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

[nickschultzfan]

Let's see what Kunin, Kaprizov, Ek and Greenway turn into as NHLers (if they all even make it as consistent NHLers, which is probably long odds) before we go patting them on the back too much. This is the same group that took Dumba over Forsberg, Zach Phillips at all, Gabriel in the third, and Tuch over Fabbri (and Pastrnak, but I wasn't screaming for him like I was Fabbri).

Early returns are encouraging, but I remember the hype around all our 2010 guys and I have my reservations.

Fine with tapping the breaks, but those arent good counter-examples.

 

[guitarhunterdude]

Funny how you reference the 2010 Draft when Mikael Granlund is leading our team in scoring. Jason Zucker is having a career year and has been a GIANT part of this run, and Johan Larsson has been a solid player for Buffalo.....?

Granlund... finally living up to the hype a little. Still not the Giroux or Saku Koivu clone he was billed as, and didn't make a huge impact immediately like he was supposed to. Not the franchise center that perennial Cup contenders have.

Having ripped on him there, I am very pleased with him this year.

Zucker.... has been good for several years. No debate there. Lived up to expectations.

Johan Larsson... I remember talk of him as a second-line center of the future. He's a good fourth-liner, but nothing more.

I'll include Coyle in this because he came to the team and into the NHL the same year as Granlund. He's invisible when he isn't scoring. Isn't the first-line caliber power forward he was supposed to be, either. Decent player, but not a real difference maker. So, that's a group of guys who were supposed to be two first-liners (one a superstar) and two second-liners. As I see it, we got one first-liner who couldn't play at the position he was drafted to play, a couple second liners (Coyle when he's "on" is a first-liner; when he's "off" he's a boat anchor), and a fourth-liner. I'd say that meets the criteria for "failing to meet expectations".

Anyway, back to our current prospects: That's a solid group, but let's not go saying we got a bunch of stars here. I think we've got a bunch of solid potential NHLers, and Ek is probably the epitome of this: A career second-line center (maybe first-line? We'll see, but not a star) who's solid in all facets of the game and (hopefully) will drive possession.

Probably another solid second-liner in Kunin. Maybe he'll turn into a first-line caliber guy for a bad team? I want to see him in the AHL before making too many judgements on him.

I guess I'm just not super impressed with them. Kunin and Ek as I see them in their primes likely only replace Koivu or Staal, and I'm talking the current versions, not the stars they both were in their prime. Kaprizov has legit star potential, but his skating and size could turn him into a Pulkkinen clone (I think that's extremely unlikely, though). Tuch is a middle-six guy in his prime, and I need to see Greenway improve his skating and use his size effectively against men before I think he's an NHL lock (could be an okay second-line winger in his prime, but I think he'll be a third liner on a good team).

Doesn't look like a group of core players for a contender once we need Ek and Kunin to replace Staal and Koivu. I.E. neither looks like the star or superstar center that a perennial Cup contender needs. That doesn't mean they're bad picks; they're solid, but not worth patting themselves on the back for. And let's not forget the iffy drafts from 2011-2014.

Yes, I know my expectations are unrealistic. But the best-drafting teams draft that well. Or get that lucky. Whichever you prefer.

 

[BusQuets]

You are talking about:

9th overall
28th overall
56th overall
59th overall

And you are expecting a superstar, 1st liner and two 2nd liners. Sounds to me that you are projecting your own surreal expectations to everyone else. 2010 is already a jackpot for Wild and saying anything else is laughable.

 

[TaLoN]

You are talking about:

9th overall
28th overall
56th overall
59th overall

And you are expecting a superstar, 1st liner and two 2nd liners. Sounds to me that you are projecting your own surreal expectations to everyone else. 2010 is already a jackpot for Wild and saying anything else is laughable.

2010 is the best draft in Wild history at this point....especially if you add in the aquisitions of Coyle and Nino...not aquired during the draft, but the Wild had obviously done their homework on both during the lead up and jumped at chances to add them both later.

The Burns deal would not have been done without Coyle Fletcher said back in the day...yes, Burns is the far better player, but Coyle sure does ease that pain.

What we gave up for Nino is laughable...a 4th liner and a 3rd...couldn't believe it then, and it's even harder to believe now!

 

[Hugart]

Just a quick update.

FBK played two back to back games against Rögle, both ended in defeat. JEE scored yesterday and assisted a goal tonight. I didn't watch the games but recaps showed good form.

Over and out.

 

[Al Lagoon]

Just a quick update.

