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

[gphr513]

So they might try him out in NA? Would be cool if could work out as a 3rd line center and Haula as a 2nd line center:

Parise-Koivu-Granlund
Nino-Haula-Coyle
Zucker-Ek-Pominville

I just don't know if Haula is consistent enough to be a 2C. I see him as being the perfect high energy 3C. I'm really hoping Ek can develop into that 2C spot.

Hopefully I'm wrong on Haula, though.

 

[Wabit]

So they might try him out in NA? Would be cool if could work out as a 3rd line center and Haula as a 2nd line center:

Parise-Koivu-Granlund
Nino-Haula-Coyle
Zucker-Ek-Pominville

I think JEE would get the year at wing, just to get used to the NHL.

Think I'd prefer a Parise/Haula/Coyle line. Their skills seem to compliment each other better than Parise/Koivu/Granny (at least Zach would get his 10 shots a game with this line).

 

[AKL]

I think JEE would get the year at wing, just to get used to the NHL.

Think I'd prefer a Parise/Haula/Coyle line. Their skills seem to compliment each other better than Parise/Koivu/Granny (at least Zach would get his 10 shots a game with this line).

No, if JEE can't play C in the NHL, he shouldn't be in the NHL. Keep him in Iowa/Sweden until he's ready.

 

[MrKriben]

I really hope Wild sees his development in Färjestad and does not rush him into AHL/NHL before he's made a full season in the SHL as a centerman. Going into the 16/17 season Färjestad has been very outspoken about his and Rasmus Asplunds role of the team and that the management sees them as two of the teams top three centers.

The previous years especially Joel has been playing a wing

 

[Digitalbooya]

I just don't know if Haula is consistent enough to be a 2C. I see him as being the perfect high energy 3C. I'm really hoping Ek can develop into that 2C spot.

Hopefully I'm wrong on Haula, though.

There's all this talk about Granlund playing wing next year. Who takes his spot? I'd bet Haula is given a shot after putting up 60+pt pace near the end of the year. Coyle should stay at right wing. Who's left? Graovac? Definitely not 2C material. This is exactly why I see the Wild trading a dman for a center or signing someone like Backes.

 

[Nharris31]

There's all this talk about Granlund playing wing next year. Who takes his spot? I'd bet Haula is given a shot after putting up 60+pt pace near the end of the year. Coyle should stay at right wing. Who's left? Graovac? Definitely not 2C material. This is exactly why I see the Wild trading a dman for a center or signing someone like Backes.

Nugent-Hopkins

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

How about this top 6...

Granlund - Koivu - Coyle
Parise - Haula - Nino

Yes, Haula might not be a legit #2C right now, playing with those two is definitely a position for him to succeed.

Zucker/Graovac/Pominville becomes the 3rd line. A little bit of a risk taking Pominville away from where he was successful last year, but if Graovac can make the team out of camp like he did last year, I think it could work.

 

[Digitalbooya]

I heard that Granlund prefers right wing.

Parise-Koivu-Granlund
Nino-Haula-Coyle

??

 

[AKL]

I really hope Wild sees his development in Färjestad and does not rush him into AHL/NHL before he's made a full season in the SHL as a centerman. Going into the 16/17 season Färjestad has been very outspoken about his and Rasmus Asplunds role of the team and that the management sees them as two of the teams top three centers.

The previous years especially Joel has been playing a wing

Well if Eriksson Ek can get ofensive #2 minutes I'm fine, but if not, I'd rather he come to the AHL and get #1 offensive minutes there. Or at least #2 offensive.

The faster he develops an offensive game, the faster he can play top 6 here in Minnesota. Not trying to rush him, but as far as I've heard, he has the defensive side mostly down.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I heard that Granlund prefers right wing.

Parise-Koivu-Granlund
Nino-Haula-Coyle

??

My preference would be to have 2 younger players with each older one, but whichever works.

 

[MNRube]

How about this top 6...

Granlund - Koivu - Coyle
Parise - Haula - Nino

Yes, Haula might not be a legit #2C right now, playing with those two is definitely a position for him to succeed.

Zucker/Graovac/Pominville becomes the 3rd line. A little bit of a risk taking Pominville away from where he was successful last year, but if Graovac can make the team out of camp like he did last year, I think it could work.

That 3rd line would be brutal IMO. I'd rather move Coyle/Granlund to W than have Graovac in top 9 role. We need a top 6 C badly, this exercise proves it to me.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

That 3rd line would be brutal IMO. I'd rather move Coyle/Granlund to W than have Graovac in top 9 role. We need a top 6 C badly, this exercise proves it to me.

Could be brutal; could surprise.

If something else comes up that makes sense, then great, but I'd be willing to give it a go if it meant not forcing something that could have a negative impact 2, 3 or 5 years down the road.

 

[MrKriben]

Well if Eriksson Ek can get ofensive #2 minutes I'm fine, but if not, I'd rather he come to the AHL and get #1 offensive minutes there. Or at least #2 offensive.

The faster he develops an offensive game, the faster he can play top 6 here in Minnesota. Not trying to rush him, but as far as I've heard, he has the defensive side mostly down.

I belive he and Asplund is seen as #2 and the daily form will determin wich line they play on.
Färjestad has said over and over again this off season that they wont sign established forwards cause they believe so much in JEE, Asplund and Steen and want to give them the ice time that they deserve and an offensive role on the team.

 

[57special]

This talk of Haula being our #2C is over optimistic, and I'm a big Haula guy. Be happy if he is a kick ass 3C....he was a 4C/ bench guy for half the year last year.

