Prospect Info: Alex Tuch (RW) - 18th Overall, 2014

[tyratoku]

Alex Tuch
U.S. National Under-18 Team
1st Rd. 18th Overall

Year | Team | GP | G | A | P | PIM
2012-2013 | USNTDP Juniors | 38 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 24
| US National U17 Team | 56 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 32
| USA WHC U17 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4
2013-2014 | USNTDP Juniors | 26 | 13 | 19 | 32 | 36
| US National U18 Team | 61 | 29 | 35 | 64 | 35
| USA WJC U18 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14

• Eliteprospects.com Player Profile
  

  Birthyear: 1996-05-10
  Birthplace: Baldwinsville, NY, USA
  Age: 18
  Nation: USA
  Position: C/RW
  Shoots: R
  Height: 191 cm / 6'3"
  Weight: 98 kg / 216 lbs

• NHL.com/Wild.com Feature on Alex tuch
  

  Right wing Alex Tuch of the United States National Team Development Program Under-18 team was in high demand at the 2014 NHL Scouting Combine.
  
  Tuch is the top-rated American-born skater on NHL Central Scouting's final list of the top North American skaters for the 2014 NHL Draft, and No. 12 among all skaters.
  
  The 6-foot-3, 213-pound right-handed shot had interviews with all 30 NHL teams at the Combine. He comes off a season that saw him round out his game over the second half.
  
  "He's always been a big body and has skated well, but I think he's just starting to realize how big and strong he is," USNTDP U-18 coach Danton Cole said. "He imposes his will on the game sometimes, and that's a good compliment. If he makes it to the second round of the draft, a lot of [NHL] people made a mistake because I feel Alex is a legit first-round candidate."
  
  Tuch is a prototypical power-forward. He skates surprisingly well for a big man and had 29 goals, 64 points and 70 penalty minutes in 61 games. He finished tied for second with eight power-play goals and was tied for first with seven game-winners.

• Russo blog on Alex Tuch selection
  

  The Wild took Alex Tuch, a 6-4 right winger who played for the U.S. national development team, with the 18th pick in tonight’s NHL Draft in Philadelphia.
  
  Tuch has committed to Boston College, which is expected to again be a college powerhouse next season.
  
  The Wild had Tuch in for a couple of interviews, and was known to be very high on him. His advisor, Steve Bartlett, is also Thomas Vanek’s agent. Ahem.
  
  "He's a big, strong winger with quality hands and an NHL shot," assistant GM Brent Flahr said in a text. "We feel that he has tremendous upside and we are very excited to add a potential power forward to our group of prospects."

  FAVORITES
  
  NHL team: Buffalo Sabres
  Shootout move: “Forehand, kick it off the skate, forehand, backhand, shot”
  Goal celebration: “Fist pump on one knee”
  Video game: NHL 14
  Movie: Anchorman
  TV show: Breaking Bad
  Actor: Will Ferrell
  Most played song: ‘City of Dreams’ by Alesso and Dirty South
  Website: NHL.com
  Sport (other than hockey): Lacrosse
  Athlete (non-hockey): LeBron James

• Hockeydb.com Player Profile
• The Hockey Writers Player Profile
  

  Eldon MacDonald, THW: A few words on Alex Tuch:
  
  Mr. Big - The first you notice about Alex Tuch is his size – he’s a powerhouse at 6’3, 215 lb.
  
  Power forward – Alex is starting to ramp up his physicality to make use of his god-given size. He is already a strong forechecker and uses his strength and good balance to protect the puck well.
  
  Skills – More than decent skills for such a big guy – a good goal scorer with soft hands around the net, a hard shot, skating which is very good with a heavy stride. Top that with good vision and you are starting to see why so many teams really like this guy.
  
  Draft placement – With the dearth of Mr. Big’s in this draft, Alex is only likely to go up.

