involved in the play.

I mean, I’m sure that awful Wisconsin system did him no favors and I liked him at the WJC (albeit specifically in a 4th line role, as I expect he’ll play in the NHL), so never say never, but it’s so hard for me to imagine him in a scoring role.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

If scouting reports are saying that Stramel has high hockey IQ, that’s the first I’m hearing about it. Stramel is basically a guaranteed 4th liner at worst and could carve out a career as a 3rd liner due to his physical tools and defensive acumen, but he just doesn’t have the anticipation or creativity to score in the NHL. I watched quite a bit of Stramel over the past two years and a lot of the time, he’s just there. Skating around, following the puck, but never truly involved in the play.

I mean, I’m sure that awful Wisconsin system did him no favors and I liked him at the WJC (albeit specifically in a 4th line role, as I expect he’ll play in the NHL), so never say never, but it’s so hard for me to imagine him in a scoring role.

Honestly, I think if think you are drafting a 3rd line winger with size and mobility that could play on your PK, I think he might be worth 21th overall. However, Minnesota passed on some really talented players to get him.

You’re absolutely correct that his offense has a long way to go. It’s not like he’s ever shown that he has dynamic offensive ability. We’ll see how he progresses this year, but I’m shocked he’s not in the transfer portal.

 

[person5000]

Stramel is a terrible value. Wild are a terrible organization and this pick was terrible just like them. Kid can’t even score in college. He isn’t devoid of skill but just seems like a third round value guy.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

The point is that Brindley isn't a fair point of comparison. Any player in the country would have seen an offensive bump playing with the group I mentioned. But you knew that of course.

I wasn't happy about the Stramel pick either, as his upside seems limited. But bigger players often grow and perform at a slower rate than speedy small guys. So time will tell whether it was an inspired pick or a reach based on the need for a big center that ignored the Wild's bigger need for players that can generate goals.

Gavin Brindley got points on that team because he generated offense. He’s an outstanding player. Did he play with guys who could finish? Sure. But, Brindley improved dramatically throughout the year and was the best player on the ice a lot of the time.

I understand wanting what Stramel brings. But if you’re in the business of winning hockey games, Stramel isn’t close to being as good as Brindley.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Honestly, I think if think you are drafting a 3rd line winger with size and mobility that could play on your PK, I think he might be worth 21th overall. However, Minnesota passed on some really talented players to get him.

You’re absolutely correct that his offense has a long way to go. It’s not like he’s ever shown that he has dynamic offensive ability. We’ll see how he progresses this year, but I’m shocked he’s not in the transfer portal.

Sure, at the end of the day, a decent third liner may be the 21st best player in the draft. But I’d rather take a swing at someone who could become the 7th best player in the draft.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Sure, at the end of the day, a decent third liner may be the 21st best player in the draft. But I’d rather take a swing at someone who could become the 7th best player in the draft.

Who was taken after #21 that this would apply to?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Who was taken after #21 that this would apply to?

Brindley
Perreault
Musty
Cristall
Gulyayev

 

[thestonedkoala]

There were certainly no rumors that NY was going to take him. None of any legitimacy at least. Your post is actually the first I had heard of it

Either Joe Smith or Russo mentioned this, because a lot of fans were wondering why Minnesota didn't try to move down and they mentioned that the Wild heard Philadelphia or New York was going to select Stramel, which is why they didn't want to move down too much.

 

[Circulartheory]

Brindley
Perreault
Musty
Cristall
Gulyayev

I think Perreault was the only one I had a tough time passing on. The other 4 are extremely polarizing prospects and no qualms on passing on for Stramel, even with looking through the eye lens of wanting a high reward player.

 

[Bonin21]

When Boldy was taken many thought Caufield was the obvious choice.

For Stramel, that will probably be Perrault. Let's see how they turn out. Can't judge for a couple years.

 

[Breakers]

Let’s see what Hastings can do with him.

Granato I wondered if he actively tried to hurt player development.
Dude coached wisconsin like they were fighting for the Bedard sweepstakes and was actively trying to tank

I hate the way he coached in every aspect.

As an example: back in 2020 he put K’andre Miller as the Bumper on the PP and Caufield as Net Front presence.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Did you see their numbers vs NCAA competition? Yeah, it's different playing for the USNTDP, but it's not like they had any trouble lighting it up against college teams.

Gavin Brindley seemed to do okay. As did most of the other 2004s from the USNTDP.

Mentioned this elsewhere, so I’ll mention it here.

Stramel was 6th among Wisconsin forwards in points. 6th was 12 points. 6th among Michigan forward in points was 32 points. 6th among Minnesota forwards in points was 25. If he had between 25-32 points, he goes top 10 without question. No one would dare doubt that he can’t score. Wisconsin was a brutal team. Hurt his point totals a lot. No different than how Danielson or Ritchie were hurt in a similar regard.

Brindley was 4th among Michigan forwards in points, but only 4 more than 6th, which is where Stramel was on his team. Stramel played with mostly a bunch of nobodies on his line. It’s not a criticism of Brindley to say that he benefited significantly from playing on a line with the Hobey Baker winner. His point totals shot up once he was put on a. line with Fantilli.

As for this idea that college games at the NTDP is the same as college games as a college player, I hope you realize that college teams treat those games as pure exhibitions, while the NTDP takes them a lot more seriously. A lot of college teams don’t even play their best players in those games.

While we’re at it, Stramel outscored Brindley at the NTDP last year in PPG and total points at the WJC18. He’s also like 7 inches taller and skates just as well. I think it’s quite clear why Stramel went ahead of Brindley. Brindley’s a good player, but maybe just maybe you aren’t giving Stramel enough credit.

There were certainly no rumors that NY was going to take him. None of any legitimacy at least. Your post is actually the first I had heard of it

There were plenty of rumors we were considering him. Mentioned by Pronman multiple times. Our beat reporters such as Mercogliano and Staple mentioned it too.