Prospect Info: Joel Eriksson Ek (C) - 20th Overall, 2015

[gphr513]

TSN Scouting Report​

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[youvegotit]

Glad we got a center, and he looks good at first glance.

 

[Avder]

Hooray a shiny new center!

 

[Spurgeon]

It's who I wanted from the beginning.

Going to be interested how the other centers after our pick do.

 

[Wild11MN]

So the general consensus I'm seeing is everyone's just 'okay' with the pick? Not thrilled but not really upset?

 

[Spurgeon]

So the general consensus I'm seeing is everyone's just 'okay' with the pick? Not thrilled but not really upset?

It's a safe pick.

 

[melinko]

I trust Swedish players more than any other nation. Sorry Finland.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

If he scores 20+ goals per season in the NHL I'll be happy.

 

[Minnesota]

Strikes me as an extremely vanilla pick.

Hope he proves me wrong.

 

[FVM]

I trust Swedish players more than any other nation. Sorry Finland.

As a Finn, I agree. Their youth development is great, especially with D and two-way players. Though we are getting there.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So the general consensus I'm seeing is everyone's just 'okay' with the pick? Not thrilled but not really upset?

I'm happy. He was one of my 2 preferences (3 once Konecny fell). Seen him described as a "shoot-first Koivu" which would be phenomenal at #20.

 

[Poacher]

Reminds me of the Brodin pick and we all know how that's working out.

 

[tomgilbertfan]

A very competitive center who uses his size, skill, and skating to power to the net and create scoring chances. Possesses an elite-level shot, great vision, and slick puckhandling skills; as a result, it's no surprise that he has a natural knack for scoring big goals. Offensive catalyst, but also defensively responsible. Plays a creative, 200-foot game. All-in-all, an intelligent, scoring center that is productive at both ends of the ice. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014)

From eliteprospects.

Sounds like a nice player to get at 20.

 

[Engebretson]

Reminds me of the Brodin pick and we all know how that's working out.

Yeah, that's what I keep telling myself. They know their Swedes in the Wild front office

 

[Nsjohnson]

So the general consensus I'm seeing is everyone's just 'okay' with the pick? Not thrilled but not really upset?

Same feeling from when we drafted Granlund and Brodin. People were like meh/not sure.

I think if he can even become a very good #2 center then great.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

One more season in the SEL, one in Iowa, on the wild by 2017.

 

[BusQuets]

Seems like a solid pick.

 

[Circulartheory]

I LOVE the pick. Love players who have proven production at high levels of play. Eriksson Ek did great against the best U-18s players in the world, and has done very well in the SEL, arguably the 3rd best men's league in the world. Expect him to be the Sweden U-20 team this upcoming WJC and play a regular role in the SEL.

 

[ThatGuy22]

This was the most obvious pick I can ever recall. JEE had Fletcher written all over him.

 

[Spurgeon]

Lead the Swedish U20 league in goals, so that's definitely promising.

 

[Marlowe Syn]

I guess I'm pretty happy with the pick. He would have been my first choice, but Konecny fell. Ek is probably the safer pick, whereas Konecny is likely more a boom/bust prospect. Hopefully he'll be a solid #3C for us in the future.

 

[tomgilbertfan]

 

[Granlund 64]

Big, good skater, and skilled.

Sounds good to me. Plus, he'll be in the new NHL game if I decide to pick it up.

 

[Circulartheory]

I guess I'm pretty happy with the pick. He would have been my first choice, but Konecny fell. Ek is probably the safer pick, whereas Konecny is likely more a boom/bust prospect. Hopefully he'll be a solid #3C for us in the future.

I think he has more potential than just a #3C. My expectations for him is to develop into a good #2C

 

[AKL]

So the general consensus I'm seeing is everyone's just 'okay' with the pick? Not thrilled but not really upset?

Pretty much these:

It's a safe pick.

Strikes me as an extremely vanilla pick.

Hope he proves me wrong.

He's a pretty safe bet to be a 3rd line C, ceiling seems to be a good 2nd line C. It's a real nice pick if Granlund can realize his 1C potential, but if not, we're in the same position we are now with Koivu and Granlund as our top 2 C.