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

[Minnesota]

Yeah, Larsson looked pretty good in Buffalo last season.

 

[nickschultzfan]

I hope people realize that Eriksson Ek is the mid-point between Eric Staal and Jordan Staal.

Would people feel better if he played in the OHL putting up 35 goals?

All the "better centers" people are referring to that we should have picked will likely be wingers in the NHL.

 

[IHaveNoCreativity]

The next 2 years will give us an indication of his offensive game.

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Konecny was on the board and has a higher offensive ceiling.

Not mad, just a bit disappointed, but will go into wait and see mode because I totally trust Fletcher.

Konecny has one move and its not effective in the NHL, hell the junior players were giving him huge struggles for most of the year, I am very glad we passed on him. Watching ISO footage of his games, the guy can skate masterfully but does not have NHL offense in his game yet.

I like this pick for the Wild, kid looks to have a good shot and has room to fill out and get stronger. This team needs more shooters, look what guys like Zucker and Nino have added with their ability to put the puck on and in the net from anywhere, something this team has missed since the start.

 

[forthewild]

Love this pick, its a good shoot first prospect with upside and he is in good hand development wise.

 

[nickschultzfan]

I think it was a great pick in that teams discount for lanky builds too much. Like with Brodin. It seems like teams rather have a guy that maxed out his body type at 18 than a guy who has a bigger frame but will take until 23 to fill out. It is a odd thing because in the long run 95% of lanky player obtain the necessary muscle mass in today's NHL.

JEE is lanky and played in a men's league. Take out the "needs to add muscle" criticism and you are looking at a bigger center, who wins faceoffs, plays a 200 foot game, scores goals, and it's just a question of whether he is a 50-point guy or a 80-point guy. That is pretty awesome guy to grab at #20.

 

[Wild11MN]

Pretty sure his floor is well below 50 points.

The more I hear, the more I like the pick though.

 

[nickschultzfan]

The problem with draft CHL guys, which is why I think Fletcher isn't drawn to them, is that they are so over-scouted that they have little mystery or even upside. If a guy has a lot of upside, he vaults to the top of the draft, and everybody is after him. If he is just a PPG forward, he'll still go in the first round, but his upside is actually closer to a 2nd liner. That isn't to say that there isn't value or hidden gems in drafting from the CHL, but "beating the market" is significantly harder.

Where is clear that the Wild have targeted the US, Sweden, and Finland, as three areas that are producing high-end players that come in at a better draft value.

 

[Nsjohnson]

The problem with draft CHL guys, which is why I think Fletcher isn't drawn to them, is that they are so over-scouted that they have little mystery or even upside. If a guy has a lot of upside, he vaults to the top of the draft, and everybody is after him. If he is just a PPG forward, he'll still go in the first round, but his upside is actually closer to a 2nd liner. That isn't to say that there isn't value or hidden gems in drafting from the CHL, but "beating the market" is significantly harder.

Where is clear that the Wild have targeted the US, Sweden, and Finland, as three areas that are producing high-end players that come in at a better draft value.

This is a very clever post.

 

[DANOZ28]

brodin was a top euro skater, knock on him was a lightweight for a D man. ek appears to be an all around average nhler. no standout skills im reading about. he reminds me of coyle. not too bad , not too good. we'll see but not who i would have picked. i agree with vanilla.

 

[saywut]

The problem with draft CHL guys, which is why I think Fletcher isn't drawn to them, is that they are so over-scouted that they have little mystery or even upside. If a guy has a lot of upside, he vaults to the top of the draft, and everybody is after him. If he is just a PPG forward, he'll still go in the first round, but his upside is actually closer to a 2nd liner. That isn't to say that there isn't value or hidden gems in drafting from the CHL, but "beating the market" is significantly harder.

Where is clear that the Wild have targeted the US, Sweden, and Finland, as three areas that are producing high-end players that come in at a better draft value.

CHL players have a set progression -> 1-2 more years in the CHL then turn pro. With Europeans you have the potential for them to get pro seasons under their belt without burning ELC years, even if it is a lighter schedule in Europe.

For NCAA/USHL guys, they could be 4-5 years from turning pro, thus giving the team a much better idea of where they're at and if they're worth signing than the 2 years for a CHLer. Also don't have to commit to 3 year ELCs. Of course the risk is always there that they graduate and sign elsewhere, but you still get a pick out of that.

Gems can be found anywhere, just seems our staff prefers getting an extended look or getting pro games early on for their prospects.

 

[nickschultzfan]

CHL forwards rarely develop into more offensive players at higher levels. It is just a matter of translation or decline.

That isn't the case with European players at all because they are playing in men's leagues that are more defensively oriented.

But teams still pay higher prices for the appearance of higher offense. So there is opportunity in doing the contrary.

 

[NotYou]

Strikes me as an extremely vanilla pick.

Hope he proves me wrong.

I agree.

