Prospect Info: Wild Prospect Thread 2024-25

[Tiger Trauma]

Rumour in TigerTown is that Ryder Ritchie travelled back to be with the Minnesota's team doctors. He took a skate to the face that missed his eye, but sounds like he got a wicked nasty cut. He's been out of the lineup for 3 weeks in Medicine Hat and hasn't played since.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Jimmy Clark seems to be in a good spot this year, centering Matthew Wood and Connor Kurth. Not sure what line it technically is, but it was the 2nd one out tonight against St. Thomas.

 

[Puhis]

Rasmus Kumpulainen played 14:34 and was -1 in a 3-1 loss vs. SaiPa. Whole team seemed phlegmatic, which also extended to Kumpulainen. His linemates were bad, but his own game seemed lackluster. Hogging the puck and floating around as opposed to the aggressive stud we saw earlier on in the season. Not great, but at the same time he's also a young player who's going through what seems like a difficult phase. Seemed like he was benched after Pelicans conceded a short-handed goal halfway through 3rd, giving them the lead.

There are multiple theories and suggestions as to why his form has flattened. Puck-hogging seems apparent from what I've seen, which is an opinion shared by team fans. As said, young player things I hope, and now he needs to adjust as playing "solo" isn't clearly working any more.

---

On positive news, Aron Kiviharju was 1+1 in an almost-squandered 6-5 OT win vs. JYP. He received 17:17 of playing time, had 2 SOG, and ended with +1.

His goal:


Kiviharju seems to have left his early season struggles behind, being on a form that is nothing short of tantalising. On paper he's still in HIFK's 3rd pairing with former Blue and Panther Petteri Lindbohm, but in practice the playing time is divided fairly equally. I'd say Kiviharju has been HIFK's best defenseman lately, and outside of that red-hot 1st line, also among their best players. Of course form comes and goes as evidenced by Kumpulainen above and so many others throughout the hockey world, but especially in his situation and after effectively missing last season due to injury, the resurgence is very promising indeed. He's showing exactly why he was so highly touted throughout juniors and at the start of his draft year, all of which are good signs for us.

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Overall, a mixed week for our Finns. Soini's continuing his development in U20s it seems, and while not the end of the world, I'd like to see a young player establish himself in Liiga. Kumpulainen has flundered along with rest of Pelicans, seemingly caught in a flux and resorting to bad habits as a result. Adjustments are needed there. On the other hand, Aron Kiviharju's play, while hardly a surprise to those who have followed his career for a longer time, is definitely good news given his draft year setbacks.

Liiga season continues today (tomorrow for most of you guys). HIFK travels to Kuopio, facing KalPa, and Pelicans hosts JYP at home.

 

[57special]

Does anyone have eyes on Aaron Pionk(Bulldogs)? He seems to pile up points. How is the rest of his game?

 

[Waiver Draft]

Prospect Report https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/ecstklwf6a0ddz5limp6.pdf

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Jimmy Clark has 10 points in 8 games so far. He had 11 points in 39 games last year.

Slick game winning deflection last night to break a 0-0 tie with 26 seconds left.

 

[57special]

Clark was vg in HS, but not special, IMO, compared to others who came through EHS. Will be interesting to see how, or if, he progresses as a long play prospect for MN.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Jimmy Clark has 10 points in 8 games so far. He had 11 points in 39 games last year.

Slick game winning deflection last night to break a 0-0 tie with 26 seconds left.

1 point away from last year’s total in 31 fewer games! Is he top 6?

 

[DANOZ28]

i have no idea if he's a potential nhl'r however its always great to see prospects doing well!

 

[MNRube]

1 point away from last year’s total in 31 fewer games! Is he top 6?

Gophers are rolling 4 lines basically. I was hoping they would put Snuggerud-Moore-Wood but they are cruising right now so no complaints. I think Clark is with Kurth and Wood ATM.

I wish we would’ve taken Rinzel when we had the chance. He’s going to be a stud

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

1 point away from last year’s total in 31 fewer games! Is he top 6?

Currently? Technically yes, but Motzko is still spreading the wealth around

Future? Not sure but doubt it.

 

[Wasted Talent]

Kiviharju is currently on a 5 game point streak, seems to be improving steadily after a slow start.

 

[Waiver Draft]

Prospect Report

https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_document/prd/nupaiwx9cznpl9i77xhp.pdf

 

[Twoods1623]

Does anyone have eyes on Aaron Pionk(Bulldogs)? He seems to pile up points. How is the rest of his game?

I have been to 2 UMD games so far this year, and 1 last year. Last year the one game I saw Aaron looked like the best UMD player on the ice. He was holding gaps well, and he was good on the offensive blue line dispersing the puck and picking his spots for a shot on net. If I remember correctly, I believe he had two points. Now onto this year, I went to the Gophers vs Bulldogs Friday game, and no one looked good from a UMD perspective in the first two periods. Then Aaron ended up with 4 assists by the end of the 3rd. 3 of them being primary assists. The 2nd game was against North Dakota on Saturday. He ended up with a primary assist on a PP late in the game for the only score for the Bulldogs. In my mind, I think it was a team defense issue, because they really left the UMD goalie out to dry a few times. I think he's a pretty talented player that can move the puck but may need some work defensively. Thank God Sandelin is there, the dude pumps out NHL defensemen.

 

[Circulartheory]

Heidt named onto the Canada WJC camp roster

 

[57special]

Heidt named onto the Canada WJC camp roster

Kinda obvious that he'd be on the camp roster, but there is some doubt about him making the team. Some think that even Cristall will be on the bubble, and he's destroying the WHL right now.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Kinda obvious that he'd be on the camp roster, but there is some doubt about him making the team. Some think that even Cristall will be on the bubble, and he's destroying the WHL right now.

Hell Misa didn't even make the camp

 

[57special]

Hell Misa didn't even make the camp

Quite common for draft year guys, though i saw Mckenna was invited, and he's a D-1. Is probably going to be the #1oa in 2026, though.

 

[JiricekSaveUs]

Sennecke, Yakemchuk, Perekh, Iginla also didn’t make the camp

 

[BagHead]

So Canada is either so stacked these guys can't crack it, or they're highly mismanaged and are going to suck. I know what the right answer is, but I want to dream.

 

[BagHead]

Aparently Kalem Parker has been traded from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Calgary Hitmen. With his new team he has 2 points in 4 games and, for whatever it's worth, a +7 +/- rating,

I'm not sure where he's playing in the lineup, but if it's with Yakemchuk, he may put up some more points this year. I'd more expect him to be on the 2nd pairing behind Yakemchuk, though, as they're both right-handed shots.

 

[57special]

Aparently Kalem Parker has been traded from the Moose Jaw Warriors to the Calgary Hitmen. With his new team he has 2 points in 4 games and, for whatever it's worth, a +7 +/- rating,

I'm not sure where he's playing in the lineup, but if it's with Yakemchuk, he may put up some more points this year. I'd more expect him to be on the 2nd pairing behind Yakemchuk, though, as they're both right-handed shots.

Last year he was on the 1st pairing with Mateychuk, but ya, I'd agree that it makes more sense to split up two righties. Up in Canada, LHS are far more prevalent than down here.