What do I think? What do I think of Hockey’s Future? Hmmm… how do I do this delicately? HF turned me down as a writer because, and I quote, “You have too much knowledge of the team for us to include you as an HF writer.” Yes, really.

I think that they follow a disturbing trend every year in which the #1 pick for the Wild becomes the top prospect. Is Granlund the top prospect? Maybe, but I don’t think so. I still think it is Cuma, as the top prospect should be the guy who is going to make an impact first, and that would be Cuma.

I don’t mind the site, and do not begrudge those who visit it. I visit when they release the listings, just to see where they are putting the guys. I don’t agree with their rankings, nor with the system they use to do so.

Color me the negative nancy on this one.

I do like their ranking system though, and would argue that a likely first liner who’s a few years away would be a lot more valuable than a fourth liner who’s ready this year.

And no one said otherwise. What I said is that the top prospect should be some one who is going to make an impact first. Granlund has two years, at best, before he makes the team. When he does, I guarantee it is not in a top PP, top minutes type of role. He will start on the third line, maybe the second depending on the state of the team. All of this only happens if he shows he can play in the AHL. I have faith that he can, and no doubts in his ability. However, if Cuma is going to push for an NHL spot, and likely be a top d-pairing in Houston, he is more valuable, right now, than Granlund.

The list is… or should be… who are the most valuable prospects when the list was made. Right now, that is Cuma, even Wellman. Not Granlund. Even if you look at trade value, Cuma’s is higher than Granlund’s right now, as Cuma is a near NHL ready d-man. If he has a good season in Houston, his value sky rockets even more.

Sure, top five is okay, but afterwards, theres alot of errors in my book.

1. - Wellman below Almond. Sure, Almond is a good prospect that has everyone interested in what he will develop into but at this point, if you had to ask me who had the higher upside, it would Wellman for what he showed in his few games with the Wild.

1. - Broda at #9. There was a reason he was let go by the Wild and I’m uncomfortable putting him ahead guys like Haula (who was one of the top USHL players last year) and Prosser (who have fans thinking he’s a sure fire 5-6 d-man)

1. - Kalus, McMillan over Kuemper, Khudobin. While we aren’t expecting much from these two goalies, we aren’t expecting much from Kalus and McMillan either. But both forwards had okay seasons while Kuemper went on fire for a little bit and Khudobin put up solid numbers in the AHL and got two good wins with the Wild. That alone should push them over the 2 forwards

My rankings
1. Mikael Granlund
2. Marco Scandella
3. Casey Wellman
4. Tyler Cuma
5. Matt Hackett
6. Colton Gillies
7. Brett Bulmer
8. Cody Almond
9. Erik Haula
10. Maxim Noreau
11. Johan Larsson
12. Nate Prosser
13. Justin Falk
14. Jason Zucker
15. Anton Khudobin
16. Kristopher Foucault
17. Darcy Kuemper
18. Kyle Medvec
19. Chad Rau
20. Jarod Palmer

HockeysFutures
1. Mikael Granlund
2. Marco Scandella
3. Tyler Cuma
4. Colton Gillies
5. Matt Hackett
6. Cody Almond
7. Johan Larsson
8. Casey Wellman
9. Joel Broda
10. Erik Haula
11. Maxim Noreau
12. Nate Prosser
13. Justin Falk
14. Brett Bulmer
15. Jason Zucker
16. Chad Rau
17. Kris Foucault
18. Carson McMillan
19. Jere Sallinen
20. Petr Kalus