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LW Riley Tufte - Minnesota-Duluth, NCAA (2016, 25th, DAL)

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Prince George General Manager Todd Harkins raveeled to Minnesota to do some in person scouting last week. He met with Riley's dad (along with other prospects and their parents).
 
Tufte just clowning the MN High School competition. He had his third straight hat trick tonight. Riley's up to 42+29 (71) in 23 games. To put that in perspective, no one else in class AA has even reached 30 goals on the season.
 
Even within AA there are big differences in strength of schedule. Mittelstadt's 54 points are almost as impressive given EP's schedule.

Scouts have to be eagerly anticipating Tufte's stint in the USHL after the season.
 
Bonin21 said:
Even within AA there are big differences in strength of schedule. Mittelstadt's 54 points are almost as impressive given EP's schedule.

Scouts have to be eagerly anticipating Tufte's stint in the USHL after the season.
Click to expand...

Wasn't Bjugstad playing against the same kind of competition Tufte is playing though? I think when the tools are there you would expect them to be able to use them effectively at higher levels as well. For sure USHL will be a good test though, I hope he doesn't go to NCAA and follows Bjugstad's path ( with the exception of Tufte's expected USHL season ).
 
Bonin21 said:
Even within AA there are big differences in strength of schedule. Mittelstadt's 54 points are almost as impressive given EP's schedule.

Scouts have to be eagerly anticipating Tufte's stint in the USHL after the season.
Click to expand...

EP probably has had the toughest schedule of all the AA teams but it's not like Blaine has played a weak schedule or anything.

Benilde
EP
Minnetonka
Edina
Hill-Murray
Duluth East
Centennial x2
Elk River x2

Against just those teams Tufte has scored 16 goals in 10 games. That's still a 40 goal pace over a 25 game regular season. 40 goals just doesn't happen very often in AA.
 
wings5 said:
Wasn't Bjugstad playing against the same kind of competition Tufte is playing though? I think when the tools are there you would expect them to be able to use them effectively at higher levels as well. For sure USHL will be a good test though, I hope he doesn't go to NCAA and follows Bjugstad's path ( with the exception of Tufte's expected USHL season ).
Click to expand...
Ya pretty much the same schedule. Tufte won't have a full USHL season. He'll go to UMD next season and develop just fine. Because he's a little raw I think he'll be there at least two years, and could choose between AHL and college that third year or be in the show.

NCAA clearly didn't hurt Bjugstad. He dealt with some injuries/sickness his first year. Live it up in college for three years and never play a game in the AHL? Sounds fine to me.
 
Another hat trick for Tufte. It would have been his 4th in a row, but they took a goal away from him in his last game and credited it to his linemate.
 
gopherman23 said:
Another hat trick for Tufte. It would have been his 4th in a row, but they took a goal away from him in his last game and credited it to his linemate.
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kid is a beast - cant wait to see him in the NCAA next year .

looking at how well Kyle Connor, Colin White, Jack Roslovic, Brock Boeser, and Luke Kunin have played as freshmen, I expect real big things out of Riley next year regardless of where drafted.
 
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Bonin21 said:
Even within AA there are big differences in strength of schedule. Mittelstadt's 54 points are almost as impressive given EP's schedule.

Scouts have to be eagerly anticipating Tufte's stint in the USHL after the season.
Click to expand...

I watched both Tufte and Mittelstadt play this year against Minnetonka, and at this stage of their respective developments, it wasn't close. Tufte has a unique and special skillset and size. He's barely scratched the surface of how effective he can be (I'm not sure he knows how to use his size quite yet, etc.). Mittelstadt is good, and his vision is elite, but Riley Tufte just has that "it" factor you notice the moment you walk in the building. Nobody has to point out which one he is...you just recognize it right away.
 
AmericanDream said:
wow, simply unreal.

It is hard to imagine this kid not getting picked inside the top 15 with his size and skillset.
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I dont see that happening unless he starts ripping up the USHL when he comes back at the end of the year. I saw him play live once and on Fast Hockey for a 2nd game in his brief stint at the beginning of the year. You obviously notice him because of his size and the fact he skates well, but he wasnt dominate. 0 points in the 2 games I watched. I could see late 1st maybe up to 22-25.
 
Look where Crouse went last year. Teams still love bigger players and those saying you doubt he goes inside the top 20 well Bjugstad and Wheeler both did and both were raw with risks but didn't score like this. I actually would be floored if he isn't picked around 15 to 20..just too tantalizing to pass on.

It only takes 1 team to love him, just ask Wheeler.
 
herbst20 said:
I dont see that happening unless he starts ripping up the USHL when he comes back at the end of the year. I saw him play live once and on Fast Hockey for a 2nd game in his brief stint at the beginning of the year. You obviously notice him because of his size and the fact he skates well, but he wasnt dominate. 0 points in the 2 games I watched. I could see late 1st maybe up to 22-25.
Click to expand...

I actually do not see how the USHL does anything for him this year.

Am I supposed to believe a kid who jumps to another team at the end of the year for a handful of games with no chemistry with line mates is going to make him a top 15 player or not?

I agree that he didn't overwhelm in his whopping 12 games to start the year, but this isn't then and another 5 or 6 games isn't going to do a ton for him either regardless if he produces or not. You are basing your opinion off of a game you saw 4 months ago? And I respect your opinion as you follow USHL closely as well, so don't take it the wrong way just this isn't then.

