Article: Charlie Stramel Won't Be A Bust If the Wild Are Patient With Him

[Kalisha Turnipseed]

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[NorthStarWildFan]

You draft these 4th line role players in the later rounds not in the first. If this article becomes true then it proves the fact that Brackett reached in this draft for need not BPA. If we had Perrault in the pipeline as we should have we would be sitting in a much better position. 

[Sam]

Hopefully he plays better in green and white.

[Pewterschmidt]

I will be unusually interested in Michigan State hockey this upcoming season.  Stram-nado will be a junior so I'm expecting him to be an absolute beast this season.  If not in points, then he should be a physical beast every shift.  If Stram-dingle looks uninterested or unmotivated I'm selling my shares of Stram-opolis.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

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White is a former first-round pick, and while they’re different players, he’s an ideal NCAA comparison for Stramel. White played his freshman and sophomore years with Boston College (NCAA), where he scored 76 points (1.06 points) in 72 games. White signed his Entry-Level Contract (ELC) with the Senators.

Considering Stramel had 20 points(8 goals, 12 assists) in 67 games at Wisconsin, good for .3 points per game. Colin White had at least 16 goals and at least 17 assists in both seasons he played college hockey.

Stramel is quite a bit bigger than White and could be useful as a banger on the 3rd or 4th line if he can improve his skill level. Point production would be nice, and he'd need to have a massive jump this season in order to believe he'll be more than a Duhaime-type.

Quote

The Minnesota Wild can turn Charlie Stramel into a dependable player by slotting him alongside Rasmus Kumpulainen and Rieger Lorenz. By doing so, they would show Wild fans the new and improved version of the GREEF line that featured Joel Eriksson Ek, Marcus Foligno, and old friend Jordan Greenway.

At present, believing that Stramel could be part of a line better than GREEF is betting on the longshot.  It would be new, but improved seems like a pipe dream given how much Eriksson Ek has improved and how strong Foligno has been defensively.

Kumpulainen and Lorenz would need major gains to compete with those guys and it doesn't look incredibly promising that Stramel will be as good as Greenway, but we can hope...

[bisopher]

41 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Kumpulainen and Lorenz would need major gains to compete with those guys and it doesn't look incredibly promising that Stramel will be as good as Greenway, but we can hope...

Very true on Stramel's performance to date.  To be optimistic:

- Michigan State seems like it should be a much better fit for him than Wisconsin. 

- While he will be a Junior academically, he doesn't turn 20 until October. He's younger than most of his peers.

- He's already shown physical maturity (based on his combine results) that is advanced for his age.  When compared to Jordan "Wheels" Greenway, that sounds to me like someone who has the drive (when properly coached) to continue to improve.

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Considering Stramel had 20 points(8 goals, 12 assists) in 67 games at Wisconsin, good for .3 points per game. Colin White had at least 16 goals and at least 17 assists in both seasons he played college hockey.

Stramel is quite a bit bigger than White and could be useful as a banger on the 3rd or 4th line if he can improve his skill level. Point production would be nice, and he'd need to have a massive jump this season in order to believe he'll be more than a Duhaime-type.

I'd say Stramel is a bit bigger! Elite Prospects lists him at 6'3" 223. That's a far cry from 6'1" 194 when you're expected to be on a checking line. That is what White's measurements are. While looking this up, this is precisely why I've encouraged/badgered the Wild prospects to bulk up. White is too small for that role. He needed another 10 lbs. of sheer muscle. And, we see the result, the mind was willing but the body fell apart. For certain roles, you have to have enough muscle just to endure the punishment, even if you're not giving it out.

A 6'3" 223 lb. Stramel at 20 years old seems like a physically similar player to Foligno. Stramel's draft guide also said he had sneaky good hands and could operate in tight quarters. I am looking at this a lot like Pewter: 

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I will be unusually interested in Michigan State hockey this upcoming season.  Stram-nado will be a junior so I'm expecting him to be an absolute beast this season.  If not in points, then he should be a physical beast every shift.  If Stram-dingle looks uninterested or unmotivated I'm selling my shares of Stram-opolis.

In watching a tournament game, where you should be pretty amped up, I saw a player take 5 shifts and look lost. I wouldn't call it disinterested, I'd call it more of not really sure what he was supposed to do, and, in effect, we got 5 Johansson type shifts from him. I'm expecting that a new place will be really good for him. I want to see a motivated player who is a really nice kid on the outside of the boards, but a strong, motivated guy who hits like a Sherman tank. His line should be extremely hard to play against, and I'd like to see him earn the "in front of the net" spot on the PP.  To me, that's progress. Perhaps having a defined role where "steamroller" is one of the adjectives used to describe this role will help the player. 

