Prospect Info: Wild Prospect Thread 2022-23

[DigitalBoldy]

Again, 3 times in 25+ years. Ovechkin, Stamkos and Matthews. Maybe the scoring boon we're seeing will alter these conversations, but that's yet to be seen.

The "if everything goes right" can apply to a lot of players that would be ahead of him in line for it.


No, but he probably needs better than Gaudreau and whatever other spare change is lying around. Kaprizov is just what we have to offer. Montreal has Suzuki. We had Fiala, now we don't.

Yes, and I personally think that Caufield’s goal scoring ability is nearing the level of Ovechkin, Stamkos, Matthews, Draisaitl, Kaprizov, Pasta, Rantanen, etc. He set a NTDP record for goals. He was nearly goal per game his second year at Wisconsin. He’s nearly matched his goal total from last year in the NHL in 29 fewer games. This kid projects as one of the best goal scorers of his generation.

Let me simplify. If I had to choose who would score more points next to Suzuki and Dach, Boldy or Caufield, I would pick Caufield. The dude is pure offense. Boldy is better in other areas: physicality, defense, possibly playmaking. I’d argue Caufield’s assist totals don’t match his ability to pass and that could be because he shoots it so much. He’s pretty darn good at passing. Probably the most underrated part of his game.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Yes, and I personally think that Caufield’s goal scoring ability is nearing the level of Ovechkin, Stamkos, Matthews, Draisaitl, Kaprizov, Pasta, Rantanen, etc. He set a NTDP record for goals. He was nearly goal per game his second year at Wisconsin. He’s nearly matched his goal total from last year in the NHL in 29 fewer games. This kid projects as one of the best goal scorers of his generation.

Let me simplify. If I had to choose who would score more points next to Suzuki and Dach, Boldy or Caufield, I would pick Caufield. The dude is pure offense. Boldy is better in other areas: physicality, defense, possibly playmaking. I’d argue Caufield’s assist totals don’t match his ability to pass and that could be because he shoots it so much. He’s pretty darn good at passing. Probably the most underrated part of his game.

Again, pretty optimistic considering recent league history, but I guess I can't completely dismiss it out of hand, especially in an "everything goes right scenario". Hell, Foligno shot 25% over 2 seasons, so it's probably not impossible for talented shooters to do the same.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

If Caufield hits his absolute ceiling, he is scoring 60 goals per year.

Boldy would have to grow tremendously as a player to reach Rantanen/Robertson level. Caufield is already fairly close to Debrincat’s level.

60 goals? Sure. Undersized players tend to fluctuate like crazy in terms of production to begin with. 40 I can see him hitting in peak years.

 

[DigitalBoldy]

60 goals? Sure. Undersized players tend to fluctuate like crazy in terms of production to begin with. 40 I can see him hitting in peak years.

He’s on pace to break that this year. Is 22 his peak?

 

[57special]

Spacek out there on the 6v5 and primary assists on the game-tying goal.

I have been more impressed with him, than Ohgren, in this tournament.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

He’s on pace to break that this year. Is 22 his peak?

Could be one of his peak years yeah

 

[Prior]

Kulich is the one player I really wanted at the Ohgren spot and was upset they let him get to their spot and go another direction. I believe there was someone else in the draft thread that was on him too, maybe CircleTheory? There’s warts there projecting at an NHL level and Ohgren has safer tools but I don’t get passing on him.

I understand and support the Yurov spot. Take a swing at upside on the second pick in the first round is a good thought process in my view.

 

[P10p]

I was hoping for Miroshnichenko and Yurov. Was happy we got at least one of them.

 

[Jbcraig1883]

Spacek continues to show how good he is this WJC. I know I have already said it but he has been far more assertive/confident this WJC, just 4sh months later.

Peart had a good first period against Canada IMO. Some pretty good outlet passes.

Overall, good WJC for Wild prospects, minus Ohgren. I didn't see the semis today but saw all of his other games - let's just say I have been watching the WJC for as long as I can remember and most of the Wild's prospects, even those that were lower rated at the time, have showed more. I wasn't expecting him to be lights out or anything - but pretty meh everywhere. WJC ain't everything and many prospects don't get to play for their respective teams, but I was hoping for more.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Can always fall back on Kaprizov only being 1+2 in 7 games in his D+1 WJC.

Ohgren will get another crack next year, hopefully as a go-to top 6er, unless he gets Tuch'd.

Not so good start to the 2nd for Peart.

 

[Johnny97]

Spacek could be a steal

 

[P10p]

Bankier on the ice for, perhaps, Canada's biggest goal of the tournament. Up by 2 but US was buzzing. 5-3 now.

