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

[Saga of the Elk]

No, it's not.

All you can do with spilled milk is sop it up and hope the cows are still around.

The complaint that he should have been slow-tracked has been amply registered. He wasn't. He showed ppg ability at a lesser level. The organization decided that he wasn't going to have to prove anything in the AHL and/or the NHL squad needed his ability.

If a guy like Adam Gilmour had panned out or there was another center in the system capable of pushing JEE down it would have happened. It didn't. I'm also in favor of letting guys percolate a bit in the A - it makes for a much stronger organization. The Wild did not have that kind of depth last season, and it's not much better today. But JEE's ability to process the game did not need AHL time, he wasn't losing physical battles. He just isn't cashing chances - I think it's partially due to the quality of teammates around him, partially due to his game (it's like Brodin's - safety first), and partially just dumb luck.

 

[57special]

The worst thing about milk is not spilling it, but forgetting to turn on the refrigeration after you've milked 90 head.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

All you can do with spilled milk is sop it up and hope the cows are still around.

The complaint that he should have been slow-tracked has been amply registered. He wasn't. He showed ppg ability at a lesser level. The organization decided that he wasn't going to have to prove anything in the AHL and/or the NHL squad needed his ability.

If a guy like Adam Gilmour had panned out or there was another center in the system capable of pushing JEE down it would have happened. It didn't. I'm also in favor of letting guys percolate a bit in the A - it makes for a much stronger organization. The Wild did not have that kind of depth last season, and it's not much better today. But JEE's ability to process the game did not need AHL time, he wasn't losing physical battles. He just isn't cashing chances - I think it's partially due to the quality of teammates around him, partially due to his game (it's like Brodin's - safety first), and partially just dumb luck.

And that's what I'm talking about.

 

[thestonedkoala]

And that's what I'm talking about.

Same here; it's the same old song and dance. At least they kept Kunin in the AHL, though the injury may have forced that.

 

[Bazeek]

I am very much not opposed to Eriksson-Ek getting Greenway'd down to Iowa to remind him that he's not a 0-4% shooter. I think he's got an okay sense of where he needs to be on the ice at any given time (which is something Greenway's struggled with), but the way he's bobbling or whiffing on his offensive chances is concerning. As long as he doesn't require waivers (he doesn't, does he?) you may as well use the option while you've got it.

Kunin will be interesting. With Iowa doing well he's been racking up points, and his handedness is going to make him a tempting call-up. And I'm all for it if he continues scoring down there, but I hope it's after more like 20-30 games than 10.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I am very much not opposed to Eriksson-Ek getting Greenway'd down to Iowa to remind him that he's not a 0-4% shooter. I think he's got an okay sense of where he needs to be on the ice at any given time (which is something Greenway's struggled with), but the way he's bobbling or whiffing on his offensive chances is concerning. As long as he doesn't require waivers (he doesn't, does he?) you may as well use the option while you've got it.

Kunin will be interesting. With Iowa doing well he's been racking up points, and his handedness is going to make him a tempting call-up. And I'm all for it if he continues scoring down there, but I hope it's after more like 20-30 games than 10.

he is on the 3rd year of his ELC so i believe that means he is still on a 2way contract. If Kunin is fully healthy i wouldnt mind swapping Kunin for Ek and let Ek go find his offensive side again.

 

[TaLoN]

he is on the 3rd year of his ELC so i believe that means he is still on a 2way contract. If Kunin is fully healthy i wouldnt mind swapping Kunin for Ek and let Ek go find his offensive side again.

Two way contract has nothing to do with waiver eligibility, only time served and games played does.

Two way vs one way contract just determines his salary level when sent down, and that has nothing to do with time served or games played.

 

[nt3005]

There is no way that if Kunin gets called up it should be for EK. Offense doesn't always come immediately, but he is putting himself in the places he needs to be, the goals will come. We have plenty of players who spent time in Iowa who didn't score immediately.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

There is no way that if Kunin gets called up it should be for EK. Offense doesn't always come immediately, but he is putting himself in the places he needs to be, the goals will come. We have plenty of players who spent time in Iowa who didn't score immediately.

He is frustrated and gripping his stick, let him goto a lesser league and relax with the puck on his stick n score a little, get his confidence back then come back up. same thing greenway just did.

 

[nt3005]

He is frustrated and gripping his stick, let him goto a lesser league and relax with the puck on his stick n score a little, get his confidence back then come back up. same thing greenway just did.

I think judging Greenways "stint" should be done after more than 1 game. The fact he came back up and scored doesn't mean he learned how to be an NHLer from two games in the AHL, its a pure coincidence.

 

[Wabit]

There is no way that if Kunin gets called up it should be for EK. Offense doesn't always come immediately, but he is putting himself in the places he needs to be, the goals will come. We have plenty of players who spent time in Iowa who didn't score immediately.

Seeler and Stalock are the only players on the team with 25+ games in Iowa (13-14 is when the team was moved from Houston). Dumba (20 games), Zucker (22 games), JEE (9 games), Greenway (2 games), Parise (1 rehab game) is it for guys with games in Iowa over the past 5+ seasons.

Haula, Tuch, Folin, and Reilly are the only other guys that played in Iowa; that I can think of; that are even playing in the NHL this year.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I think judging Greenways "stint" should be done after more than 1 game. The fact he came back up and scored doesn't mean he learned how to be an NHLer from two games in the AHL, its a pure coincidence.

