Wild 2012 Developmental Camp: Who Are The Invitees?

Every year, each NHL team (if I'm not mistaken) holds a prospect/developmental camp that brings all their youngsters together for a week of practice and fun activities. A summer camp if you will.

To most, its a chance to meet some new faces, learn a few tricks, and just play a bit more hockey. For a few others, its so much more than that, its an audition. The first round of auditions. Its their chance to show an NHL team that they are worth a contract or a pick in the following draft year.

The Wild has always taken this camp seriously. From the 2010 camp attendees, they signed Jared Spurgeon, Josh Caron, and Justin Fontaine. Caron has just finished up his junior career playing as a tough defensive defenseman, Fontaine has produced a very successful rookie year with the Aeros, and well all know how good Spurgeon has turned out.

From the 2010 camp attendees, we signed Kris Fredheim, who isn't the flashiest player but in his 3 games with the Wild last season, I thought he did pretty well.

Other notables names that attended the Wild camps but was not signed by us? From the 2010 camp, Darian Dziurzynski (selected by Phoenix in the following draft), Tyler Johnson (signed by the Lightning), Matt Read (almost considered for the Calder Trophy), Cameron Schilling (signed by Capitals).

From the 2011 camp, no one was signed or drafted by any other team. However, many of them are being invited back to the 2012 camp.

So if you been following Hockey Wilderness, you should already have a good grasp of who the Wild prospects are so no need to go over them again. The invitees are the new guys here!

And this is a long post, but its really for a quick introduction for when you go down to the Xcel Energy Center for the two scrimmages, so you aren't completely in the dark on these random players.

Take the jump and lets find out who they are.

From mnhockeyprospects:

Michaelson was originally thought to be a high-end talent after scoring 62 points in only 28 games with Apple Valley during the 2010-11 season. However, for his 2012 draft year, he scored only 20 points in 53 games, ultimately disappointing all 30 teams and was undrafted.

He'll be heading to the Gophers this season, and not matter what happens in this camp, will probably not be signed. However, if he does well, the Wild will keep a close eye on him, and who knows, maybe get a contract offer like Matt Read or Justin Fontaine.

From Brown University:

Now he is a kid that oozes character player. He skates fast, has extreme versatility, always a hard worker, and is an excellent person off the ice. He has been named onto the ECAC Hockey All-Academic Squad all four years at Brown University, and was named the NCAA (New England) Unsung Hero Award this season.

Also, read this story from the New England Hockey Journal, it gives a great insight into who Farnham is. Link here

Because Farnham has finished his college career, as long as he displays a solid showing in developmental camp, I would love to see him be a part of the Houston Aeros as he brings everything that the Wild are slowly transforming into: a speedy and character team.

From last year's developmental camp introduction on Hockey Wilderness

It is safe to say that Sandlak still hasn't found his offensive game with an underwhelming 13 points in 34 games. Although being injured is a good excuse, it isn't promising to see those numbers. However, Sandlak continues to bring his gritty game onto the ice, and is still young enough to continue playing and developing in the juniors.

He will have to show he can bring hustle and physicality shift after shift. Because if he can't, he doesn't have much else to offer.

From Hockey's Future

Another one of those character college youngsters, LeBlanc was the St. Cloud State Huskies key offensive player but was injured and was only able to play 10 games. He was named onto the NCAA (WCHA) All-Academic Team for three years and the NCAA (WCHA) Third All-Star Team last season, and before he was injured, he was noted to having a career year.

His college career is over, and he shows that his 10 games this season wasn't a pure fluke with an impressive showing at camp, he also could find himself heading to Houston.

EDIT: His career will not be over and will return as captain this season. Thanks The Rabid One

From Hockey's Future

All that sounds great right? Well, none of those skills managed to put up regular points in Harvard during his freshman and sophomore year. However, last year in his junior year, he managed to have a breakout season with 32 points in 31 games.

