Prospect Info: Mikael "FBJ" Granlund VI (Turning saucer passes into wine)

[behemolari]

trading Koivu makes sense and does not, it all depends how much you're getting back for him. don't wanna see him traded.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

depends on who you can get for him

Which would likely be 2-3 smaller pieces, none of which would likely be a legit top 6 center, which would all of a sudden become the team's most glaring need. Plus, it's all moot because he's not going waive his NMC.

 

[bear1]

That's what I said it would depend on who was offered, small pieces no thanks almost never works out. Look at the Burns trade all that's left is Coyle and Phillips maybe, not looking too good there. Coyle for Burns straight up no way at least not yet if ever. Almost forgot the second from the Seto trade, never know about the NMC

 

[Eple]

Koivu has a good history with lesser players. Keep FBJ with Parise and Pommer and let Koivu work the second line.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Granny
Stastny
Koivu
Haula

That sounds like a great four centers

BTW Koivu averages about 19 goals per 82 games, he does average around 46 assists each season (not bad) every 82 games for 65 points every 82 games. The problem is, he averages 66 games a season (well, around 66 games a season. We don't know how many he'll play this season). So he averages around 52 points for us every season. Hopefully he stays healthy but we know that isn't going to be the case.

 

[hirawl]

If it makes sense why not?

It makes zero sense.

 

[Harvest]

On his last three games he have more SOG, than he had on his first ten game of this season. I hope he continues shooting more, because that is the only way to score goals, unless you are Broziak.

I don't wanna jinx or hype him too much, but i think he is starting to score more constantly now and end up with ~12g this season.

 

[gphr513]

I love Granlund's creativity. It's refreshing to see someone with the vision to make some of the passes he's making. And hopefully he just keeps getting better...

 

[Beegoalie]

3 goals 13 assists for 16 points in his last 20 games with 31 shots on goal.

Pretty good step up with Mikko out! Hopefully he keeps it up after Mikko comes back.

 

[FVM]

Wild's emerging Granlund shows he's ready for his close-up

Great read from Russo. Some passages I liked:

To Granlund’s right sits Zach Parise, usually with a half-dozen reporters orbiting him. To Granlund’s left sits Matt Cooke, also popular with the press because he’s a quote machine.

Granlund eyeballs everything, listens to every word, and never gripes that so many are hovering in his personal space.

“He’s learning and taking everything in,†said goalie Niklas Backstrom, who knows Granlund better than most.

---

When Granlund struggled in his first season with the Wild, he took it to heart.

“The one thing with Granny, he’s such a proud guy and he’s highly intelligent,†Wild assistant general manager Brent Flahr said. “This was probably the first time ever he didn’t have immediate success at something.â€

---

“He’s a pretty competitive kid,†Cooke said. “Sometimes he’s so gifted at slowing the game down and opening up ice, you almost underestimate his compete and his battle level and mistake it for not being determined.

“But you watch the way he’s playing in our own end this year, he’s knocking guys off pucks, he’s eliminating guys from plays.â€

---

Parise says Pominville has constantly raved about how much he loves playing with Granlund.

“I didn’t really understand it until I finally played with him [recently],†Parise said. “He jumps into holes and plays with a lot of speed in the neutral zone, which is nice for a winger. When your centerman is driving with speed through the middle, it opens a lot of things up. He makes really good plays with the puck. He’s developing really well.â€

Love that Parise quote. Our Grundelström clearly has a good head on his shoulders. This is not exactly news but he keeps impressing me.

 

[mattihp]

Mikke is gearing up for the olympics

 

[Jarick]

This could be a really cool redemption moment for Granlund. He seemed to hit kind of a skid after he missed the shootout goal in the WJC. A strong showing in the Olympics could really help his confidence, especially playing so well recently.

 

[eme]

I reckon Granlund will be one of the more important players for team Finland in Sochi, especially if Mikko does not make the trip. The space big ice offers is certainly going to benefit Granny.

 

[Bookman]

This could be a really cool redemption moment for Granlund. He seemed to hit kind of a skid after he missed the shootout goal in the WJC. A strong showing in the Olympics could really help his confidence, especially playing so well recently.

Well said Jarick - I remember there was a lot of hubbub made of that. OTOH, the humble pie he digested from that experience and his middling rookie season drove him to be better.

