Circulartheory
Registered User
2015 Minnesota Wild Draft Review
Starting off the Wild's 2015-16 year was the HFNHL 2015 Entry Draft. After being shutout by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup Finals and its core players having questionable NHL seasons (Perron in Pittsburgh, Boedker with injury etc.), GM Chan decided the team needed an injection of skill within the prospect pool.
The Wild went forward heavy, selecting 5 forwards, 2 goalies, and 1 defenseman. The team focused on versatility as its main focus with many of the players selected able to bring both physicality and skill to their games.
Draft Results
1|29|Jake Debrusk|LW
2|44|Christian Fischer|RW/C
3|76|Veini Vehvilainen|G
3|90|Matthew Spencer|D
4|119|Kyle Platzer (OA)|C
4|120|Kevin Labanc (OA)|RW
5|149|Robert Carpenter (OA)|LW
6|180|Adam Werner|G
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1st Round, 29th Overall
LW Jake Debrusk (WHL) 5'11.75" 174lbs
" With the team's brightest youngsters being playmakers (Granlund, Milano), we hoped to select a player that can compliment those players and score some goals. In comes Jake Debrusk, who scored 42 goals in 72 games in the WHL. We love his work ethic, his drive, and his nose for the net. His dad was a physical worker in the NHL and we hope much of that has rubbed off onto Jake. He is the epitome of a HFNHL Wild player; drive, versatile, character. He will find a way to become a pro player, one way or another".
Projection: Top Six Goal-scoring Winger
Comparison: Zach Parise, Thomas Vanek
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2nd Round, 44th Overall
RW/C Christian Fischer (USHL) 6'1.0" 212lbs
" This kid is a train/truck on skates. He dominates through pure strength and has the shot and hockey smarts on how be a power forward to compliment his overall package. He finishes his checks, he is a pain in front of the net, he bulldozes on the rush, and he dominates the boards. The question is, does he have more to his game other than pure strength because once he gets to the pros, everyone is big and every is strong. We are excited to see if he can bring more to his game. "
Projection: 2nd/3rd line powerforward.
Comparison: Dustin Brown, Alex Killorn
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3rd Round, 76th Overall
G Veini Vehvilainen (Fin-2) 6'0.5" 180lbs
" Because of a certain team who will not be named, decided to hoard goaltenders early, we jumped onto next highest rated goalie. Veini has performed well on every level he has played this season. Against men in Finland's second highest level of play, he was JYP's starting goaltender and produced a solid 0.918% and 3.09 GAA in 17 games. But we fell in love with him during his All-Star performance in the U18s where he named to the tournament's All-Star team and gave a wonderful 60 save performance against the stacked USA team. He isn't the biggest goalie but he is calm, extremely athletic, and has great overall technique "
Projection: 1A/B Goaltender
Comparison: Miikka Kiprusoff
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3rd Round, 90th Overall
D Matthew Spencer (OHL) 6' 1.5" 203lbs
" We traded down from 59 to 90 in order to gain another pick but we were surprised to see Matt Spencer still there, a player we would have potentially selected with the original 59th pick. The Wild have a plethora of skilled, two-way defensemen but lack a physical, defensive presence. Spencer brings physicality, mobility, and some untapped offensive raw potential we hope he can tap into over the next few years. "
Projection: #3/4 physical two-way defenseman
Comparison: Ryan McDonagh, Adam McQuaid
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4th Round, 119th Overall
C Kyle Platzer (OHL) 5' 11.0" 183lbs
" We needed to add a center to our prospect pool and we had Kyle Platzer as our next ranked player. A double overager, he had a breakout year with London, scoring 81 points in 68 games. We love his versatility - can play center or wing, brings both skill and energy, and can play in all ice situations, PP or PK. He also scored 2 goals and 1 assist in his 7 game audition with the OKC in the AHL. He continues to grow and we hope he'll join our Iowa Wild next season as well ."
Projection: #2/3 versatile two-way centerman
Comparison: Marcus Foligno, Kyle Brodziak
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4th Round, 120th Overall
RW Kevin Labanc (OHL) 5' 10.0" 185lbs
" Picked right after Kyle Platzer, Kevin Labanc is another overager with a great breakout season, scoring 31 goals and 76 assists in 68 games, good enough for sixth scoring in the entire OHL. He isn't the biggest or speediest player but he is slippery, and tenacious. He has alot of versatility to his game with his offensive upside continuously developing ."
Projection: #2/3 versatile, energy forward
Comparison: Ryan Callahan
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5th Round, 149th Overall
LW Robert Carpenter (USHL) 5' 10.0" 183lbs
" Once again the Wild select an energetic, versatile, yet slightly undersized overager with Robert Carpenter. Carpenter tied for 1st in goals scored in the USHL with 35 goals, along with 28 assists in 60 games. He has quick feet and attacks the play without fear, producing points with quick plays and tenacity. While he may not have as high an offensive upside as the rest of the Wild's draft class, we believe he can still chip in points here and there while being a key, forechecking winger. He is committed to Boston University ."
Projection: #3 versatile, energy forward
Comparison: Ryan Callahan, again
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6th Round, 180th Overall
G Adam Werner (Swe-Jr) 6' 4.75" 185lbs
" With Veini Vehvilainen being a polished but subpar sized goaltender, we decided to draft Adam Werner, a huge but raw project. He played for Farjestad J20 team where produced decently with a 0.906% and 3.01 GAA in 28 games. He covers alot of the net with great balance and calm. Although he still has alot of holes he will need to work on, we like the raw package of tools and hope we can become a strong player in the future ."
Projection: A goalie...
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