My main point was, getting a competent 5th defenceman who you don't have to overpay for at 24 is basically just average. It is slightly annoying, but not crushing. Now, Filip Johnsson appears to be a long way from reaching that. The draft really becomes a crapshoot after about pick 15 on average. Some teams can consistently draft well and get value, but even they'll have the occasional misses in that range. Although, for whatever reason, the best value to be found in the 20-30 range tends to be wingers. Finding legit top 6 centers there isn't that common. Between 2005 and 2012, you basically got Giroux, Kuznetsov, and Backlund. Kuznetsov also was a top 10 pick who slipped at the height of KHL fears. Then guys who rotate positions like Coyle and Brock Nelson. Quickly glancing from 2013 to 2017, you see some guys who might (Colin White for example), but it is rare. It's actually pretty crazy how many of the leagues legit top 6 centers were drafted in the top 10, especially when you look at top line one's compared to where elite wingers and D come from.It's just that, as a team, MN is desperate for top 6 C's and forward skill, with Koivu and Staal getting well on in years...and Veleno was just sitting there. I know it's easy to be a Monday morning QB, but I wanted Veleno when it came clear he was available. Would've understood taking Noel, or Bokk, Thomas...didn't even know who FJo was.
While Veleno is no sure thing, would anyone be surprised if he ends up having a NHL career as a middle six C, or a top 6 forward?
FJo meanwhile...the odds aren't looking good for him. When will he even play in the SEL? I mean, I don't want to get too hysterical, because he is playing in a men's league(poor man's ECHL), and not HS, but it sounds like the Wild scouting staff fell in love with the idea of a RH Brodin, and based their pick off of a very small sample size, last year's playoffs, where FJo looked good.
Hope I am wrong and we are all laughing at me in 3-4 years time, with Veleno having a mediocre career in the AHL and Johansson playing in our top 4...![]()
His teammate Axel Bergkvist fellow 2018 draft eligible had 9 points in 34 games, he went undrafted in last years draft. Could he be a late round pick? Axel Bergkvist at eliteprospects.com
Have you sen him play?
Well...it's not exactly an exciting pick. At least Veleno isn't killing it in the AHL, making me feel even worse, though i still like his game. I will say that they appear to have got it right with the Beckman and Khovanov picks, though.
Veleno is doing fine in the AHL, he has the most points for a 19 year old in the AHL so far. Almost a 0.5ppg for a 19 year who turned 20 in January is pretty good!