Minnesota Wild General Discussion - 2023-24

[Wasted Talent]

Duhaime gone

To Colorado? This will spark a bitter rivalry between the Deweys.

 

[MuckOG]

Duhaime gone

Sounds like to the Avs.

 

[BagHead]

To Colorado? This will spark a bitter rivalry between the Deweys.

Seems like the type of relationship where during the game they're hacking and slashing each other, and after the game they're using two straws in one drink.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Which great prospects are you referring to?

Pouliot had a ton of tools, he actually looked decent at center and then...Minnesota wanted him on wing. Voloshenko is another - never knew the story on what the hell was going on with him, but he tore it up in the AHL and looked like he was going to good in the NHL and then bolted back to the KHL.

Haula was a damn good prospect for where he was taken and Minnesota kept blocking him. Though I got to wonder if something else is going on with him. Eriksson-Ek until Koivu retired looked like a bust.

 

[TaLoN]

Eriksson-Ek until Koivu retired looked like a bust.

You throw that word around far too easily

 

[thestonedkoala]

You throw that word around far too easily

He was being tossed between the AHL and the NHL. I'm not the one that used that word either for him. Most were upset that he was taken before Boeser. I mean look up the old threads. I wouldn't be surprised if some thought he would go back to the SHL.

I was one of the biggest JEE supporters.

 

[MuckOG]

He was being tossed between the AHL and the NHL. I'm not the one that used that word either for him. Most were upset that he was taken before Boeser. I mean look up the old threads. I wouldn't be surprised if some thought he would go back to the SHL.

I was one of the biggest JEE supporters.

He's only played 18 games in the AHL, spread over 3 seasons. I think it just took him a little bit to figure out the speed of the NHL and find his game. Not that unusual for young players.

 

[TaLoN]

He was being tossed between the AHL and the NHL. I'm not the one that used that word either for him. Most were upset that he was taken before Boeser. I mean look up the old threads. I wouldn't be surprised if some thought he would go back to the SHL.

I was one of the biggest JEE supporters.

There were those not thrilled with the pick, and were disappointed with his slow development - but slow development does not equal bust.

 

[thestonedkoala]

He's only played 18 games in the AHL, spread over 3 seasons. I think it just took him a little bit to figure out the speed of the NHL and find his game. Not that unusual for young players.

It doesn't help when they put you on a grinding line and fans expect you to score goals either.

There were these not thilled with the pick, and were disappointed with his slow development - but slow development does not equal bust.

It wasn't slow development, it was no development. He had 6, 7 and 8 goals and had less than 30 points for 3 years (not counting his rookie season).

 

[AKL]

So, is the argument that the Wild are bad at drafting and developing because they moved Pouliot to wing and because Voloshenko went back to Russia (where he subsequently never actually played in the KHL, peaked at the VHL level)?

 

[MuckOG]

It doesn't help when they put you on a grinding line and fans expect you to score goals either.

Actually, I think the Wild handled Ek's development pretty damn good. He's shown improvement in every season, even now. Not sure what you were expecting, I don't think anyone saw him putting up 25+ goals in his rookie year.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Actually, I think the Wild handled Ek's development pretty damn good. He's shown improvement in every season, even now.

Which is what I was saying, but a lot of fans wanted him gone or traded because he didn't score more than 10 goals until his 4th season.

 

[TaLoN]

but a lot of fans wanted him gone

I don't recall that at all. I do recall many saying he Would be a shutdown 3rd line Center... Not a bust for his draft position

 

[AKL]

I'm not following the logic here at all. Eriksson Ek was a great prospect, but his development was bad and they almost ruined him, but actually they handled him great because he's a great player now?

 

[thestonedkoala]

I don't recall that at all. I do recall many saying he Would be a shutdown 3rd line Center... Not a bust for his draft position

I recall a lot of fans wanting him gone:

2019 Minnesota Wild Year End Player Review: Joel Eriksson Ek - Zone Coverage

Joel Eriksson Ek Age: 22 Position: Center 2018-19 Stats: 7G-7A-14P Contract Status: Restricted Free Agent ($894,167 cap hit in 2018-19) 2018-19 was

zonecoverage.com

I honestly remember being made fun of because I mentioned JEE had more offensive potential than he had shown and that fans needed to be patient with him.