At this point teams have seen what he is made of, his size and skillset are nearly unmatched in this draft...

Going off history we haven't seen this size and skill from Minnesota hockey since Nick Bjugstad went top 20. And prior to him was Blake Wheeler who went top 5. I have a hard time believing Tufte is going to go anywhere past those two after putting up the goal numbers he has. He is 6'6 200lbs plus for the love of God.

Looking at some of the names being ranked ahead of him currently: Logan Brown, Luke Kunin, Dante Fabbro, Max Jones, Tyson Jost, Kieffer Bellows, and Mikhail Sergachev, are you going to say he can't go ahead of any of these kids as Tufte is ranked 21st for Bobby Mac?

I just watched the Portland game last night and they were talking about Tufte, maybe because of Bittner and Iverson being from Minny.. But they as well said they would be shocked if this kid isn't picked in the 10-15 range as Prince George is throwing everything at Tufte to come on board to play.

They echo the same sentiment of his size and skillset is simply unmatched (goal scoring especially which Logan Brown does not have) and talked about players like McCarron and Biggs (both bigger power forwards) who got drafted around the same range that Tufte is getting ranked currently with FAR LESS skill. I agree with them, people are missing the boat with him rankings wise and it will show come June.

The one thing I would love to see is him invited to play for the US at the u18 tournament. They do bring kids from outside from time to time and no better player to bring and showcase a bit than him.
 
AmericanDream said:
I actually do not see how the USHL does anything for him this year.

Am I supposed to believe a kid who jumps to another team at the end of the year for a handful of games with no chemistry with line mates is going to make him a top 15 player or not?

I agree that he didn't overwhelm in his whopping 12 games to start the year, but this isn't then and another 5 or 6 games isn't going to do a ton for him either regardless if he produces or not. You are basing your opinion off of a game you saw 4 months ago? And I respect your opinion as you follow USHL closely as well, so don't take it the wrong way just this isn't then.

At this point teams have seen what he is made of, his size and skillset are nearly unmatched in this draft...

Going off history we haven't seen this size and skill from Minnesota hockey since Nick Bjugstad went top 20. And prior to him was Blake Wheeler who went top 5. I have a hard time believing Tufte is going to go anywhere past those two after putting up the goal numbers he has. He is 6'6 200lbs plus for the love of God.

Looking at some of the names being ranked ahead of him currently: Logan Brown, Luke Kunin, Dante Fabbro, Max Jones, Tyson Jost, Kieffer Bellows, and Mikhail Sergachev, are you going to say he can't go ahead of any of these kids as Tufte is ranked 21st for Bobby Mac?

I just watched the Portland game last night and they were talking about Tufte, maybe because of Bittner and Iverson being from Minny.. But they as well said they would be shocked if this kid isn't picked in the 10-15 range as Prince George is throwing everything at Tufte to come on board to play.

They echo the same sentiment of his size and skillset is simply unmatched (goal scoring especially which Logan Brown does not have) and talked about players like McCarron and Biggs (both bigger power forwards) who got drafted around the same range that Tufte is getting ranked currently with FAR LESS skill. I agree with them, people are missing the boat with him rankings wise and it will show come June.

The one thing I would love to see is him invited to play for the US at the u18 tournament. They do bring kids from outside from time to time and no better player to bring and showcase a bit than him.
Click to expand...

We shall see. All of you points are valid and I know he is raw and projects high. I guess I was just underwhelmed by him in the couple games I saw.

I have a hard time projecting "potential" so I will defer to you here!
 
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herbst20 said:
We shall see. All of you points are valid and I know he is raw and projects high. I guess I was just underwhelmed by him in the couple games I saw.

I have a hard time projecting "potential" so I will defer to you here!
Click to expand...

don't put that pressure on me! :laugh:

I fully understand this kid could flop, but when you look at the overall sample of this player, I just simply cannot fathom 20 teams passing on this kid, especially teams that have multiple picks in the 1st. If you are looking for that homerun swing, I really can't see another player with that potential to be that more than him. June will be an exciting time and I hope he steps in and plays some more USHL games and/or gets to play with the US at the u18.
 
AmericanDream said:
don't put that pressure on me! :laugh:

I fully understand this kid could flop, but when you look at the overall sample of this player, I just simply cannot fathom 20 teams passing on this kid, especially teams that have multiple picks in the 1st. If you are looking for that homerun swing, I really can't see another player with that potential to be that more than him. June will be an exciting time and I hope he steps in and plays some more USHL games and/or gets to play with the US at the u18.
Click to expand...

At the very minimum Tufte should get 12 games in for Fargo, after the high school season is over. Blaine should make the state tourney and that ends March 5. Fargo plays down in Des Moines on the 6th, so he may opt to join them down there, which would give him 13 games.
 
Tufte had 2+3 in his first playoff game tonight. He had 2 goals and 2 assists in the first 20 minutes of the game. Blaine got up big early and Tufte didn't play as much later in the game. His yearly totals are up to 49-34-83 in 26 games.
 
Genuinely honest question: how many points do people more familiar with the hockey think Logan Brown would put up in Minn HS hockey this season, or Tage Thompson last season (his HS Sr year)
 
puckfan13 said:
Genuinely honest question: how many points do people more familiar with the hockey think Logan Brown would put up in Minn HS hockey this season, or Tage Thompson last season (his HS Sr year)
Click to expand...

Probably alot but depends on their team/class of the league they are playing in, judging a player based on points is pretty pointless regardless.
 
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