Minnesota Wild Prospects Report: 11/9/2011

by BReynolds on Nov 9, 2011 12:53 PM CST in Prospects

The Minnesota Wild are not known the world over for their high quality farm system. That is, of course, changing and we here at Hockey Wilderness put a great deal of stock in the prospects. Are we being sold a bill of goods, or are these kids really something to be excited about? Thankfully, we have Dan's weekly prospect posts, and we have our weekly update directly from the Wild.

We will do our best keep you informed on the prospects, and make sure to watch Wild.com for their take, as well.

For now, make the jump for the report from the crack Wild PR staff, and a few comments from us.

Our Thoughts

The first thing that caught my eye was Brett Bulmer is back on the report. It is still a bit of a disappointment the kid was sent back to juniors, but there must be a plan in place, so we shall hold our disappointment and continue on. Please note, however, that he is doing well playing against the children in the WHL.
Tyler Gravoc is having some strong success in his junior campaign, being selected to play in the super series. Just another seventh round pick doing well. No big deal.
Zach Phillips has 31 points in 17 games? Is that even allowed?
Coyle is working a point per game trend. That should be acceptable.
Haula leads the nation in scoring. Seriously, if you still don't know who this kid is, you better start paying attention.
Lucia has a two points per game trend going. Should be interesting to see if his tune up for college works out for him.
Zucker's 10 points in 8 games is not stellar, but it still pretty good. He is on Twitter, and was not happy with his performance last weekend. Hopefully that bodes ill for his opponents this week.
Granlund is just being Granlund. It's only a matter of time, folks.
Johan Larsson is quietly having a great season. How this guy continues to be over looked is beyond me.
Goaltenders in the system are having pretty darn good seasons. GAAs below two, and winning games. That's what you like to see.

All in all, the report has a positive vibe to it. There are a handful of players that are wholly unimpressive, but that is going to happen with any team. Focus on the guys you know are the future of the team. In other words, probably not Jobke. Things look pretty good, if still a few years away.

Here's the report:

FUTURE MINNESOTA WILD STATISTICS - NOVEMBER 9, 2011 CHL	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	NOTES
LW Brett Bulmer	Kelowna (WHL)	2	2	2	4	1	4	Posted four points (2-2=4) including SHG and was a +2 in first game with Kelowna this season, a 6-5 win vs. Portland (11/4). Reassigned to Kelowna (10/31) after notching three assists, six PIM and a +1 rating in nine games with Minnesota.
D Josh Caron	Kamloops (WHL)	16	0	5	5	+9	59	Leads Kamloops with 59 PIM.
C Tyler Graovac	Ottawa 67's (OHL)	12	4	7	11	+4	11	Chosen to represent Team OHL against Team Russia in the 2011 SUBWAY® Super Series, which begins Nov. 10.
D Colton Jobke	Regina Pats (WHL)	18	4	4	8	0	24	Contributed a goal and an assist in a 5-1 win over Prince Albert, Oct. 23.
C Zack Phillips	Saint John (QMJHL)	17	12	19	31	+21	15	Currently on a 10-game point streak (8-13=21), fifth longest in the league, dating back to Oct. 14. Ranks tied for sixth in the league in points. Leads team in points and assists.
COLLEGE/USHL	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	NOTES
C Charlie Coyle	Boston University (HE)	7	1	8	9	+9	6	Ranks second on team in points and leads in assists. Had four points on the weekend vs. Massachusetts and owns four multiple-point games.
C Anthony Hamburg	Omaha (USHL)	9	1	2	3	+1	18	Recorded his first point of the season on a goal at Youngstown, Oct. 29.
LW Erik Haula	U. of Minnesota (WCHA)	10	7	10	17	+10	10	Leads nation in points for the third straight week. Tallied two goals and an assist in a 5-0 win at Alaska Anchorage, Oct. 28.
D Sean Lorenz	Notre Dame (CCHA)	8	2	2	4	+4	2	Scored the game winner and went +3 vs. Rensselaer, Oct. 21. Ties for second on team with five blocked shots.
LW Mario Lucia	Penticton (BCHL)	15	10	20	30	0	10	Ranks T-third in league in points and T-second in assists. Chosen for the 2011 U.S. Junior Select Team that is competing at the World Junior A Challenge, Nov. 7-13.
D Nick Seeler	Muskegon (USHL)	10	1	2	3	-6	2	Scored his first goal of the season in a 6-5 win at Sioux Falls, Oct. 15.
LW Jason Zucker	Denver (WCHA)	8	4	6	10	+2	14	Ties for team lead in points and goals. Tallied two goals and an assist in a 10-2 win over Minnesota State, Oct. 22.
INTL	TEAM	GP	G	A	PTS	+/-	PIM	NOTES
D Jonas Brodin	Farjestads BK Karlstad (SEL)	20	0	3	3	+5	8	Leads team in plus-minus rating. Selected in the first round (10th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
C Mikael Granlund	HIFK (SM-liiga)	18	6	15	21	+4	4	Leads team in assists and total points, and ranks second in points and T-first in assists in league. Recorded a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Jokerit, Oct. 12.
D Bjorn Krupp	Cologne (DEL)	16	0	3	3	-2	24	Signed as a free agent Sept. 18, 2009. Son of Uwe Krupp.
LW Johan Larsson	Brynas (SEL)	20	5	12	17	-1	12	Ranks second among teammates in points and ties for lead in assists. Tied for fifth in league in points and second in assists.
GOALTENDERS	TEAM	GP	MIN	GAA	RECORD	GA	SV%	NOTES
Johan Gustafsson	Lulea HF (SEL)	13	777	1.85	-	24	.926	Ties for league lead with four SO. Ranks third in GAA and sixth in SV% in league.
Darcy Kuemper	Ontario (ECHL)	3	185	1.62	3-0-0	5	.936	Ranks third in the league in GAA. Has stopped 73 of 78 shots faced in three starts for the Reign.
Stephen Michalek	Harvard (ECAC)	1	59	4.04	0-1-0	4	.895	Saw first regular season action, saving 34 shots in a 4-3 loss at Princeton (11/4).