It wasnt a teaching moment of how to be an NHLer it was getting him to shoot more and have confidence in himself which EK looks like he could use. A confidence boost would not hurt the kid, let him go bury the puck for a few games and call him back up, he shoots more than Greenway he just cant bury it. Im not even judging Greenways stint just the idea of why he was sent down is why i used him as an example.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Seeler and Stalock are the only players on the team with 25+ games in Iowa (13-14 is when the team was moved from Houston). Dumba (20 games), Zucker (22 games), JEE (9 games), Greenway (2 games), Parise (1 rehab game) is it for guys with games in Iowa over the past 5+ seasons.

Haula, Tuch, Folin, and Reilly are the only other guys that played in Iowa; that I can think of; that are even playing in the NHL this year.

Why limit to the last 5 seasons?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

It wasnt a teaching moment of how to be an NHLer it was getting him to shoot more and have confidence in himself which EK looks like he could use. A confidence boost would not hurt the kid, let him go bury the puck for a few games and call him back up, he shoots more than Greenway he just cant bury it. Im not even judging Greenways stint just the idea of why he was sent down is why i used him as an example.

I can't think of more than one example of a shot that Eriksson Ek could've/should've scored on (tap-in miss against Edmonton).

 

[Wabit]

Why limit to the last 5 seasons?

Because Iowa was said in the previous statement. 5 (+ this season) is the entire time the AHL team has been in Iowa.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Because Iowa was said in the previous statement. 5 (+ this season) is the entire time the AHL team has been in Iowa.

It's pretty clear that "Iowa" was synonymous with "AHL".

 

[DeagleJenkins]

I can't think of more than one example of a shot that Eriksson Ek could've/should've scored on (tap-in miss against Edmonton).

Im not saying he has had more scoring chances but he shoots the puck. not top quality shots and chances but he shoots more so than just pass. been seeing it more lately as i watch for it but with edmonton the other night than im guessing but really dont remember last year he had chances it just seems like he is in a funk. needs to just get some easy goals(edmonton) to get him going and feeling good.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Im not saying he has had more scoring chances but he shoots the puck. not top quality shots and chances but he shoots more so than just pass. been seeing it more lately as i watch for it but with edmonton the other night than im guessing but really dont remember last year he had chances it just seems like he is in a funk. needs to just get some easy goals(edmonton) to get him going and feeling good.

You can shoot all you want, but if you're not getting in position to take quality shots, then not scoring isn't just a "funk". It's a lack of ability.

 

[DeagleJenkins]

You can shoot all you want, but if you're not getting in position to take quality shots, then not scoring isn't just a "funk". It's a lack of ability.

True, yet he scored from the boards on a pretty snipe his first game in the league i believe(?) could be wrong on when the game was exactly but it was early in his career. he goes to the net and has a good shot. i do believe he needs linemates that compliment his play style to really flourish though. He is not a one man wrecking crew, which no one is saying im just discussing his play style.

 

[Wabit]

It's pretty clear that "Iowa" was synonymous with "AHL".

Fine Granny (29 games), Brodin (9 games), and Coyle (47 games) had stints in Houston during the lockout season.

Not getting into traded guys that might have spent time in the Wild's AHL prior to the move to Iowa; which would include 1 roster player (Koivu). MN has drafted/developed a total of 7 players with 100+ career goals. Of those 7 player, 4 of them have more than 1 season with 20+ goals (Gabby, Koivu, Zucker, Burns).

The point is there isn't a lot of players that have come through the Wild's draft/AHL system and turned into goal scorers.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

Eriksson Ek needs to shoot less from the sides and more from driving the net. His shot isn’t good enough to beat an unscreened goalie in the NHL.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Fine Granny (29 games), Brodin (9 games), and Coyle (47 games) had stints in Houston during the lockout season.

Not getting into traded guys that might have spent time in the Wild's AHL prior to the move to Iowa; which would include 1 roster player (Koivu). MN has drafted/developed a total of 7 players with 100+ career goals. Of those 7 player, 4 of them have more than 1 season with 20+ goals (Gabby, Koivu, Zucker, Burns).

The point is there isn't a lot of players that have come through the Wild's draft/AHL system and turned into goal scorers.

Zucker 55 more games.

 

[Wabit]

Zucker 55 more games.

He was in the Iowa post, so he was redundant to me. I just added the other 3 players to that total. Haula (6 games) played in Houston too. Larsson (traded) played in Houston too.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He was in the Iowa post, so he was redundant to me. I just added the other 3 players to that total. Haula (6 games) played in Houston too. Larsson (traded) played in Houston too.

22 games and 77 games is pretty different.

 

[Wabit]

22 games and 77 games is pretty different.

Okay he spent 77 games in the AHL. The point of the whole thing was lots of players take time to start scoring. 100 career goals is a pretty low bar for a FWD and the Wild haven't had many of those come through their system. Only 1 drafted player has over 200 career goals (Gabby); Koivu should reach that milestone this year.

There is no way that if Kunin gets called up it should be for EK. Offense doesn't always come immediately, but he is putting himself in the places he needs to be, the goals will come. We have plenty of players who spent time in Iowa who didn't score immediately.