FBK played two back to back games against Rögle, both ended in defeat. JEE scored yesterday and assisted a goal tonight. I didn't watch the games but recaps showed good form.

Over and out.

10-4 good buddy.

 

[Hugart]

1 goal again tonight by Ek. Gg.

Here's top 10 juniors in SHL right now. Ek has relatively high hit and shot rate, 3rd in TP but considering GP compared to the other guys, it's pretty good.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Can't really argue with a 68% goal scoring and 87% point scoring improvement.

 

[tomgilbertfan]

3 SOG/game is nice to see.

 

[Dee Oh Cee]

Hard to see him not being on the team next year. But we'll see.

 

[Minnesota]

Looks like he's getting some serious PP time. Good to see.

 

[Digitalbooya]

He's getting a ton more ice time than most of the guys on that list.

 

[MuckOG]

Hard to see him not being on the team next year. But we'll see.

If JEE is not the starting #3C at the beginning of next season, I'll eat my hat.

 

[Minnesota]

He's getting a ton more ice time than most of the guys on that list.

Top-tier minutes in a men's league at 20 years old? Sounds like Brodin.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He's getting a ton more ice time than most of the guys on that list.

Earning it, it seems.

 

[Al Lagoon]

If JEE is not the starting #3C at the beginning of next season, I'll eat my hat.

One never can tell the future - hope your hat is made of roast beef.

 

[Jesus comma Brodin]

3rd on the list with a fraction of the games played. Nice.

 

[ClayAikenFan77]

Ek just had a nice goal in their game today. Up to 8g-8a in 25 games, and now has beat his point total from last year playing 16 fewer games.

 

[keppel146]

Ek just had a nice goal in their game today. Up to 8g-8a in 25 games, and now has beat his point total from last year playing 16 fewer games.

Me likey

 

[SomethingGeneric]

I think this kid is going to be real good as soon as next year. Hope he has a good rest of the season and can't wait for this guys future!

 

[FrodoBeggins]

Today Ek scored 2 + 1. In total he has 3 + 2 for 3 match playoffs.
I hope he will play at the World Cup.

 

[Hugart]

Färjestad played their last game tonight in the round of 16 series. They won and Ek did 2 goals and 1 assist. A total of 3 goals and 2 assists in this 3 game series and quarter final ahead. Really fun to watch him!

Edit: Oops, second

 

[Gnome17]

He was a real beast for Färjestad tonight..Not only the production but his overall play.
He was in peoples faces, was in more then a few scuffles and he was laughing during them.
Even the opponenets coach thought he was the biggest reason why Färjestad won.
Now Färjestad goes on to meet their arch-rival in modern time, HV71, in the quarterfinals, in a 7-game series.

 

[Prntscrn]

Färjestad played their last game tonight in the round of 16 series. They won and Ek did 2 goals and 1 assist. A total of 3 goals and 2 assists in this 3 game series and quarter final ahead. Really fun to watch him!

Edit: Oops, second

Not if you're playing against him. He's good, smart and strong.
With smart I mean he's a little dirty. Not cheapshots and dangerous hits etc, but a lot of hooks, holdings, holding the stick etc in the right places when the refs don't see it(Or decides to look away because he plays in Färjestad... SHLs and the refs lovechild).
I havn't seen him dive but he sell stuff pretty hard for sure. For example if a stick is close to his face he might pretend it hit him, or if it's a glove etc


A pain in the ass I would say. Someone I think you will specially enjoy when playoffs is around

 

[Gnome17]

Not if you're playing against him. He's good, smart and strong.
With smart I mean he's a little dirty. Not cheapshots and dangerous hits etc, but a lot of hooks, holdings, holding the stick etc in the right places when the refs don't see it(Or decides to look away because he plays in Färjestad... SHLs and the refs lovechild).
I havn't seen him dive but he sell stuff pretty hard for sure. For example if a stick is close to his face he might pretend it hit him, or if it's a glove etc


A pain in the ass I would say. Someone I think you will specially enjoy when playoffs is around

"(Or decides to look away because he plays in Färjestad... SHLs and the refs lovechild). "
Oh lord Well this is not the right place to have this discussion, so lets not. But since you said that, I feel like I have the right to say 1 thing aswell; I thought the refs definetly favored Dif tonight. If you really want to keep discussing this, pm me...

But I agree with everything you said about Eriksson Ek, he plays a tough game, he gets in peoples faces, hes being annoying. Hes starting to really get his grit on.