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Comments

My theory on the Bulmer plan...

I honestly think that the Wild brass were completely surprised by Bulmer this season. Moreover, I think they saw something they expected even less, that Bulmer has the potential to be more than a 3rd line grinder. If they saw his cap being a 3rd liner, he’d still be with the team since he was doing that well. I think Fletcher and crew have a suspicion that there is a top 6 player in there, and they sent Bulmer down to work on taking his offensive skills to a higher level.

The Junior game is going to seem awfully slow to the kid now… he’ll be reacting and thinking beyond the moment, its in times like that were a player can really start to develop his skill and confidence. It’s a low risk, big reward sort of move for Bulmer’s development… and with Johnson playing as well as he has, that 3rd line spot is still being held down very well.

by Krotz the Wall on Nov 9, 2011 1:12 PM CST reply actions

Prospects I'm excited about =

Granlund
Haula
Zucker
Coyle
Phillips
Bulmer

and Lucia, but in like 3 years, also probably Larrson

by Brandon Godward on Nov 9, 2011 1:28 PM CST reply actions

You'll probably see Larsson a whole lot

earlier than you’ll see Zucker, Coyle, Phillips, or Haula. The kid is playing dang well in the top pro league in Sweden, has played dang well for his youth international teams, and seems to be getting better and better.

Oh, and no love for Brodin?

by Krotz the Wall on Nov 9, 2011 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

All are great prospects

Definetely an embarassment of riches.

by MinnesotaRage on Nov 9, 2011 5:24 PM CST up reply actions

Seeler's got me a little curious...

Thought he did well in prospect camp and I was present to watch him slap home his only goal thus far…granted…against my Stampede…but he seems like he’s a good, solid player.

Proud Sioux Falls Stampede Season Ticket Holder and #1 Nate Prosser Fan! Go Wild!

by wild4life on Nov 9, 2011 4:09 PM CST reply actions

I assume this video’s been seen repeatedly here already: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mESHgqRYtsw

Movember Your 2011 Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins
Hockey Blog Adventure: New Post: Playoffs in Pictures: Round 1 Game 1+2 Habs @ Bruins (I'm also on Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 9, 2011 4:21 PM CST reply actions