I'd like redemption for the kid, but not at the expense of driving himself to be even better, probably a moot point given his character.

 

[Dampland]

Gargamel is finally starting to play respectably, and he is off to the Sochi, were I fear he is going to get another headshot, and miss the rest of the season.

 

[Minnesota]

I'm interested to see him on Olympic ice. I wonder if his newfound speed will make him an even bigger threat?

 

[57special]

3 goals 13 assists for 16 points in his last 20 games with 31 shots on goal.

Pretty good step up with Mikko out! Hopefully he keeps it up after Mikko comes back.

That's on pace for a 12 goal season. If Koivu scores 12 in a season everyone criticizes him, but it's just fine when it's Granlund ?

 

[OpRedDawn*]

That's on pace for a 12 goal season. If Koivu scores 12 in a season everyone criticizes him, but it's just fine when it's Granlund ?

-____-

He's been injured for a large chunk and this is his first real year...

 

[Jaykay]

That's on pace for a 12 goal season. If Koivu scores 12 in a season everyone criticizes him, but it's just fine when it's Granlund ?

He's 21, Koivu wasn't even in the NHL at that age.

 

[Jarick]

Definitely want to see Granlund getting more shots on net, but that's a 65-point pace. For a 21 year old who looked completely lost last year, that's great.

The last couple games, Granlund has looked downright FAST. Very impressive.

 

[BigT2002]

Granny
Stastny
Koivu
Haula

That sounds like a great four centers

BTW Koivu averages about 19 goals per 82 games, he does average around 46 assists each season (not bad) every 82 games for 65 points every 82 games. The problem is, he averages 66 games a season (well, around 66 games a season. We don't know how many he'll play this season). So he averages around 52 points for us every season. Hopefully he stays healthy but we know that isn't going to be the case.

Posted that before and got stones thrown at me. To be honest if we wen with lines as

Parise-Granlund-Pommers
Nino-Stastny-Zucker
Fontaine-Koivu-Coyle
Cooke-Haula-Mitchell

I would be ecstatic about seeing that. That is 4 lines that play for a mismatch, and you know good and well one, if not 2, are going to get it against teams not named Chicago, LA, or St. Louis.

 

[this providence]

Not only is Granlund slated above Koivu but Statsny too - who's essentially a poor man's Mikko Koivu?

WOW.

 

[ThatGuy22]

Posted that before and got stones thrown at me. To be honest if we wen with lines as

Parise-Granlund-Pommers
Nino-Stastny-Zucker
Fontaine-Koivu-Coyle
Cooke-Haula-Mitchell

I would be ecstatic about seeing that. That is 4 lines that play for a mismatch, and you know good and well one, if not 2, are going to get it against teams not named Chicago, LA, or St. Louis.

Because Stastny is not better than Koivu, so why would Stastny beat out Koivu?

Its pretty much that simple.

If you have a workable plan to bring in a better center than Koivu that would knock him down to the third line, i'm all for it.

But even with Koivu as defensively responsible as he is, he still scores at a higher rate than Stastny.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Because Stastny is not better than Koivu, so why would Stastny beat out Koivu?

Its pretty much that simple.

If you have a workable plan to bring in a better center than Koivu that would knock him down to the third line, i'm all for it.

But even with Koivu as defensively responsible as he is, he still scores at a higher rate than Stastny.

Since 2007-08, they're almost exactly equal in points-per-game, but yeah, not enough to knock Koivu down to 3rd line status.

 

[Lapa]

Because Stastny is not better than Koivu, so why would Stastny beat out Koivu?

Its pretty much that simple.

If you have a workable plan to bring in a better center than Koivu that would knock him down to the third line, i'm all for it.

But even with Koivu as defensively responsible as he is, he still scores at a higher rate than Stastny.

Amen. Very good post.

**

I would welcome Stastny to this team, but he would likely be 3C. That's not a knock on him. Just that he would be the best choice. Koivu is a good 1C (inb4 I get flamed for saying this) and we need Granlund's chemistry with Parise and Pommer.

I think IF we signed Stastny, our lineup would be something like:

Nino-Koivu-Coyle
Parise-Gran-Pom
Zucker-Stastny-Fonz
Cooke-Brodziak-X

Which I would be fine with.