I'd also like to see him continue to work in the gym. I don't know that he needs to add much weight here, but having the muscle is important. I don't want to compare him to Tage Thompson, but it took awhile for Thompson to fully harness his talent. My hope is that what we saw in Stramel that past 2 years gets erased as he recovers from the coaching at WI and the loss of his dad. Perhaps playing under a coach he is familiar with will help all of this, since this seems to be a guy he trusts.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

21 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

I don't want to compare him to Tage Thompson, but it took awhile for Thompson to fully harness his talent. My hope is that what we saw in Stramel that past 2 years gets erased as he recovers from the coaching at WI and the loss of his dad. Perhaps playing under a coach he is familiar with will help all of this, since this seems to be a guy he trusts.

Certainly we all hope he finds some more offensive productivity. I'm not a fan of the Tage Thompson mention because while it took Tage time at the NHL level(with his production jumping incredibly once he turned age 24[he turns 27 at the start of this season]), he had 32 points in 36 games as a freshman at Connecticut.

After getting the Covid 19 vaccinations leading into this 2021 season, Tage produced at a level he never had before...

I know Stramel hasn't had ideal situations his first 2 years, and the new situation might be ideal, so we'll if he can show up and produce like a 1st round talent should in their 3rd season of NCAA hockey, which hopefully will be at least close to one of the underclassman seasons of guys like Tage Thompson or Colin White.

I cannot imagine what it's like to lose someone's dad at that age. Losing that person in your life could impact anyone in so many different ways. You just hope he hasn't lost his love for the game, or if he did, that he can find it again.

[Dis-allowed display name]

If he can be a poor man's Todd Bertuzzi, I can be ok with that.  (Minus the Moroe incedent and other goonery)  Needs a little (lot) more offensive game. 

Edited August 5 by Dis-allowed display name

[Pewterschmidt]

1 hour ago, Dis-allowed display name said:

If he can be a poor man's Todd Bertuzzi

Tyler Bertuzzi??

That's the ceiling at this point in my mind (Todd had silky smooth mitt's and world class offensive instincts which Stram-nuts does not)

If Stram-dingle has Tyler rough neck attitude, he can make a contribution to the team.  If he's got Greenway's gritless attitude, he's worthless to the team.

[FredJohnson]

6 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I will be unusually interested in Michigan State hockey this upcoming season.  Stram-nado will be a junior so I'm expecting him to be an absolute beast this season.  If not in points, then he should be a physical beast every shift.  If Stram-dingle looks uninterested or unmotivated I'm selling my shares of Stram-opolis.

😂😂😂

[Pewterschmidt]

OK sports fans. It looks like the Laine to the Wild chatter is picking up some steam. which wild player/players in addition to Rossi do you predict we’ll go to Winnipeg in that deal?  If it’s any of the apathetic old core I m on board.  If it’s Rossi + our white knight prospects I vote no. 
this is smelling like Guerin’s desperate bid to keep 97

[Pewterschmidt]

2 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

OK sports fans. It looks like the Laine to the Wild chatter is picking up some steam. which wild player/players in addition to Rossi do you predict we’ll go to Winnipeg in that deal?  If it’s any of the apathetic old core I m on board.  If it’s Rossi + our white knight prospects I vote no. 
this is smelling like Guerin’s desperate bid to keep 97

And why was Laine in the player assist assistance program for substance-abuse or mental health issues?

[Pewterschmidt]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

OK sports fans. It looks like the Laine to the Wild chatter is picking up some steam. which wild player/players in addition to Rossi do you predict we’ll go to Winnipeg in that deal?  If it’s any of the apathetic old core I m on board.  If it’s Rossi + our white knight prospects I vote no. 
this is smelling like Guerin’s desperate bid to keep 97

Oops, make that Columbus

I think it's going to require Rossi+Freddy Hockey+one of our heftier contracts (spurge, Brodin,Fogligno,etc) 

[Citizen Strife]

I hate this on so many levels. 

The Wild are going to hitch their wagon to a guy who doesn't play full seasons in...ever.  He has a name and he's a goal scorer: big whoop.  It's going to cost way too much for the Columbus to bite.  Dumping anyone of the future (which is the lynchpin) is not going to help counteract getting out of the Spurgeon or Freddy contract.  You're just trading one injured or ineffective player for a guy who isn't a fit for the team in any way.