If Granlund moves to wing then Coyle has to be our 2C. I have no problem with that, as the C position allows Coyle to use his skating skills. Granlund can be a sort of " point forward" when we have the puck, using his passing skills to set up Coyle and the other wing.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He produced like a #2C for 40 games last year. I don't see why he wouldn't work with top 6 players, or at least an experiment worth trying.

 

[mI]

I belive he and Asplund is seen as #2 and the daily form will determin wich line they play on.
Färjestad has said over and over again this off season that they wont sign established forwards cause they believe so much in JEE, Asplund and Steen and want to give them the ice time that they deserve and an offensive role on the team.

If there's no more added to Färjestads center line i'm convinced that JEE will be the 1st center, he's better then Asplund and Ryno is pure ****. He will have a big impact on the team next year and i think that the wisest thing to do is to let him be in Sweden at least one more year.

 

[Minnesota]

If there's no more added to Färjestads center line i'm convinced that JEE will be the 1st center, he's better then Asplund and Ryno is pure ****. He will have a big impact on the team next year and i think that the wisest thing to do is to let him be in Sweden at least one more year.

Hope you're right. From what I watched last year both Ryno and Asplund were better than Eriksson-Ek. Although, the latter seemed to be playing a much more defensive role with limited minutes.

 

[TaLoN]

From the Strib...

Now, if Eriksson Ek can’t make the opening night roster – after all, he’s only 19, Fletcher said it’s to be determined whether he goes to Iowa in the American Hockey League or returns to Farjestad. Technically, the Wild could always recall him from Sweden if needed.

My gut: If he doesn’t make the Wild out of camp, he will return home because Fletcher said, “Farjestad is a great program and he’s going to have an important role on that team if he was to go back. We have to take that into consideration. He’s going to get national team games, clearly going to play on the world junior team. We’ll just see. We’ve left that completely open. We told him, ‘Come to camp, see how you fit in and see how it plays out,’ and then we’ll make the decision as to what’s best for him.”

Eriksson Ek feels “I can be a two-way player who helps the team win, works hard in both ends of the ice and go to the tough areas and score some goals.”

He plays wing in Sweden, but “I feel most comfortable playing center,” which is a good thing if you’re the Wild.

 

[Digitalbooya]

High praise for Ek's shot from Bombardir(?) during the second scrimmage's intermission. Something like 1% have the shot he has.

 

[keppel146]

High praise for Ek's shot from Bombardir(?) during the second scrimmage's intermission. Something like 1% have the shot he has.

I don't think I saw him shoot today besides the penalty shot

 

[ThatGuy22]

If there's no more added to Färjestads center line i'm convinced that JEE will be the 1st center, he's better then Asplund and Ryno is pure ****. He will have a big impact on the team next year and i think that the wisest thing to do is to let him be in Sweden at least one more year.

Sure, there is a chance he play big minutes there. But put yourself in Fletcher's shoes, the Färjestads coach could shake things up and put JEE in a defensive role if things don't go perfectly right away.

He can play 1C in Iowa just like he can in Sweden, but there the focus is on developing not necessarily on winning so they can let him play through some bumps if they occur.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Sure, there is a chance he play big minutes there. But put yourself in Fletcher's shoes, the Färjestads coach could shake things up and put JEE in a defensive role if things don't go perfectly right away.

He can play 1C in Iowa just like he can in Sweden, but there the focus is on developing not necessarily on winning so they can let him play through some bumps if they occur.

http://www.hockeymagasinet.com/hock...iksson-ek-en-av-vara-mest-vardefulla-centrar/

Swedish article obviously, but the big takeaway for me was that Loob does view him as a center for this season. I don't think there's any way he's ready even to play center in the AHL, much less top line. Teams on the whole are much lighter in the SHL, there's less hitting, etc. Sweden is where he should be, we shall see.

 

[ThatGuy22]

http://www.hockeymagasinet.com/hock...iksson-ek-en-av-vara-mest-vardefulla-centrar/

Swedish article obviously, but the big takeaway for me was that Loob does view him as a center for this season. I don't think there's any way he's ready even to play center in the AHL, much less top line. Teams on the whole are much lighter in the SHL, there's less hitting, etc. Sweden is where he should be, we shall see.

There isn't a drastic difference in competition between the SHL and AHL. If he's going to be expected to play 1C in SHL, I don't have doubts he could play it in the AHL. Espiecially given the quality of player Iowa is likely to have up the middle if he doesn't come.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

There isn't a drastic difference in competition between the SHL and AHL. If he's going to be expected to play 1C in SHL, I don't have doubts he could play it in the AHL. Espiecially given the quality of player Iowa is likely to have up the middle if he doesn't come.

Cannone-Graovac-Dalpe-Anas-Brassart isn't bad depth for the AHL - although one of those guys (Dalpe?) probably wins the fourth line role in St. Paul. Plus Bertschy, Lang, Downing, Gilmour, and others have played some center. JEE is not a top option at this point, despite what the Wild press says. I agree that the comp is not radically different - it's why the SHL is a good developmental league for some guys.

 

[Wabit]

Cannone-Graovac-Dalpe-Anas-Brassart isn't bad depth for the AHL - although one of those guys (Dalpe?) probably wins the fourth line role in St. Paul. Plus Bertschy, Lang, Downing, Gilmour, and others have played some center. JEE is not a top option at this point, despite what the Wild press says. I agree that the comp is not radically different - it's why the SHL is a good developmental league for some guys.

What size ice does the SHL use: NHL or the bigger ice? If its NHL size I'm fine with keeping him in SHL, if not I'd like him in Iowa.