Thelen likely to re-enter draft

[firstroundbust]

http://www.startribune.com/1330/story/1164539.html

Thelen might be out

It's looking very likely the Wild will not even attempt to sign 2004 first-round choice A.J. Thelen, a Savage native, by the June 1 draft. The team, which has been disappointed with his development, has not yet contacted his representation.

In exchange for losing Thelen's rights and allowing him to re-enter the draft, the Wild will receive the 42nd pick in June's draft.

Click to read more...

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

One player I admit I was 100% wrong with. I thought he had the potential to be amazing.

 

[Redwingsfan]

i would rather have the 42nd pick in this draft then him.

 

[Mike Jones]

http://www.startribune.com/1330/story/1164539.html

Think anybody will sign him as a free agent? His development may not be up to standards but he may be worth a gamble if he's willing to spend a season or two in the AHL.

 

[mikethompson]

A.J is playing great right know with the Giants, he is the #4 defenceman with Mikkelsson and Thelen also helps quarterback the powerplay with his booming slap shot.

 

[BritSabre]

He'd be well worth a late round (5th maybe) swing, especially in a shallow draft like this.

 

[Gwyddbwyll]

This rule is meant to protect teams from unreasonable salary demands from their highly regarded prospects? Seems that more often it just protects them from bad draft picks, especially when the rookie contract is fairly standard to negotiate. I guess if you look at the bigger picture you could argue that it also protects the competitiveness of the league.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

One player I admit I was 100% wrong with. I thought he had the potential to be amazing.

You are not the only one. I remember making a mock before that 2004 draft and I had him going 6th overall to the NYR.

 

[Habsfan18]

42nd pick eh. Not bad.

As for Thelen. I'd take a chance on him after the 4th or 5th round.

 

[FissionFire]

I thought he had potential when he was at Michigan State. Wonder if he would have progressed further had he stayed with Rick Comley and the champion Spartans.

 

[Mothra]

another in the long line of examples showing how hard it is to draft in the NHL.....

 

[HFNHL Canadiens]

I could see the Wild not signing him, and getting the 42nd pick in the draft. Then in the 4th or 5th rnd, re-drafting him.

 

[WesternCollegeHockey]

I'll be the first to go out on a limb and predict he won't go top 15 again.

 

[Debrincat93]

wild get a good deal there with the 42nd pick..

 

[Rise from the Ashes]

I can see him getting picked up by Columbus or something. Maybe Habs.

 

[Jacob]

A.J is playing great right know with the Giants, he is the #4 defenceman with Mikkelsson and Thelen also helps quarterback the powerplay with his booming slap shot.

That right there tells me all the more I need to know. He's a #4 defenseman in the WHL at 21? That's awful for anyone hoping to play in the NHL.

 

[Ferjo]

That right there tells me all the more I need to know. He's a #4 defenseman in the WHL at 21? That's awful for anyone hoping to play in the NHL.

Ahead of him on the depth chart are John Blum, Cody Franson and Brendan Mikkelson, 3 top prospects. him being 4 says nothing about his nhl potential

 

[mikethompson]

yah those 3 guys could be top 3 on almost any team in the CHL with the exception of a small handful of teams.

 

[Letang fan 58]

Why would they get the 42nd pick if they dont sign him?

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Why would they get the 42nd pick if they dont sign him?

The same reason Boston got the 37th pick for not signing Lars Jonsson. You get a compensation pick in the 2nd round (in the slot where he was drafted in the first round, Thelen drafted 12th, so 12th pick of 2nd round) if you don't sign one of your previous first rounders.

 

[Sabes]

That right there tells me all the more I need to know. He's a #4 defenseman in the WHL at 21? That's awful for anyone hoping to play in the NHL.

When he was with PA he was #1. Played every 2nd shift and was a workhorse. You can see the potential he has and his defensive game has really come around.

 

[GKJ]

A.J is playing great right know with the Giants, he is the #4 defenceman with Mikkelsson and Thelen also helps quarterback the powerplay with his booming slap shot.

At this point, the first problem is that he's the #4 defenseman.

 

[Vagrant]

Carolina will draft him in the 4th round. They love re-entries. Vagner, Zepp, Zigomanis, Fiedler.... the list goes on and on.

 

[Blane Youngblood]

A.J is playing great right know with the Giants, he is the #4 defenceman with Mikkelsson and Thelen also helps quarterback the powerplay with his booming slap shot.

I've been watching him with the Giants and I completely disagree. I often question whether he would see any ice at all if he wasn't a big name.

 

[MS]

Thelin is too old to re-enter the draft, and instead will be an UFA on June 1. Article is incorrect on that count.

He's a pretty decent WHL defender, but has limited pro upside. Skating is very average and his offensive game hasn't developed at all (and has probably regressed) since being drafted. Is a big body with a decent skill level, and his defensive game has improved a lot since entering the WHL. Someone will sign him, but I wouldn't expect much. Is probably a lesser prospect at this point than a guy like Busto who the Rangers signed this week.

He's actually probably the #5 defender on the Giants, as Festerling is a more important cog as well. But he would be top-3 on most WHL teams.

__________

It is ridiculous that teams get compensated for bad picks. There should be some sort of threshold in place to ensure that picks are only handed out for players who choose not to sign - for ie, teams have to have made a contract offer to the player which represents at least 70% of the rookie cap in order to receive the pick.