LD Daemon Hunt (2020, 65th, MIN; traded to CBJ)

Jeffrey Pedler

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Mar 21, 2018
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His strength is being a pmd who skates well but his defensive game isn't a weakness. Still needs to bulk up for pro hockey but has good height so as he ages that should come. Fits the modern day dman mold pretty well in he's not a shutdown guy like guhle or Schneider but isn't someone who's going to be taken advantage of too much. Should have a good chance of making the wjc team next year as the 6th or 7th dman.

It says he is 198lbs, so he is not too far off.
 

canuck2010

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Dec 21, 2010
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If I recall he was injured in December with Team Canada U20 and wasn't able to play. Hopefully he gets his chance this summer.
 

57special

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If I recall he was injured in December with Team Canada U20 and wasn't able to play. Hopefully he gets his chance this summer.
Yeah, I think it was the final scrimmage before cuts and he broke a bone (wrist?) blocking a shot. It was thought that he was going to make the team.
 
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WarriorofTime

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Jul 3, 2010
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Alright Wild fans, what's the scoop 😂
Not a wild fan but he’s a guy on his third year of his elc (after two slides) getting a tryout to determine if he’s a 1-way contract sorta player next year. Fringe top 10 prospect in Wild system (which is admittedly good). Good AHL player and smart defenseman just not exceptional enough in any area for anything that screams high ceiling. Could probably grind out a 350-400 game nhl career albeit in an unspectacular fashion.
 
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hotcabbagesoup

"I'm going to get what I deserve" -RutgerMcgroarty
Feb 18, 2009
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Alright Wild fans, what's the scoop 😂

Daemon is always conflicted. He acts on whims. Yes! He has the “blood of the dragon”—he is “restless and chaotic.” At times he can be ruthless, proud, capricious and most importantly, dangerous, easily resorting to combat and waging a personal war with intent to root out a domain of his own, though it was well known that he personally desired the Stanley Cup.

Comparable: Darnell Nurse
 
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Circulartheory

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Apr 22, 2006
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One of the more underrated prospects out there. He’s going to be an all around 4/5 defenseman.
I don't think he'll ever be a #4 guy. He's too much of a jack of all trades, master of none type.

But he's good size, quite agile, responsible, low maintanece type of two-way defenseman. That said, I just don't think he has any defining skill that elevates his game above the bottom pairing or a key player on special teams. He should develop into a realiable, coaches's favorite on the 5/6 role.
 
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BKarchitect

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I don't think he'll ever be a #4 guy. He's too much of a jack of all trades, master of none type.

But he's good size, quite agile, responsible, low maintanece type of two-way defenseman. That said, I just don't think he has any defining skill that elevates his game above the bottom pairing or a key player on special teams. He should develop into a realiable, coaches's favorite on the 5/6 role.

Sounds like he should slot in nicely in the future LD of Werenski-Mateychuk-Hunt. Main long-term competition would be Svozil. The way Fabbro has looked, the RD has two fixtures in Severson and Fabbro and even missing Jiricek, there’s Marrelli and Elick….not sure Ceulemans makes the grade.

Definitely work to do but I can see why they wanted Hunt back even if his ceiling is limited. He clearly is a secondary piece to the pure asset value of the pick compensation but a useful one.
 

57special

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Decent size and strength, good skater, decent puck handling and offensive instincts. Two way guy. Had 29 points in 50 odd games last year in the AHL. IMO, clearly the 2nd best Wild d prospect after Buium. His floor is as a 6/7, ceiling a middle pairing guy.
 

MS

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Mar 18, 2002
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Decent size and strength, good skater, decent puck handling and offensive instincts. Two way guy. Had 29 points in 50 odd games last year in the AHL. IMO, clearly the 2nd best Wild d prospect after Buium. His floor is as a 6/7, ceiling a middle pairing guy.

When you haven't made the NHL in your draft+5, your floor is 'AHLer', not 'regular NHL depth player'.

Hunt is one of those Travis Dermott types who are a bit undersized, not really an offensive guy, not really a defensive guy, and find it hard to find a role on an NHL team without some sort of standout trait or specialty. Lots just top out as AHLers and a Dermott career would be a good result.
 
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57special

Posting the right way since 2012.
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When you haven't made the NHL in your draft+5, your floor is 'AHLer', not 'regular NHL depth player'.

Hunt is one of those Travis Dermott types who are a bit undersized, not really an offensive guy, not really a defensive guy, and find it hard to find a role on an NHL team without some sort of standout trait or specialty. Lots just top out as AHLers and a Dermott career would be a good result.
6'1", 200+ lbs is undersized? Sounds like you haven't watched him play.
 
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57special

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I've watched him since he was 17 in the WHL.

Average NHL D is about 6'2 205 right now. 6'1 200 is 'a bit undersized' just as I said.
You watch a lot of Iowa Wild, where he was the best Dman by a good bit? I highly doubt it. I think the chances are a 22 yo Dman will improve as he reaches his prime from 23-26yo.

Average size for a NHL Dman is 6'1 1/2". Hunt is 6'1", and thick. No one in their right mind will look at him and think that he is undersized. Put that together with good skating, and decent puck skills, and you've got enough for a 3rd pairing Dman at a minimum.
 
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Forsbergaura21

Registered User
Jul 20, 2024
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You watch a lot of Iowa Wild, where he was the best Dman by a good bit? I highly doubt it. I think the chances are a 22 yo Dman will improve as he reaches his prime from 23-26yo.

Average size for a NHL Dman is 6'1 1/2". Hunt is 6'1", and thick. No one in their right mind will look at him and think that he is undersized. Put that together with good skating, and decent puck skills, and you've got enough for a 3rd pairing Dman at a minimum.

Yes I agree. I don’t think size is an issue for him. It’s average and like you said he is 200 pounds and thick. He seems like a strong kid.

I think what he needs the most is a chance to play more minutes in the NHL. Hopefully Columbus will give him that…
 

spintheblackcircle

incoming!!!
Mar 1, 2002
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I know nothing about him, but he sounds like someone who has a ceiling of Marc-Eduard Vlasic when he was starting to get overrated but still good?

25-35 pts and pretty reliable?
 

BuiumSaveUs

Danila Yurov Fan Club Executive Assistant
May 2, 2018
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I know nothing about him, but he sounds like someone who has a ceiling of Marc-Eduard Vlasic when he was starting to get overrated but still good?

25-35 pts and pretty reliable?
Don’t think he’ll have the defense that Vlasic has but he could get 30 points on a good team.
 

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