NHL Draft 2012 Prospects: #6 Jacob Trouba

The draft, hands down, is the best time of the hockey season. Maybe I'm just saying that because the Wild haven't been seen post-season action since 2008, but that is besides the point.

So, on June 22nd-23rd, we will all sit down in front of the television/computer and watch the draft. But if you are wondering, "who's who", then you haven't been reading HW because thats my job.

So without further ado:

Introducing our 2012 NHL #6 Draft Prospect - Jacob Trouba:

Accomplishments & Awards:

Prospect Jersey (What Would They Look Like In a Wild Jersey?):

Summarized Scouting Report

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

HW Projection:

Video Evidence:

Where Does He Fit In The Wild?

In the very spot the Wild need to fill: a bluechip defenseman prospect.

More about him in the conclusion...

Conclusion

And Jacob Trouba fills that bill.

He's big, he's mobile, he's strong, he's physical, and he has a decent offensive package that has yet to be realized ... but has the tools.

Now when you read the summarized scouting report, you may find that the strengths and weaknesses contradict themselves so this is how I see it:

Trouba has ALL the tools to become an elite defenseman, however he needs to refine all his areas of play, besides the skating and physicality. Needs to refine his shot, needs to refine his consistent defensive play.

But at pick #7, you have to expect prospects to come with some flaws but Trouba comes as safe as any draft eligible prospects come at this stage of the draft. Sort of reminds me of the time we drafted Marco Scandella; an all toolsy defenseman, except this time Trouba comes with a more polished package as well as a high offensive upside.

I can see a Trouba-Brodin pair in our near future. Trouba is my pick for the Wild, but that is if he makes it since I think he's the best defenseman that you can select behind Murray and that means he might be gone before the #7 pick. Fingers cross he falls to us!

Special thanks to HFBoards, Future Considerations, The Hockey Writers, TSN, OHLProspeccts and The Scouting Report