Mizral
Registered User
X-SHARKIE said:I continue to look at Minnesota and I just can't justify their top 10 ranking.
I looked at Minnesota long and hard in the process, and I made a post how they really aren't far off most of the other no-brainer top 10 teams.
They have top end talent in O'Sullivan (potential 1st line forward), Mikko Koivu (potential 1st line centreman, or 2nd if you don't like him as much as others might), Josh Harding (potential #1 goaltender) and A.J. Thelen (potential 1st pairing defenseman and power play quarterback). Those four players are hard to match for most teams.
They also have a terrific amount of potential depth players beyond that. On defense, Brent Burns, despite what some people think, did not fall off the face of the planet. He actually was pretty good I thought, thought didn't get great numbers. He's back to defense now, and I think there's no reason to say he can't be a 2nd pairing defenseman. Zybnek Michalek played 22 games last year for the Wild and while not playing great, didn't embarass himself too much either. Chris Heid has potential to be a competant bottom-pairing man.
At forward, Adam Couchraine remains one of the best WHL scorers in the league. Led the Giants in scoring last year, and probobly will this year too. Rickard Wallin put up 5 goals and 9 points in 15 games or so for the Wild last year, and had 35 points in around 50 AHL games. There is definate NHL potential here as a 2nd or 3rd line player.
Beyond that it gets like any other team, decent depth prospects. However, few teams have not only the top end talent of the Wild, but no sign of weakness' and impressive depth. I think they deserve to be in the top 10, absolutely. And obviously I wasn't the only one