Bankier has been great in his limited role. Hard on the forecheck and throwing big hits.

 

[keppel146]

Spacek continues to show how good he is this WJC. I know I have already said it but he has been far more assertive/confident this WJC, just 4sh months later.

Peart had a good first period against Canada IMO. Some pretty good outlet passes.

Overall, good WJC for Wild prospects, minus Ohgren. I didn't see the semis today but saw all of his other games - let's just say I have been watching the WJC for as long as I can remember and most of the Wild's prospects, even those that were lower rated at the time, have showed more. I wasn't expecting him to be lights out or anything - but pretty meh everywhere. WJC ain't everything and many prospects don't get to play for their respective teams, but I was hoping for more.

I thought Peart looked great. Looks like NHL’r for sure. Does the little things right and good passer.

 

[thestonedkoala]

If anyone is surprised that Ohgren was picked over Kulich I have a bridge to sell you. Ohgren is the prototypical Minnesota prospect.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

If anyone is surprised that Ohgren was picked over Kulich I have a bridge to sell you. Ohgren is the prototypical Minnesota prospect.

Yurov was picked over Kulich too.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Yurov was picked over Kulich too.

At that point, Yurov was too high risk/high reward to pass up. If Snuggs was there, they would have picked him. He wasn't, so they went with Yurov. If Yurov wasn't there, maybe Kulich, or someone else.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

At that point, Yurov was too high risk/high reward to pass up. If Snuggs was there, they would have picked him. He wasn't, so they went with Yurov. If Yurov wasn't there, maybe Kulich, or someone else.

Their board was Yurov at #9, Ohgren at #10 and Snuggerud at #11. They would've gone with Yurov regardless.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Their board was Yurov at #9, Ohgren at #10 and Snuggerud at #11. They would've gone with Yurov regardless.

I thought they were disappointed that Snuggerud was taken a pick ahead of him. Also if Yurov was over Ohgren, why didn't they pick Yurov over Ohgren at 19th?

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

I thought they were disappointed that Snuggerud was taken a pick ahead of him. Also if Yurov was over Ohgren, why didn't they pick Yurov over Ohgren at 19th?

Because they felt the whole Russian thing during that draft was going to let him slide.

There's a behind-the-scenes draft video online that shows it. They obviously don't use names so there's still some inferring that has to be done, but I think it's pretty clear who they're talking about.

 

[57special]

I thought they were disappointed that Snuggerud was taken a pick ahead of him. Also if Yurov was over Ohgren, why didn't they pick Yurov over Ohgren at 19th?

This is talked about in the draft video made by the Wild. Because of the Russian political situation, they thought that Yurov would still be available later, while Ohgren would be taken.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Because they felt the whole Russian thing during that draft was going to let him slide.

There's a behind-the-scenes draft video online that shows it. They obviously don't use names so there's still some inferring that has to be done, but I think it's pretty clear who they're talking about.

Risky move as a Russian was taken right after Ohgren was picked.

Also what's weird is that Michael Misa isn't going to be draft eligible for TWO years.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Risky move as a Russian was taken right after Ohgren was picked.

Also what's weird is that Michael Misa isn't going to be draft eligible for TWO years.

Agreed, and my preference would be to not play games and just take the players that you want in the spots you're at, but I guess that this is part of the game.

 

[BagHead]

Risky move as a Russian was taken right after Ohgren was picked.

Also what's weird is that Michael Misa isn't going to be draft eligible for TWO years.

There's definitely some risk involved there, but the value assessment is sound. If Ohgren was ranked immediately behind Yurov on their board, the risk was minimal while the upside was fairly large. If they'd taken Yurov at 19 they almost certainly would have lost out on both their #10 and 11 ranked players. Basically, the risk of losing the opportunity to get two of those guys was lesser than the damage of definitely losing out on two of them.

 

[thestonedkoala]

There's definitely some risk involved there, but the value assessment is sound. If Ohgren was ranked immediately behind Yurov on their board, the risk was minimal while the upside was fairly large. If they'd taken Yurov at 19 they almost certainly would have lost out on both their #10 and 11 ranked players. Basically, the risk of losing the opportunity to get two of those guys was lesser than the damage of definitely losing out on two of them.

And if they took Ohgren, they may have risked their 10th and 11th best guys. We don't know how it would have shaken out.

 

[BagHead]

And if they took Ohgren, they may have risked their 10th and 11th best guys. We don't know how it would have shaken out.

9th and 11th, but yeah, that's the risk. There was good reason for them to believe their 9th guy would still be there, though, otherwise there would be no reason to take that risk. The only thing that may have made this a bad risk by them is if #9 was a skill-tier cutoff point for them. If that were the case, it'd be too big a risk for my liking.