One To Watch: Minnesota Wild

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An intriguing mix of seasoned vets, actual superstars and a smattering of talented youth on the way. The Minnesota Wild should be a team to consider a threat in the very near future although I'm not sure if that's reasonable to say about this season.

Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle and Jonas Brodin are just the tip of the prospect iceberg that Wild fans enjoyed watching last year. There are a number of guys still in college or junior who could impact the NHL roster in the near future including Mario Lucia, Zack Phillips, Tyler Graovac, Adam Gilmour, Carson Soucy and Darcy Kuemper. Of course there is a defenceman on the way as well, more on him in a second. 

2013 Choice: Charlie Coyle - Anyone who knows me knows that I am a fan of Coyle's. My question leading into last season was whether he would be able to produce offensively as a pro. That answer came in the form of 25 AHL points in 47 games and 14 more in 37 NHL contests. 

My selection for One To Watch with the Wild for 2013-14 comes after the jump.

Tuesday Recap: August 16th

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An absolutely loaded show tonight as we had a guest every segment to save me from solo tap dancing during Dean's absence. It started out, unintentionally, to be a coach's show as we brought in 3 bench men in the first hour alone to kick off the program. In hour 2 we spoke with our CHL Insider, an analyst who covered and could recap the Ivan Hlinka tournament and we closed the show with a former CJHL Player of the Year.

Did I mention that it was a kick ass, loaded show?

Top 5 Tuesday: 2012 First Round WHL Dmen

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I know we're still over 2 months away from the 2011 draft but watching the post season this year made us realize how good the crop of defenceman is for the 2012 draft. There will likely be 5 first rounders from the WHL alone, and some think that of the 30 first round picks next year, 15 could be blueliners. the 09 and 08 drafts featured 12 each, while the draft some think is the best in years, the 2003 crop, produced just 7 rearguards in the first round. Here now are 5 from the WHL you need to check out.

WHL News and Notes

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Well I didn't see that coming with Russia beating team WHL in a shoot out, although we shouldn't be that shocked as they swept the Q and gave the OHL all they could handle. Maybe I'm a little biased but I didn't think Russia would win a game, let alone set themselves up for a sweep in the opener. They shouldn't have as the WHL gassed a 3 goal 3rd period lead when Russia lit them up like the Griswold house in Christmas Vacation and won it 7-6 in a shoot out.

More after the jump...

RNH Impressive on Night one

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Friday night the Red Deer Rebels convincingly beat the home town Edmonton Oil Kings to kick off the WHL season. It was also a statement game for 2011 draft prospect Ryan Nugent-Hopkins who dazzled scouts with his wicked fast release, sweet dangles and elusiveness.

Top 5 Tuesdays - WHL Bantam Draft Prospects

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This week I am going to rely on our pals from International Scouting Services (ISS) who recently released their WHL Bantam Draft Guide. You can get your own full and in-depth copy by going HERE.

The 2009 WHL Bantam Draft is set for Thursday, here in Edmonton. While The Pipeline Show prides itself of shining the spotlight on tomorrow's NHL stars... Dean and I aren't out watching much Bantam level hockey. But these are the guys who we will be watching closely for the next 4 or 5 years.

5. Nicolas Walters
Position: Left defence
Born: 4.11.94
Height: 6’00”
Weight: 160
Current Team: St. Albert Bantam

According to ISS: Any and every team would be lucky to have Walters patrolling their
blueline in the near future. A solid and smooth defender, Walters makes anybody, with an appreciation for the defensive aspects of the game, drool. A solid containment and intelligent blueliner, Walters may not jump out at you like Dumba and Rielly, but he as consistent and steady as they come. What you get with Walters is leadership and the peace of mind that your end is taken care of when he is on the ice, and that the first pass is going to be hard and accurate. At 6’ and 160 lbs Walters is big and mobile and in great shape. Walters is primed to climb the rankings as potentially the best shut down and responsible defenceman available.

WHL Potential: A player you want on the ice with the game on the line.

4. Morgan Rielly
Position: Left defence
Born: 3.9.94
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 168
Current Team: Notre Dame

According to ISS: Rielly is a tremendously gifted offensive defenseman. His ability to lead the breakout is unparalleled in this draft class. Combine that with a great shot and an excellent work ethic and you can see why many WHL clubs will be looking to add Rielly and groom him into their power play quarterback. The Notre Dame captain, Rielly, is a strong skater with excellent mobility and can slow the play down perfectly or burn opposing teams with his quick reactions and superior up ice vision. The MVP and top defender at the St. Albert Bantam AAA tournament, Rielly put up over a goal a game during the regular season and finished with 52 points in 23 games.

WHL Potential: Top 2 defenseman, power play quarterback

3. Mike Winther
Position: Center
Born: 1.9.94
Height: 5’09”
Weight: 155
Current Team: Airdrie Xtreme

According to ISS: Last year’s AMBHL rookie of the year, Winther built off a solid rookie season, establishing himself as perhaps the most purely talented prospect in Alberta. Winther is a dynamic skater, with fantastic speed and an excellent first step. Explosive doesn’t begin to describe Winther with the puck, his quick reaction time and ability to read the play around the net leads to much of his success. Winther is most dangerous away from the puck in the offensive zone, as he is near
impossible to contain and will always find space to become a dangerous scoring threat. Winther was named top forward and was the top scorer in Alberta in the regular season and playoffs and led his team in scoring and was named top forward again in their dominating win at the Western Canada championship.

WHL Potential: Top line scoring forward

2. Connor Rankin
Position: Forward
Born: 11.30.94
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 185
Current Team: NSWC Bantam

According to ISS: The best way to describe Rankin is work horse. Perhaps the hardest
working player available in this draft, there is no question that Rankin is the best prospect in British Columbia this season. A very unselfish and self-sacrificing
player, Rankin is a leader and an example of what hard work can do for a player. Not the most skilled in any aspect of the game, he is good at everything and there are no real holes in his game. Anybody who has seen Rankin battle for a puck knows what a special player he is. Rankin makes everyone around him better and for this reason alone should be considered one of the elite prospects in this draft. Rankin also has the potential to put up very good offensive numbers.

WHL Potential: Future WHL captain

1. Matt Dumba
Position: RD
Born: 7.25.94
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 165
Current Team: Calgary Bronks

According to ISS: A prototypical franchise defender, Dumba is a force from the backend. Dumba is a terror to play against. His ability to separate players from the puck is outstanding and only outshined by his ability to separate players from the ice. A phenomenal physical presence, Dumba’s hits are punishing and almost unavoidable as a result of his very strong mobility and skating ability. Dumba is also a strong puck mover and has great vision and offensive instincts with the puck.
Dumba will certainly make whoever doesn’t draft him very sorry they didn’t. Dumba led his team in goals this season with 20 in 33 games and also added 18 assists and 96 PIM. Player’s with this physical, defensive and offensive potential do not come around often.

WHL Potential: Franchise Defender


Other notables - One name that I've heard a lot is that of Tayler Balog who plays in Weyburn Saskatchewan. He comes in as the 6th ranked player for ISS but I won't be surprised if he goes in the top 5. Again, I don't watch this age level so I can only go by what others have told me or what I've read online and this sounds like a pretty talented kid.

Dion Phaneuf's little brother is available this year. The defenceman plays with the Edmonton SSAC and will probably be a 1st round selection - and not just because of his last name. It sounds like Dane Phaneuf can make a name for himself as opposed to riding off his big brother's coat tales.

The Edmonton Oil Kings own the WHL rights to Philip Samuelsson, former NHLer Ulf Samuelsson's son. Ulf's got another son available this year and Henrik Samuelsson might be the best of the bunch. He's playing south of the border and the fact that brother Philip appears NCAA bound might hurt Henrik's stock on Thursday. ISS has him as a late 1st rounder though.