Article: The Wild Need More From Their Rookies

[Bekki Antonelli]

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[Citizen Strife]

Ohgren is going to get sit in the press box or sent to the AHL once Hartman comes back.

Ohgren is just plain invisible.  Khusnutdinov at least gives you defensive responsibility and speed.  Ohgren has yet to show anything worth keeping on the roster.  Send him down, give him more time and less pressure and competition, and maybe he'll pull a Rossi and return better equipped to at least make SOME positive contribution.

 

[Will D. Ness]

I think Ohgren has the tools but it's looking like the baptism by fire is messing with his head.  He just isn't up to NHL speed yet.

Iowa might help but honestly I think playing here is better but he has to show some sort of progress.

[Pewterschmidt]

I'm still high on Khuz's prospects as a bottom six energy bug and occasional top six fill-in.  I was hoping to have seen more flashes by now, but I think he's progressing ok.  He is 23 (i think) so the time is now bro-chella.

The disclaimer with Ogz is that he's only 20.  That said he's looking like the guy who no-showed on the score sheet for those couple of WJC's.  But P-Snot he was captain of those teams....likely a man among boys situation for him.  I'm definitely not writing him off but I'm getting more convinced his ceiling is Nino 2.0 because he don't got much dog in him.  He's not the top six white night he's been hyped he'd be.  Again he's only 20.

[B1GKappa97]

Considering we are top-10 in goals-for and 5th in goals-against per game, I think the rookies are doing aight so far. 

Ohgren looks a little out of place but I think Khusnut and Lauko (shout out Billy G for a great trade.. and I believe Marat came from the Kunin trade...) are providing energy/big shifts pretty routinely to this point. Flyers game wasn't great, but everyone kind of sucked in that game.

Replace Ohgren with Hartman when he's healthy and I think that line could be 3rd-line quality and just tilt the ice even more. 

Edited 1 hour ago by B1GKappa97

[MNCountryLife]

I've been happy with the young guys.  Let's not forget that among them is Faber, Boldy and Rossi.  The 3 are definitely performing well.  

[MNCountryLife]

A Spurgeon sighting happened last night.  Was good to see him back on the ice.  He definitely looked rusty but I thought he improved in the 3rd.  Was smart of Hynes to put him with Brodin.

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, Will D. Ness said:

I think Ohgren has the tools but it's looking like the baptism by fire is messing with his head.  He just isn't up to NHL speed yet.

Iowa might help but honestly I think playing here is better but he has to show some sort of progress.

You're right, Will, but I'd argue that he has shown progress. Showing progress is much more than just showing up on the scoresheet. I pointed out before the season started that Ohgren's MO is he's a slow starter. 

As long as he's not costing the Wild goals, keep playing him. I'd like to see a little more check finishing from him, but his legs have gotten pretty close to up to speed. Unfortunately, his hands are still behind, but this is typical for him. 

[mnfaninnc]

1 hour ago, Pewterschmidt said:

I'm definitely not writing him off but I'm getting more convinced his ceiling is Nino 2.0 because he don't got much dog in him.  He's not the top six white night he's been hyped he'd be.  Again he's only 20.

But, P-Sizzle, Nino played a lackluster rookie year, and played year 2 in the minors. Sometimes, these guys take a little longer to acclimate. By the time we got him, he had a little more in the tank.

[Pewterschmidt]

8 minutes ago, mnfaninnc said:

But, P-Sizzle, Nino played a lackluster rookie year, and played year 2 in the minors. Sometimes, these guys take a little longer to acclimate. By the time we got him, he had a little more in the tank.

Then I guess you're making my point.