A few notes:
Darcy Kuemper
If you haven't found out yet, here is what Russo has to say:
Harding, who likely would have gotten the start tonight against the Canucks, will not dress. Instead the team has recalled 22-year-old Darcy Kuemper, who may make his NHL debut tonight.
Can't wait to see our goaltending future on display!
Midterm Awards Update
Best Forward
While Mikael Granlund is showing signs to be a top player for the Minnesota Wild, his journey isn't without its bumps and bruises. Granlund continues to work on his board play and learning how to challenge NHL-sized forwards.
For now, the player that has come into the Wild roster and hasn't looked very much out of place is forward Charlie Coyle.
He plays with the stars Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise, and while he doesn't have any points, he has shown the ability the protect the puck along the boards and to drive into the zone. His style and strengths work great with how Koivu and Parise play: hardworking and physical.
Best Defenseman
Although this is only a midseason review, I think it will be safe to say that Brodin will win the HW award for best defenseman at the end of the year.
Brodin is playing alongside Ryan Suter on the top pairing. He manages the 3rd highest average ice time amongst Wild defenseman behind Suter and Tom Gilbert. He ranks 2nd in average ice time with 22:14, right behind Oilers Justin Schultz. He is a key player on the penalty kill and when Yeo decides to put him on the powerplay (its stupid that he isn't already), he'll be unstoppable.
Best Goaltender
Most of the time, you would select Matt Hackett. He did put up a great performance last season with the Wild and has played the most games with the Aeros this season.
But Kuemper has been on fire this half of the season. Absolutely on fire.
Kuemper is 2nd in the AHL with save percentage and goals against average. Last week, he went on a 1-1-0 record with a 0.984 save percentager.
He has been called up to the Wild in favor of Hackett and while see his debut tonight against the Canucks.
Under The Radar
I loved this pick from day one because I was able to catch a number of games when he was playing in high school, and he has not disappointed.
Most people do not know who he is, but at the moment, he is leading the Muskegon Lumberjacks in points and goals scored. He has scored 15 goals and 20 assists in 46 games. He is committed to Boston College and will arrive next season.
Most Improved
Is it really fair to give Kuemper two awards? If he keeps this up, it sure is.
Kuemper started this season in the ECHL in order to get more icetime because the Aeros already had a starting goaltender in Hackett and a NHL backup in Harding.
Unfortunately, Harding was diagnosed with MS and have to be watched carefully day to day. At the current moment, Harding will not be able to play, opening up a spot on the Wild roster temporarily.
Well, Kuemper slowly found his way to Houston, slowly outplayed the assumed clearcut starter in Hackett, slowly outplayed the entire AHL, and is now heading his way to Vancouver to play with the Wild in his debut start.
And here is the prospect update
NHL
|
Pos |
Age |
Ht |
Wt |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
PPG |
SHG |
S |
| Mikael Granlund |
C/W |
20 |
5.10 |
180 |
Minnesota Wild (NHL) |
11 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
21 |
8 |
13 |
21 |
8 |
-4 |
4 |
0 |
40 |
| Jonas Brodin |
D |
19 |
6.01 |
166 |
Minnesota Wild (NHL) |
9 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
-2 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
9 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
| Marco Scandella |
D |
22 |
6.02 |
190 |
Minnesota Wild (NHL) |
6 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
24 |
1 |
10 |
11 |
13 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
56 |
| Charlie Coyle |
RW/C |
20 |
6.02 |
205 |
Minnesota Wild (NHL) |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
44 |
14 |
10 |
24 |
22 |
-9 |
5 |
0 |
69 |
|
Minor League
|
Pos |
Age |
Ht |
Wt |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
PPG |
SHG |
S |
| Jason Zucker |
LW |
21 |
5.11 |
180 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
45 |
19 |
22 |
41 |
43 |
-8 |
10 |
1 |
172 |
| Justin Fontaine |
RW |
25 |
5.10 |
160 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
37 |
11 |
20 |
31 |
6 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
75 |
| Johan Larsson |
C/LW |
20 |
5.10 |
200 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
48 |
13 |
14 |
27 |
24 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
63 |
| David McIntyre |
LW/C |
26 |
6.00 |
190 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
48 |
11 |
11 |
22 |
26 |
17 |
0 |
0 |
104 |
| Chay Genoway |
D |
26 |
5.09 |
177 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
46 |
4 |
14 |
18 |
37 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
63 |
| Zack Phillips |
C/RW |
20 |
6.00 |
175 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
45 |
2 |
12 |
14 |
4 |
-12 |
0 |
0 |
73 |
| Kris Foucault |
LW |
22 |
6.01 |
202 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