 

[nickschultzfan]

I just listened to Fletcher predraft interview with PA. He was very pointed about drafting the player with the highest upside and he said there was one player who should be available at 20 that he wanted. Based on Fletcher saying they were looking for a center, and the only other clear centers went 1 2 3, in retrospect it sounded like he was talking about E2

 

[Wild11MN]

I just listened to Fletcher predraft interview with PA. He was very pointed about drafting the player with the highest upside and he said there was one player who should be available at 20 that he wanted. Based on Fletcher saying they were looking for a center, and the only other clear centers went 1 2 3, in retrospect it sounded like he was talking about E2

I'm guessing it was, as we also had our pick in the fastest of any team in the first round I think. Clock had hardly started when the pick was in.

 

[nickschultzfan]

If Eriksson Ek stayed in Swedish junior, he could have score 50 goals this year. Would that have made people more comfortable with his offensive upside? Just because the numbers on the page are quantitatively higher?

 

[nickschultzfan]

Aside from the first 3 picks, lets breakdown the other center candidates in the 1st round.

Marner - Will be a winger.

Zacha - All projection. Offense might never be top-6 center worthy. Can he put it together?

Connor - High end talent, but may play wing in pros.

Barzal - Talented, but will struggle become a become a true 1st line center. More like a 1B/2A ceiling.

White - 2nd line center is ceiling.

Konecny - Will be a winger.

Roslovic - Wild fans would have been more upset if we picked him.

So, consider the options were Ericksson Ek or White, E2 definitely has the higher upside. And E2 could easily be one of the best centers of the class and a guy that people look back on and go "how did he drop to #20?"

 

[plock]

Did you watch Larsson at all last season? When he was put on the scoring line he scored 14pp on his last 20games.

I only saw a couple of games he was in,true.I do know he was up and down from the AHl a lot on a very weak team.I also think he is at best 4th on the depth list for center in Buffalo behind O'reilly,Girgensons,and Eichel as it stands right now,and Buffalo may not be finished making moves.

 

[plock]

CHL forwards rarely develop into more offensive players at higher levels. It is just a matter of translation or decline.

That isn't the case with European players at all because they are playing in men's leagues that are more defensively oriented.

But teams still pay higher prices for the appearance of higher offense. So there is opportunity in doing the contrary.

You can't be serious.

Here is a list of the leading point scorers in NHL history

1 Wayne Gretzky 2,857
2 Mark Messier 1,887
3 Gordie Howe 1,850
4 JAROMIR JAGR 1,802
5 Ron Francis 1,798
6 Marcel Dionne 1,771
7 Steve Yzerman 1,755
8 Mario Lemieux 1,723
9 Joe Sakic 1,641
10 Phil Esposito 1,590
11 Ray Bourque 1,579
12 Mark Recchi 1,533
13 Paul Coffey 1,531
14 Stan Mikita 1,467
15 Teemu Selanne 1,457
16 Bryan Trottier 1,425
17 Adam Oates 1,420
18 Doug Gilmour 1,414
19 Dale Hawerchuk 1,409
20 Jari Kurri 1,398
21 Luc Robitaille 1,394
22 Brett Hull 1,391
23 Mike Modano 1,374
24 John Bucyk 1,369
25 Brendan Shanahan 1,354

Except for the 3 Europeans on the list I think all (not sure about Oates) of them spent time playing junior hockey in Canada.

 

[Minnesota]

Based on Fletcher saying they were looking for a center, and the only other clear centers went 1 2 3, in retrospect it sounded like he was talking about E2

When you say E2, are you talking about Eriksson Ek? I hope that doesn't become his nickname.

 

[plock]

Doesn't ek mean oak in Swedish?

It means Lets Go! in Esperanto.

 

[nickschultzfan]

You can't be serious.

Here is a list of the leading point scorers in NHL history

1 Wayne Gretzky 2,857
2 Mark Messier 1,887
3 Gordie Howe 1,850
4 JAROMIR JAGR 1,802
5 Ron Francis 1,798
6 Marcel Dionne 1,771
7 Steve Yzerman 1,755
8 Mario Lemieux 1,723
9 Joe Sakic 1,641
10 Phil Esposito 1,590
11 Ray Bourque 1,579
12 Mark Recchi 1,533
13 Paul Coffey 1,531
14 Stan Mikita 1,467
15 Teemu Selanne 1,457
16 Bryan Trottier 1,425
17 Adam Oates 1,420
18 Doug Gilmour 1,414
19 Dale Hawerchuk 1,409
20 Jari Kurri 1,398
21 Luc Robitaille 1,394
22 Brett Hull 1,391
23 Mike Modano 1,374
24 John Bucyk 1,369
25 Brendan Shanahan 1,354

Except for the 3 Europeans on the list I think all (not sure about Oates) of them spent time playing junior hockey in Canada.

I don't think you understand what I was saying.

 

[nickschultzfan]

When you say E2, are you talking about Eriksson Ek? I hope that doesn't become his nickname.

He's going to have one. Not sure what is going to be.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

So what are we looking for him to do as far as progression next year... 10ish goals, 25ish points in the SEL? Would that be on track with other higher level prospects in their draft +1 years?

Larsson: 4+4 in 43 games
Forsberg: 15+18 in 34 games
Silfverberg: 8+8 in 48 games
Zibanejad: 5+8 in 26 games
Jarnkrok: 11+16 in 49 games

 

[Spurgeon]

He's going to have one. Not sure what is going to be.

I'm just gonna call him Ek.