Prospect Info: Minnesota Wild Prospect Ranking - #6

[Lapa]

1) Joel Eriksson Ek
2) Kirill Kaprizov
3) Luke Kunin
4) Gustav Olofsson
5) Jordan Greenway
6) ?

Click to read more...

 

[Minnesota]

Close for me between Sokolov and Lodnia.

 

[TaLoN]

Sokolov, I've got Lodnia on the next one.

 

[Wabit]

Sokolov, after that would be Belpedio but I don't think he'll sign with the Wild.

 

[Digitalbooya]

Why no Mike Reilly?

 

[Lapa]

Why no Mike Reilly?

No longer Calder eligible.

 

[Victorious Secret]

I'll take the guy that backstopped Finland to their 3rd WJC championship. Then came out his first year in the big time Finnish league and put up a .908 with the worst team in the league. Proceeded to evolve and improve his save percentage to .921 as a 20 year old on a below average team.

I will totally understand the Sokolov hype. But Kaapo deserves some recognition, as well. I have him tied with Sokolov, but given the premium on the position, I'm taking him.

 

[Lapa]

The next poll will be close between multiple choices, I think.

 

[Wabit]

I'll take the guy that backstopped Finland to their 3rd WJC championship. Then came out his first year in the big time Finnish league and put up a .908 with the worst team in the league. Proceeded to evolve and improve his save percentage to .921 as a 20 year old on a below average team.

I will totally understand the Sokolov hype. But Kaapo deserves some recognition, as well. I have him tied with Sokolov, but given the premium on the position, I'm taking him.

What's the deal with Kappo? Is he going to sign with the Wild or become a UFA next offseason?

I'm not really high on any of the goalie prospects, but that's just me. Goalies are just a crap shoot.

 

[Victorious Secret]

Goalies are definitely a crapshoot. But given the current options of Michalek and Vay, Kahkonen is light years ahead. Transitioning to NA will be tough, but his size should allow him to do so.

I see no reason why the Wild would delay or deny signing him.

 

[TaLoN]

I'll take the guy that backstopped Finland to their 3rd WJC championship. Then came out his first year in the big time Finnish league and put up a .908 with the worst team in the league. Proceeded to evolve and improve his save percentage to .921 as a 20 year old on a below average team.

I will totally understand the Sokolov hype. But Kaapo deserves some recognition, as well. I have him tied with Sokolov, but given the premium on the position, I'm taking him.

Premium on the position? Goaltender is the easiest position to fill in other means cheaply. It's a valuable position on the ice, sure... but carries the least value dollar-wise because of the extreme depth of the position overall.

I have seen nothing from any of our prospect goaltenders that says they will be NHL players, so they aren't close to my top ten.

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

I barely paid attention to our draft but after reading up on this Lodnia guy I'm intrigued.

Voted Sokolov

 

[BagHead]

I barely paid attention to our draft but after reading up on this Lodnia guy I'm intrigued.

Voted Sokolov

Yeah, I've never seen Lodnia play, but his scouting report has me pretty happy with the pick, and I've seen a lot of people who have watched him and were following the draft say that they were surprised he was even still available at our pick. I guess most thought he'd go in the 2nd round.

All in all, even if Lodnia doesn't pan out, I'm glad the Wild took a bunch of fliers on skilled guys with a question mark or two in their games this year. All they need to do is hit on one of them for it to be an ok draft.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Goalies are definitely a crapshoot. But given the current options of Michalek and Vay, Kahkonen is light years ahead. Transitioning to NA will be tough, but his size should allow him to do so.

I see no reason why the Wild would delay or deny signing him.

Curious to hear more about how a guy with .921 save percentage last season in a third-tier league is light years ahead of a guy with a .919 save percentage last season in a second-tier league.

Not sure what the delay is on signing Kahkonen either but that might be a tell that the Wild aren't big on his NHL potential, even though he's been solid in Liiga.

 

[57special]

I've always heard good things about Michalek.

 

[Victorious Secret]

Curious to hear more about how a guy with .921 save percentage last season in a third-tier league is light years ahead of a guy with a .919 save percentage last season in a second-tier league.

Not sure what the delay is on signing Kahkonen either but that might be a tell that the Wild aren't big on his NHL potential, even though he's been solid in Liiga.

Wild must not be sold on Kaprizov either. Can't bring him over, either.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Wild must not be sold on Kaprizov either. Can't bring him over, either.

I'll take the bait here. There is a transfer agreement between Liiga and the NHL; there's isn't one between KHL and NHL. Thus the Wild could theoretically have Kahkonen playing in Iowa, Rapid City, St Paul or Rauma. They have yet to even tender him an ELC. I have no strong opinion on his potential - a young guy who's a solid pro at any level is a good sign as far as I know - but there's no downside to getting him under contract if you believe his potential is NHL starter. They'll lose his rights next summer.

 

[Victorious Secret]

Okay. Took Wild quite a while to Granlund over. There's a more apt scenario to fit your description.