26 |
5 |
6 |
11 |
2 |
-7 |
3 |
0 |
37 |
| Steven Kampfer |
D |
24 |
5.11 |
197 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
25 |
0 |
9 |
9 |
16 |
-14 |
0 |
0 |
55 |
| Jarod Palmer |
RW |
27 |
6.00 |
200 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
17 |
2 |
6 |
8 |
26 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
| Chad Rau |
C |
26 |
5.11 |
175 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
34 |
5 |
3 |
8 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
28 |
| Tyler Cuma |
D |
23 |
6.02 |
180 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
33 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
14 |
-5 |
0 |
0 |
32 |
| Carson McMillan |
RW/C |
24 |
6.01 |
200 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
37 |
3 |
5 |
8 |
19 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
42 |
| Joel Broda |
LW/C |
23 |
6.00 |
196 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
28 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
22 |
-5 |
0 |
0 |
45 |
| Brett Bulmer |
RW |
20 |
6.03 |
185 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
29 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
35 |
-12 |
0 |
0 |
42 |
| Kyle Medvec |
D |
24 |
6.05 |
191 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
26 |
4 |
0 |
4 |
19 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) |
12 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
16 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
| Josh Caron |
D |
22 |
6.02 |
215 |
Houston Aeros (AHL) |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL) |
25 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
41 |
-4 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
Canadian Junior Leagues
|
Pos |
Age |
Height |
Weight |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
PPG |
SHG |
Shots |
| Raphael Bussieres |
LW |
19 |
6.01 |
195 |
Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) |
48 |
24 |
31 |
55 |
28 |
22 |
6 |
0 |
160 |
| Tyler Graovac |
C |
19 |
6.03 |
179 |
Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
13 |
6 |
9 |
15 |
6 |
13 |
2 |
0 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Ottawa 67s (OHL) |
30 |
21 |
14 |
35 |
8 |
-16 |
5 |
2 |
- |
| Matt Dumba |
D |
18 |
6.00 |
183 |
Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
48 |
12 |
17 |
29 |
61 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
- |
| Colton Jobke |
D |
20 |
6.00 |
175 |
Regina Pats (WHL) |
25 |
2 |
14 |
16 |
48 |
-1 |
0 |
0 |
- |
|
USA/BCHL
|
Pos |
Age |
Height |
Weight |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
PPG |
SHG |
Shots |
| Adam Gilmour |
RW |
19 |
6.02 |
193 |
Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) |
46 |
15 |
20 |
35 |
10 |
17 |
4 |
0 |
122 |
| Erik Haula |
C/LW |
21 |
5.11 |
170 |
U of Minnesota (WCHA) |
25 |
13 |
22 |
35 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
0 |
96 |
| Louis Nanne |
LW |
18 |
5.10 |
162 |
Penticton Vees (BCHL) |
37 |
17 |
17 |
34 |
14 |
- |
4 |
0 |
- |
| Mario Lucia |
LW |
19 |
6.02 |
187 |
Notre Dame (CCHA) |
21 |
9 |
9 |
18 |
10 |
-1 |
4 |
0 |
40 |
| Nick Seeler |
D |
19 |
6.00 |
170 |
U of Nebraska Omaha (WCHA) |
26 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
47 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
35 |
| John Draeger |
D |
19 |
6.02 |
186 |
Michigan State (CCHA) |
30 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
14 |
-10 |
1 |
0 |
45 |
| Anthony Hamburg |
RW |
21 |
6.01 |
185 |
Rochester Inst. of Tech (AHA) |
23 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
European
|
Pos |
Age |
Height |
Weight |
Team |
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
+/- |
PPG |
SHG |
Hits |
| Cody Almond |
C/LW |
23 |
6.02 |
199 |
Geneve-Servette (NLA) |
34 |
8 |
19 |
27 |
50 |
5 |
|
|
|
| Daniel Gunnarsson |
D |
20 |
6.04 |
191 |
Lulea (Elitserien) |
46 |
6 |
6 |
12 |
14 |
5 |
3 |
0 |
9 |
|
Christoph Bertschy
|
C |
18 |
5.10 |
170 |
Bern (NLA) |
36 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
16 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bern U20 (Elit Jr) |
2 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
| Bjorn Krupp |
D |
21 |
6.02 |
189 |
Kolner Haie (DEL) |
30 |
1 |
6 |
7 |
16 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Goaltender
|
|
Age |
Height |
Weight |
Team |
League |
GP |
Min |
GA |
SO |
GAA |
W |
L |
SOL/T |
SA |
Svs |
Sv% |
| Johan Gustafsson |
G |
20 |
6.02 |
202 |
Lulea |
Elitserien |
29 |
|
51 |
3 |
1.73 |
17 |
12 |
0 |
728 |
677 |
0.930 |
| Matt Hackett |
G |
22 |
6.02 |
170 |
Houston Aeros |
AHL |
34 |
2026 |
92 |
0 |
2.72 |
14 |
16 |
3 |
950 |
858 |
0.903 |
| Darcy Kuemper |
G |
22 |
6.04 |
195 |
Houston Aeros |
AHL |
16 |
940 |
28 |
4 |
1.79 |
10 |
6 |
0 |
448 |
420 |
0.938 |
|
|
|
|
|
Orlando Solar Bears |
ECHL |
3 |
184 |
8 |
0 |
2.61 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
113 |
105 |
0.929 |
| Stephen Michalek |
G |
19 |
6.02 |
196 |
Cedar Rapids |
USHL |
17 |
992 |
51 |
0 |
3.09 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
508.9 |
458 |
0.9 |
|
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