On The Rise! Prospect of the Month: September

by danccchan on Oct 3, 2010 11:35 PM CDT in Prospects

On the next issue of On The Rise, I will introduce you to our Prospect of the Month feature! Now that September is over and hockey season looming just around the corner, a few Wild prospects have already played a couple of games, displaying their worth (or not so much worth).

If you want to follow the prospects as I do but through an easy-to-read format, follow my Prospect Tracker on HFboards or follow me on twitter @circulartheory.

And without futher ado, here is the Wild's September Prospect of the Month: Mikael Granlund!

Prospect of the Month

This Month's Statistics:

Name	GP	G	A	Points	PIM	+/-
Mikael Granlund	8	3	7	10	0	?

The Wild's 9th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft have Wild fans finally excited after years of lacking a bluechip, offensive prospect. Only an 18-year old, Granlund is tied for 2nd in scoring with 10 points in the top Finnish league.

Some wondered if Granlund's transition to center, a position that is often seen to have additional defensive responsibilities than the those of the wingers, would result in less points but Granlund seems to be doing fine stat-wise. As Russo mentioned on his blog, "To put this in perspective, Mikko Koivu, in his fourth year in the league for TPS, scored a career-high 30 points. This kid is lighting up a league full of mostly men."

If Granlund continues to produce at the rate he is throughout the whole season, the possibility of him joining the Wild in the 2011/2012 season is not too far-fetched. The only question is, can he continue to produce on a consistent rate while not being a defensive liability?

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At this point, I think an offensive stud who happens to be a defensive liability may be welcomed with open arms.

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by BReynolds on Oct 3, 2010 11:38 PM CDT reply actions

Defensive Liability? That other video showed him laying down some checks and if he is half as smart as they say he is I’d bet he’d less of a liability than some other off. superstars

by JMarushin on Oct 3, 2010 11:58 PM CDT reply actions

I might have worded weirdly...

But I didn’t mean to imply he is currently a defensive liability. I was just suggesting that no matter how good his pace is, he should not become a defensive liability at any point in time.

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by danccchan on Oct 4, 2010 2:24 AM CDT up reply actions

As I said on a previous thread..

Being called the future best finnish player of all time is nothing to scoff at. I’m not sure if we ever had such an exciting prospect.

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

Not the loser of the first official Hockey Wilderness Fantasy Hockey League

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by JSLandry on Oct 4, 2010 5:30 AM CDT reply actions

hahahaha

love your signature line. thats fantastic.

by ADN on Oct 4, 2010 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Why thank you! I hope Bryan likes it as well :)

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

Not the loser of the first official Hockey Wilderness Fantasy Hockey League

Owner of the Bertrand Acadians of the Hockey Wilderness Fantasy Hockey League

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Oct 4, 2010 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I was very excited when we drafted Granlund.

I am even more excited about it now. It’s hard to argue against a kid that has had so much success, already, in a very good professional hockey league against men. He seems to be growing his game, getting better, and he’s still only an 18 year old playing Finnish pro hockey. Right now, his future certainly looks bright. He’d probably already be a pretty dang good winger on Koivu’s line… and he might just develop into a top-notch scoring line center himself.

by Krotz the Wall on Oct 4, 2010 8:53 AM CDT reply actions

How did this kid fall to 9th?

Maybe that’s a homer’s observation, but Granlund seems to have Top 5 talent.

You know how they can “translate” scoring in the OHL to scoring in the NHL? Someone needs to do that for the SM-Liiga to the NHL.

Owner of The Haves & Havlats in the Hockey Wilderness League

by ADN on Oct 4, 2010 11:33 AM CDT reply actions

Well...

There were size and speed “concerns”. Those were mitigated by a very high level Hockey IQ, a high work ethic, and a very provable outcome playing at the highest levels. That and the top tier of talent in the draft was pretty deep. Still, i think Granland was a steal at 9.

by Krotz the Wall on Oct 4, 2010 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

I forgot about size concerns

and that makes sense. Hopefully his success in the Finnish league translates to the NHL.

Owner of The Haves & Havlats in the Hockey Wilderness League

by ADN on Oct 4, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions

IMO

Size doesn’t matter unless you have the muscle and have the willingness to be physical. Fro, all accounts available, Granlund likes to hit, separating himself from your stereo-typical small forward (e.g Pierre-Marc Bouchard) and if bulks up, there won’t be any doubt (Clutterbuck is 5’11" 212lbs)

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by danccchan on Oct 4, 2010 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

It isn't a certain negative.

I think a lot of scouts and teams tend to downgrade prospects, especially offensive prospects, when they’re labeled as smallish and not particularly fast, which was the case for Granlund.

Personally, I think work ethic, hockey IQ, vision, instincts, and proven ability to score against top competition, trump size/speed. Granlund ranks very high in all those categories. That, and as you mention, his isn’t all that little… and could be very solidly built.

by Krotz the Wall on Oct 4, 2010 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I think those attributes (Hockey IQ, vision, etc..) were exactly what the Wild had in mind when they drafted him. CF didn’t want a “project,” CF wanted a sure thing. A sure thing (while maybe not necessarily “sure”) is exactly what the Wild needs for a prospect.

Owner of The Haves & Havlats in the Hockey Wilderness League

by ADN on Oct 4, 2010 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

Also important to remember

that Granlund is only 18. He still has time to continue growing and filling out. Plus, if the Wild moves him to wing, the “size problem” would probably seem less relevant that if he were at center.

by JDesthubert on Oct 4, 2010 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the move to wing would be big for the Wild

If Granlund does make the jump to the NHL next year, he would probably have to contribute on the wing.

At the time of the supposed jump (2011-2012 season): Koivu is going to be the #1 center (and will be for a long time), Cullen will be a 2nd/3rd line center, and Wellman could very well be a #2/3 center.

Hence, Granlund would have a much bigger impact on wing in an organization that has a lot of good centers already.

Owner of The Haves & Havlats in the Hockey Wilderness League

by ADN on Oct 4, 2010 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I love being right

And if Granlund continues at this pace, I’m going to be able to hold my head high when I put him as the third best prospect in the 2010 draft.

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by nathaneide on Oct 4, 2010 3:37 PM CDT reply actions

Damn skippy.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness
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Owner: Komissaari erämaa

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Oct 4, 2010 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions

We also accurately drafted him in our mock draft, so that's another plus (although it was pretty much all Nathan there too)

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

Not the loser of the first official Hockey Wilderness Fantasy Hockey League

Owner of the Bertrand Acadians of the Hockey Wilderness Fantasy Hockey League

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Oct 4, 2010 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey now. There was input from others. I also had Granlund at 9 over at PHN. Nathan was cued in, saying he was the third best talent in the draft, though. So he gets extra points.

Editor:Hockey Wilderness
Assistant Editor:SBN Minnesota
Owner: Komissaari erämaa

Rule #17: You may not impersonate representatives of Hockey Wilderness and handout NHL themed wrist bands.

by BReynolds on Oct 4, 2010 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Granlund wasn’t really on my radar, but that’s because I knew NOTHING about any of the prospects, apart from Hall and Seguin, and also Gormley and Kabanov because they played in Moncton.

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!