• mynhldraft.com Player Profile
• hockeysfuture.com Player Profile
• Corey Pronman:
  

  MIN select Tuch (my rank: 21), huge forwards with legitimate skill are tough to find and Tuch has it. Won't be a primary puck carrier though"

​

• Brent Flahr:
  

  #mnwild asst GM Brent Flahr on Tuch: He's a big strong winger with quality hands and an NHL shot. We feel that he has tremendous upside...

  Flahr: ...and we are very excited to add a potential power forward to our group of prospects. #mnwild

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18th Overall - Alex Tuch

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[Engebretson]

I'm happy. Kid is already pretty big should develop well at BC over the next 2-3 years.

 

[Victorious Secret]

Meh.

 

[Taylor26]

love the monster coyle, nino, tuch get ready to be murdered on the boards.

 

[this providence]

He'll be a good one.

 

[Avder]

Well, we'll see this kid in a couple of years.

 

[this providence]

If you knew/read anything about this kid pre-draft, it was a given he'd be the pick if he was there.

 

[Mancini79]

LOVE IT! By the time Koivu's contract is up, I believe he'll be a full time NHL'er.

 

[Taylor26]

LOVE IT! By the time Koivu's contract is up, I believe he'll be a full time NHL'er.

sooner than that!!!

 

[Gundee1114]

Couldn't believe Kapanen was there and we didn't pick him. We'll see how Tuch does at BC, but damn, I was excited for Kapanen.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Meh.

You can say that again. What a baffling pick by Fletcher. Unless he's going to trade Coyle or el Nino this pick makes no sense. Once again we go for the big bodied forward instead of skilled forward. It's like Minnesota has an aversion to skill or offense.

 

[Victorious Secret]

You can say that again. What a baffling pick by Fletcher. Unless he's going to trade Coyle or el Nino this pick makes no sense. Once again we go for the big bodied forward instead of skilled forward. It's like Minnesota has an aversion to skill or offense.

Man bodies. Man bodies everywhere.

 

[melinko]

I'm happy hes going to BC, their guys seem to end up as better pros than most other colleges.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Wanted Milano, but he gone. Tuch is acceptable.

 

[Minnewildsota]

right because he didn't put up godly numbers means he lacks offensive skill.

 

[this providence]

No skill. Said by someone who's never seen him play a minute. Shocker.

 

[TaLoN]

Don't hate the pick, as I think he'll be a good player... just was hoping for more dynamic skill since there was some skill available.

I don't hate the pick, I don't love the pick... it will turn out well, but I think other options could have helped a bit more, such as Pastrnak.

Oh well... Go Tuch!

 

[Circulartheory]

Don't hate the pick, as I think he'll be a good player... just was hoping for more dynamic skill since there was some skill available.

I don't hate the pick, I don't love the pick... it will turn out well, but I think other options could have helped a bit more, such as Pastrnak.

Oh well... Go Tuch!

I'm along the same lines with you, but at the same time, while not the player I wanted, I'm still in love with the pick. Tuch gives an impressive combination of size, skill, and mobility.

 

[Minnewildsota]

No skill. Said by someone who's never seen him play a minute. Shocker.

Right? If the brain trust has taught us anything is that we should really let the pick marinate before making rash decisions.

 

[thestonedkoala]

right because he didn't put up godly numbers means he lacks offensive skill.

Coyle has size and skill but he hasn't made the best of them yet. This pick is redundant of what we have in the system and what we have on the ice. I'll reserve further judgement but he seems very redundant of what we have and we haven't even developed them properly.

For all I know, Fletcher is going to trade Coyle.

 

[Loopy0ne]

can't hate on moarrrrr power

 

[gphr513]

Always in favor of adding a #cawlidgehawkey player to the team

 

[BusQuets]

Good pick imo.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Man bodies. Man bodies everywhere.

You can set your watch to Minnesota picking the big bodied two way forwards if they available. At least Nashville is trying to break away from that.