If Rossi, Yurov, or Heidt are any of the keys to getting this done, fuck off.

[Citizen Strife]

*Can't edit*

Rossi already gets you 45 points at minimum, and we don't even know about Yurov or Heidt.  Wait a year and you pretty much get Laine's production for free, or at a reduced cost unless those three hit big.

[Protec]

Never liked Laine. Keep Rossi and the prospects, Stramel-horse will be difficult to play against soon enough and the Wild don't need to take risks on reclamation projects. 

[TCMooch]

I don’t think Stramel will play 100 games in the NHL.

I have insanely low expectations for him even with the transfer.

[Citizen Strife]

7 hours ago, Protec said:

Never liked Laine. Keep Rossi and the prospects, Stramel-horse will be difficult to play against soon enough and the Wild don't need to take risks on reclamation projects. 

If they do, it's on lower rent options like Jost or Steel.  No sense breaking the bank for a glass cannon.

[Protec]

11 hours ago, TCMooch said:

I don’t think Stramel will play 100 games in the NHL.

I have insanely low expectations for him even with the transfer.

Expectations have diminished for sure. I've never liked the draft for position thing except when you can get it with a best available guy. Stramel has a position and unique set of qualities. He's had success and he's young so hopefully his development is will come along.

It certainly is easy to question and criticize. It's interesting too because Ohgren was getting hurt and not developing to great til he got to the NHL where he looked alright. He was selected before Yurov who is so hot right now.

Heidt looks good but Stramel has struggled so now he's chop-liver. This year would need to be pretty good to restore expectations. At the same time, it's easier without the scrutiny and high-hopes from fans/media in the hometown.

I hope it works out but your prediction at this point is fair, especially by comparison to Lundell or Perreault who Brackett/Guerin passed over.

[mnfaninnc]

20 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

I'm not a fan of the Tage Thompson mention because while it took Tage time at the NHL level(with his production jumping incredibly once he turned age 24

That was the comparison, it might take Stramel time to find a scoring touch. I don't want people to assume that I'm thinking Stramel will be a 30 goal guy, I don't, but Thompson took longer and I think that will be Stramel too.

[Pewterschmidt]

9 minutes ago, Protec said:

It's interesting too because Ohgren was getting hurt and not developing to great til he got to the NHL where he looked alright.

This is a great point.  Ohgzy's #'s in international play and Swedish spritzer league were underwhelming, but he looked like a legitimate NHL prospect in his small sample size of games, so there's hope for Stram-poline.

#milnewatch

[mnfaninnc]

16 hours ago, Pewterschmidt said:

It looks like the Laine to the Wild chatter is picking up some steam.

Here's the situation: Laine has asked out of CBJ, Waddell is the new GM over there, and with Laine just leaving the player's assistance program Laine has very little value.

I wouldn't be looking at Rossi to go in a deal. The suggestion I saw for other clubs was a 2nd and a 2nd Tier prospect. Our 2nd tier is still pretty good.

So, what would this look like? Maybe a 2025 2nd + Haight or Bankier (Bankier being closer to the N). If there's a line, perhaps it gets sweetened with both Haight and Bankier? 

I'm not giving up Rossi, I'd expect Rossi to be his center. I am pretty sure that CBJ would have to swallow 50% of the deal for 2 years, and we'd still have to give them about $4m in salary back. So, this would be my Gaudreau/Johansson cap dump. (and for those guys, don't want to go to Ohio? It's there or Iowa, and Iowa rides busses) Now, Gaudreau may have value for Evason, and for all I know, maybe it was Evason who liked Johansson? But this would certainly be addition by subtraction, and I really think we can fix Laine. I also believe that Zuccarello would love passing to Laine for 1-timers. 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

41 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

That was the comparison, it might take Stramel time to find a scoring touch. I don't want people to assume that I'm thinking Stramel will be a 30 goal guy, I don't, but Thompson took longer and I think that will be Stramel too.

I understood that, it's just that Thompson wasn't struggling to score when playing at the level Stramel is at.  Right now, John Hayden appears to be a closer comp.

[mnfaninnc]

33 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

This is a great point.  Ohgzy's #'s in international play and Swedish spritzer league were underwhelming, but he looked like a legitimate NHL prospect in his small sample size of games, so there's hope for Stram-poline.

#milnewatch

Looking into his stats the last couple of years, it looks to me like Ohgren is a good season finisher. He seems to struggle the first 1/2 of the year, and I think it was injuries both times. Now this is just in the points area, perhaps he's blowing guys up the first 1/2 of the season? Maybe his middle name is Tkachuk?