 

[AKL]

I'm not following the logic here at all. Eriksson Ek was a great prospect, but his development was bad and they almost ruined him, but actually they handled him great because he's a great player now?

I continue to be confused because now we're pointing at perceived fan sentiment, which I'm not even sure is accurate, to prove that his development was handled poorly, but actually it was still handled well because he's a great player now?

Or is the point that fans can be rash and overreactive and has nothing to do with drafting and developing at all?

There's zero coherence in thought here, it's all over the place.

 

[TaLoN]

I recall a lot of fans wanting him gone:

2019 Minnesota Wild Year End Player Review: Joel Eriksson Ek - Zone Coverage

Joel Eriksson Ek Age: 22 Position: Center 2018-19 Stats: 7G-7A-14P Contract Status: Restricted Free Agent ($894,167 cap hit in 2018-19) 2018-19 was

zonecoverage.com

I honestly remember being made fun of because I mentioned JEE had more offensive potential than he had shown and that fans needed to be patient with him.

I won't dispute the talk about his early lack of offense, but most saw his defensive value and would not have Wanted to ditch a legit center.

He was NEVER considered a bust

 

[Wasted Talent]

I recall a lot of fans wanting him gone:

2019 Minnesota Wild Year End Player Review: Joel Eriksson Ek - Zone Coverage

Joel Eriksson Ek Age: 22 Position: Center 2018-19 Stats: 7G-7A-14P Contract Status: Restricted Free Agent ($894,167 cap hit in 2018-19) 2018-19 was

zonecoverage.com

I honestly remember being made fun of because I mentioned JEE had more offensive potential than he had shown and that fans needed to be patient with him.

The way I recall it, there was one guy who just really hated Ek and was very outspoken about it.

 

[AKL]

The way I recall it, there was one guy who just really hated Ek and was very outspoken about it.

If it's who I think you're referring to, I remember him insisting that Greenway was carrying that line

 

[thestonedkoala]

The way I recall it, there was one guy who just really hated Ek and was very outspoken about it.

More than that...though it's funny some were really thinking about the Pool Party for Ek trade back then...

Player Discussion - Joel Eriksson Ek: The 2nd Act

Yuck

forums.hfboards.com

I have to say, back in 2019, called it on Eriksson-Ek.

Also this is a fun thread here:

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

How many games does he get before he joins the always growing 1st round bust list? The list hasn't grown since 2011.

forums.hfboards.com

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

If I remember correctly Russo said Fenton was basically trying to give Ek away at one point too.

 

[MuckOG]

Pouliot had a ton of tools, he actually looked decent at center and then...Minnesota wanted him on wing. Voloshenko is another - never knew the story on what the hell was going on with him, but he tore it up in the AHL and looked like he was going to good in the NHL and then bolted back to the KHL.

Haula was a damn good prospect for where he was taken and Minnesota kept blocking him. Though I got to wonder if something else is going on with him. Eriksson-Ek until Koivu retired looked like a bust.

Surprised you haven't dropped Matt Foy's name as a prospect we didn't develop properly.

 

[thestonedkoala]

If I remember correctly Russo said Fenton was basically trying to give Ek away at one point too.

I remember that...

BTW just looking at Pouliot's numbers he's 11th for his draft year in goals scored, 17th In points, and 24th in GP. Not bad for being a 'bust'.

Surprised you haven't dropped Matt Foy's name as a prospect we didn't develop properly.

I forgot about him...Foy didn't do much after unlike Haula.

 

[MuckOG]

I forgot about him...Foy didn't do much after unlike Haula.

He did tear it up in the AHL, though.

 

[thestonedkoala]

He did tear it up in the AHL, though.

He did! And he had a cup of coffee in the NHL.