He was a semi-finalist for the Walter Brown Award, presented annually to the best United States-born college hockey player in New England. He was amongst six other players nominated.

He still has another year left in his college career, but he is a 6'2 205lbs player that has alot of skills, and with an impressive camp, he'll be closely watched this season.

From theprospectblog.com

He is a massive 6'3 210 player that was undrafted this year. However, he consistently plays hard, grinds his way to the net, and can really give goaltenders a hard time with such size planted right in front of them. There isn't much to his game besides that hard, forechecking game, but the combination of size, hardwork, and physical play might just be all is needed to impress.

In fact, the Wild is shifting towards that style of play, and if he really impresses, then just maybe, he might get signed.

From last year's developmental invitee introduction and from the USCHO Fan Forum:

He looked quick solid during last camp, from what I can vaguely remember, and returned back to D3 hockey and continued to produce. He still has one more year to go before his college career is over, but it is clear that the Wild have their eyes set on him. Invited last time, invited again. I mean, if they weren't interested, they wouldn't bother inviting again, right?

Anyways, Thomas is an interesting young kid and he'll be someone I'm hoping to keep a close eye on during the scrimmages.

A couple of comments from Bruins viewers from the 2011 camp via HFBoards and TheHockeyWriters

He is Michigan Tech's key player as acting captain and scoring leader. He was named assistant captain in his sophomore year and team captain during junior year. It is quite an accomplishment for a kid to get a letter that young, so congratulations.

He has a decent frame, and from what I can tell, he isn't a flashy type of player. He has a decent shot and plays a simple game. But we'll get a better view during camp, but if the Wild are looking for character players that have the ability to lead, Olson is one of those guys.

From mnhockeyprospects:

Merchant was eligible for this year's draft and was a Mr.Hockey finalist, so it is surprising for him to be passed over by all 30 teams. He plays hard, has a decent physical frame, and he played very well at the high school level. It is hard to think why he was passed over.

He will be heading to Maine this season, so he most likely won't be signed to an NHL team, or else he would have to forfeit his scholarship. But again, the Wild don't mind getting an early look into a prospect they may hope to sign in four years time.

From the The Spokesman,article here

He was also noted somewhere that he isn't the best skater, so with not being a fighter, it isn't too much of a surprise why he hasn't been drafted. But, with that being said, he brings compete level to its max, and that is something the Wild love.

Mobility may be a problem, but he sacrifices for the play, he plays hard, and just frustrates due to his hardwork. We've seen that with Brett Bulmer and Cal Clutterbuck, who aren't necessarily dirty, but just people off with physical play and hard work.

But again, skating may be a problem, so that is something we all should keep an eye on during camp.

From the Wild Prospect Handbook, link here

To be specific on his skillset, Corbett is a two-way defenseman that skates well and solid physical play. He is just solid in all aspects of his game, he doesn't wow you. He has good size to do his job, plays well in all zones of the ice, although he isn't much of a dynamic blueline either.

Many were expecting Corbett to be a sure-fire draft pick, but didn't find his name called. That was surprising to many, so he will get his chance to prove the Wild wrong. Maybe it was the fact he seems to already have filled out his frame, and hasn't dominated, indicating there is little potential left than what he is now. Either way, he is now playing in the juniors, so the Wild have the opportunity to sign him and send him back to Edmonton to develop.

From WHL from Above:

Cody continues on say that "Sautner is a hard skating two way defender for Edmonton. Moves the puck well and skates very well for a guy over six feet tall. Competes hard, but could still improve defensively, including stick usage. Struggled in the WHL playoffs from time to time."

He isn't the biggest player but not the smallest either. He doesn't seem to dominate in any area, which could be a key reason why he was undrafted. But looking at his size and Cody' description, I can't help but be reminded of Jared Spurgeon. Obviously, you find gems like Spurgeon rarely, but I can dream.

I can't find a scouting report on Skapski so here's a video feature on him: