2009 Wild Draft Preview: Defensemen

Back in 2004, the Minnesota Wild selected AJ Thelen with the 12th Overall pick. Thelen was a highly touted defenseman and few gave any doubts over the choice. The Savage, Minnesota-native was just coming off a great freshman year at Michigan State scored 11 goals, and 29 points. Wild fans hoped he'd be the two-way defenseman the team had sorely been lacking through its first 4 seasons. Less than a year after being drafted things started to go awry. After putting up 11 points in 33 games with the Spartans, he was kicked off the team for not ratting on his teammates who were involved in some underage drinking. From there things continued to sour for the once promising defenseman as he took his hockey career to the Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) who held his minor league rights. He struggled to find his stride and never really got it back, despite helping the Vancouver Giants (in a bit role) win the Memorial Cup in 2007. Yet after his Memorial Cup victory, the Wild chose not to sign Thelen and he became the first official 1st round bust for the organization. Fast forward to last summer, the Wild hope they did better with their second defenseman that they have taken in the first round, in Tyler Cuma selected 23rd Overall. In rather ominous fashion, Cuma would suffer season-ending knee injury while in training camp for Team Canada. According to Team Canada coaches, Cuma was almost certainly assured a spot on the team but that is sour grapes as the future Wild blueliner watched his team win gold in front of home crowd in Ottawa. Now some of you may be saying, "wait a minute, what about Brent Burns?" Please remember the Wild did not draft Burns as a defenseman, they drafted him as a right winger and luckily for the organization he was able to become an effective blueliner. Yet, even for Burns, he is coming off a season he'd probably rather forget. Burns' play was very erratic and it was capped off by an injury and a debilitating concussion. The Wild does have a few viable blueline prospects in the system beyond Cuma. Justin Falk had a promising first season with the Houston Aeros, and looks to be a big, mobile and athletic young stay-at-home defenseman who has a lot of potential. On the other end of the spectrum was the play of Marco Scandella who parlayed a strong season on a terrible Val 'd Or team into a pro contract. Scandella also has decent size, but still needs more seasoning especially on how to play in his own end. While I still believe the team will look at forwards first, the Wild did get ok return from its move to bring in offensive-minded blueliners to the team. Brent Burns took a step back or two, but without question the Wild's defenseman chipped in more offensively than they ever have before and that might convince management to look to adding an offensive blueliner to their prospect pool. As I said in my earlier article on forwards, what I am looking for in my prospective picks are three basic criteria based on the input that has been shared by Wild's management and an additional fourth item to make sensible picks. 1. A dynamic player (aka pizzaz).2. A player able to play in an up-tempo system.3. A player that fills organizational holes (i.e. no scorers in prospect system, few skilled forwards, few offensive blueliners, almost no prospect goaltenders).4. A player that will most likely be available when the team makes it selection. Without further adieu here are my top 5 defenseman selections for the Minnesota Wild. DEFENSEMEN: 1. Dmitri Kulikov (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL) - Left DefenseHeight: 6'0" Weight: 183lbs Shoots: Left Stats: 57GP 12G 50A = 62pts 46 PIM'sISS Rank: #10 CSS Rank: #11 North American The Hockey News' rank: #11Talent Analysis: Kulikov was outstanding in the Memorial Cup for the QMJHL champion Drummondville Voltigeurs. He demonstrated great mobility, poise, and an ability to separate the forward from the puck. Kulikov never looks frazzled and makes good decisions in his own zone and shows a knack to jump into the play and add pressure offensively. He led all QMJHL defenseman in points with 62 demonstrating his ability to chip in offensively and scouts believe he'll carry that offensive ability to the next level. The Lipetsk, Russia-product has taken great effort to learn English and French, which scouts are taking as an indicator of just how bad he wants to be in the NHL and feel rather strongly he is not likely to go back home to the KHL if things don't turn out to his liking. Kulikov possesses an excellent low-lying shot from the point, and is an above average stickhandler for a defenseman. Some may point to the fact he is just 6'0" tall but its hard to believe with how big he plays. Bottom Line: He is a future 1st pair defenseman who really has all the tools any team would want out of a defenseman, he'll likely be picked before the Wild can make their selection. 2. Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires, OHL) - Right DefenseHeight: 5'9" Weight: 173lbs Shoots: Right Stats: 57GP 22G 67A = 89pts 57 PIM'sISS Rank: #13 CSS Rank: #16 North American The Hockey News' rank: #17Talent Analysis: While Dmitri Kulikov was arguably the most complete defenseman (followed by Sabres first round giant, Tyler Myers playing for Kelowna) at the Memorial Cup; few were as dynamic as the Spitfires' Ryan Ellis. Ellis is an excellent skater whose best attribute is his hockey sense and his on-ice vision. The Hamilton, Ontario-native is an experienced power play quarterback who distributes the puck well and will likely be used in that role at the NHL level. For Wild fans, his blistering slap shot will be very reminiscent of Marc-Andre Bergeron. Defensively he is adequate due to a solid grasp of positioning but he will have to work on that part of his game to avoid becoming a power play specialist at the next level. Ellis is willing to battle for pucks along the boards, but he would not be quantified as a punishing player. Positionally he plays a smart and not overly risky game. Even though his slight 5'9" frame will require that he is paired with a larger partner, scouts do not feel that will hinder his effectiveness. Bottom Line: A smallish defenseman with tremendous offensive ability, an absolute natural as a power play quarterback. 3. Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie Eagles, USHS-MN) - Left DefenseHeight: 5'11" Weight: 179lbs Shoots: Left Stats: 25GP 8G 29A = 37pts 22 PIM'sISS Rank: #21 CSS Rank: #24 North American The Hockey News' rank: #25Talent Analysis: Nick Leddy is a familliar face to fans of Minnesota High School Hockey, as he holds the coveted title of "Mr. Hockey" as he led his Eden Prairie Eagles to a State Championship. Leddy is a terrific skater, with a smooth stride and great acceleration. Scouts also rave over Leddy's awareness at both ends of the ice, and his overall game. While he is not a big defender at just 5'11" he is not afraid to body up on forwards and his positioning is very good. The reigning "Mr Hockey" was noted throughout the State Tournament who always made something good happen whenever he had the puck and scouts believe he will be able to carry that good fortune at the next level. As good as his skating is, Leddy is a wicked stickhandler has an tremendous shot that has a knack at creating other scoring opportunities for his teammates if it doesn't find the twine on its own. Bottom Line: Leddy is a high skilled defenseman with loads of offensive talent who demonstrated great poise and leadership that will translate well at the next level and will most likely still be available when the Wild pick. 4. David Rundblad (Skelleftea, Eliteserien-SWE) - Right DefenseHeight: 6'2" Weight: 189lbs Shoots: Right Stats: 45GP 0G 10A = 10pts 8 PIM'sISS Rank: #22 CSS Rank: #6 European The Hockey News' rank: #10Talent Analysis: Some scouts believe Rundblad may be the best offensive defensman available in the draft as he is a rare combination of size and offensive ability which you do not see in the previously mentioned defenseman. Rundblad has excellent offensive traits to go along with a very powerful shot. Another advantage Rundblad has going for him, is he has played in the Swedish Elite League (i.e. against men) and performed well in the playoffs making some scouts believe he is a bit more proven commodity than other blueliners that have not played at such a high level. He loves to jump in the play and sneak in from the point, and does a great job making the first pass out of the zone. His only glaring weakness is his lack of physicality, especially near the net where he tends to just stick check then try to take a player from out in front of the crease. Rundblad is a bit of a river boat gambler at times; similar to Brian Campbell and that might scare off some teams who want a more stable offensive blueliner that isn't such a risk for the devastating turnover. Bottom Line: An offensive defenseman with reckless (perhaps too much) abandon, who has great puck skills, and big time shot will likely be available when the Wild make their selection. 5. Stefan Elliott (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) - Left DefenseHeight: 6'0" Weight: 180lbs Shoots: Right Stats: 71GP 16G 39A = 55pts 26 PIM'sISS Rank: #38 CSS Rank: #17 North American The Hockey News' rank: #27Talent Analysis: Elliott is a puckmoving defenseman who is still figuring out the right time to join the rush. He sometimes tries to do too much in his own end, but scouts figure that comes from a desire for him to create offense with nearly every opportunity. Yet scouts say offensively he make smart savvy plays most of the time. The Vancouver, British Columbia-native is a great passer, and his excellent mobility make him dangerous off the rush. Elliott's style of play may remind you of another member of the Saskatoon Blades in Washington Capitals offensive blueliner extraordinaire Mike Green. The 6'0 defenseman will have to add strength and learn to play more physically to be effective at the NHL level. Assertiveness in his own zone will make him a more complete player and is the reason why he is not ranked higher in the draft despite good offensive skills. Bottom Line: He is a skilled puck mover with great upside who is still figuring out how to round out his game, Elliott should definitely be available when the Wild make their pick.