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  • Jiricek, Wallstedt Should Be Part of Wild Next Season

    Image courtesy of © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
    Thomas Williams

    By Thomas Williams -

    That's Wild

    • At the season-ending press conference, the Minnesota Wild general manager and president of hockey operations Bill Guerin said that goaltending prospect Jesper Wallstedt is moving up the depth chart into Filip Gustavsson's backup with the retirement of Marc-Andre Fleury, and young blueliner David Jiricek will be on the NHL roster next season. [StarTribune]
    • Jake Middleton's playoff performance has highlighted a flaw with Guerin's overall team building plan. [Hockey Wilderness]
    • Also in that press conference, Guerin made one thing extremely clear: The team is ready to spend. [Pioneer Press]
    • What we learned about the eight teams eliminated in the first round of this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs (including the Wild). [The Athletic]

    Off the trail...

    • The biggest lessons learned in the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far, and how it might affect Round 2. [ESPN]
    • After Monday night's Draft Lottery, just about every single writer that even remotely pays attention to prospects put up a mock draft of the first 16 picks. Here's one. [Daily Faceoff]
    • Connor Hellebuyck expressed that the weight of the world is off his shoulders now after that dramatic Game 7 win by his Winnipeg Jets. [TheScore]
    By Thomas Williams  

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    Pewterschmidt
    3 hours ago, MNCountryLife said:

    So should Buium, Ohgren and Yurov.

    Buium proved to be not quite ready for prime time at 19, but what I saw that I really liked was his confidence to take risks (close gaps on 50/50 pucks at the blue line, etc.).  Some of his risks backfired but what that showed was he's got a big enough ego and high self-confidence level that his skills and frame will grow into.  Sort of like early Fiala when he'd try to skate thru 2-3 defenders...late Wild Fiala succeeded from time to time. 

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    IllicitFive
    7 minutes ago, Pewterschmidt said:

    Buium proved to be not quite ready for prime time at 19, but what I saw that I really liked was his confidence to take risks (close gaps on 50/50 pucks at the blue line, etc.).  Some of his risks backfired but what that showed was he's got a big enough ego and high self-confidence level that his skills and frame will grow into.  Sort of like early Fiala when he'd try to skate thru 2-3 defenders...late Wild Fiala succeeded from time to time. 

    I think he just needs some lower stake marinating. The playoffs proved to be too fast and too intense for his first go around, but with some of what he showed I don't think his talents would grow much in the AHL. I believe the growth from playing pre season and regular season games will be what is needed. It takes time for the game to slow down. I hope they don't make him Iowa bound, but I am not a scout or a developer of NHL talent.

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    Enforceror
    11 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

    I think he just needs some lower stake marinating. The playoffs proved to be too fast and too intense for his first go around, but with some of what he showed I don't think his talents would grow much in the AHL. I believe the growth from playing pre season and regular season games will be what is needed. It takes time for the game to slow down. I hope they don't make him Iowa bound, but I am not a scout or a developer of NHL talent.

    I believe a strong offseason will do wonders. I expect to see him on the squad next year. With regular playing time, I think he'll start to shine around game 20.

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    MNCountryLife
    12 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

    I think he just needs some lower stake marinating. The playoffs proved to be too fast and too intense for his first go around, but with some of what he showed I don't think his talents would grow much in the AHL. I believe the growth from playing pre season and regular season games will be what is needed. It takes time for the game to slow down. I hope they don't make him Iowa bound, but I am not a scout or a developer of NHL talent.

    Exactly!!!

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    Willy the poor boy
    28 minutes ago, IllicitFive said:

    I think he just needs some lower stake marinating. The playoffs proved to be too fast and too intense for his first go around, but with some of what he showed I don't think his talents would grow much in the AHL. I believe the growth from playing pre season and regular season games will be what is needed. It takes time for the game to slow down. I hope they don't make him Iowa bound, but I am not a scout or a developer of NHL talent.

    I'm not 100% but I believe the only skater that BG has drafted that's developed in IA. is Rossi (and he wants to get rid of him lol) so not a good track record. Sounds like all the IA. coaches are safe for another season. Uugh!!

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    IllicitFive
    Just now, Willy the poor boy said:

    I'm not 100% but I believe the only skater that BG has drafted that's developed in IA. is Rossi (and he wants to get rid of him lol) so not a good track record. Sounds like all the IA. coaches are safe for another season. Uugh!!

    Looking at the names in Iowa the "big names" are all fairly young. Heidt is 20, Ohgren 21, Bankier 22, Haight 21, Lambos 22, and so on. So I will withhold my judgement for now as they are still young and haven't wasted away..... yet. I agree, the track record does not look great, but in a  year or 2, as roster spots open up, NHL players age out/contracts drop off we will get a better look at the success or failure of the AHL. Hockey is frustrating, draft and then wait possibly years for guys to show up and make an impact unlike the NFL where tons of drafted players come in and make a mark year 1.

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    Enforceror

    So what happens if Hlavaj ends up being our guy? We already committed to Wally with a contract.

    Wallstedt ended the season with 27gp, 3.59, .879

    Hlavaj: 36gp, 2.85, .904

    That's a substantial difference. Yeah, it's only one year and Wally had some mental/confidence issues this year but....Hlavaj could be getting better too. In WC (for Slovakia) Hlavaj had 3gp with 1.67, .929

     

     

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    Up North Guy
    2 minutes ago, Enforceror said:

    So what happens if Hlavaj ends up being our guy? We already committed to Wally with a contract.

    Wallstedt ended the season with 27gp, 3.59, .879

    Hlavaj: 36gp, 2.85, .904

    That's a substantial difference. Yeah, it's only one year and Wally had some mental/confidence issues this year but....Hlavaj could be getting better too. In WC (for Slovakia) Hlavaj had 3gp with 1.67, .929

     

     

    BG also said he was going to get another NHL ready goalie on a two way contract in case Wally fizzles. Maybe Hlavaj still needs marinating in Iowa. If he plays well and Wally doesn't I can see some I-35 rotation going on.

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