2009 Wild Draft Preview: Forwards

In the NHL version of a team's annual birthday celebration is the Entry Draft, where teams get the opportunity to add components to their team to create a bright future for their organization. Or at least that is what respective organization and their fans hope they count on. Yet the draft is hardly a 'sure thing' type of process and it tests teams by their ability to find talent and it is definitely important to the long-term health of an organization. Failures or lapses in the draft means a team will likely have to utilize free agency more frequently, which is both expensive and often requires the transaction of other assets. With new General Manager Chuck Fletcher at the helm, he will be will likely be using this draft as an exercise to evaluate the organization and attempt to fill some of its holes. Fletcher is known to have a good eye for talent and hopefully his sharp eye and hockey mind will bring a bumper crop of prospects our way. While I am not a big advocate the website Hockey's Future, the site recently rated Minnesota's prospects the worst in the league. I would agree that Minnesota's prospect pool is very thin and virtually void of any blue chip prospects at forward, with checking-type players Cody Almond, Danny Irmen, Carson McMillan, and Benoit Pouliot still struggling to prove he's ready to play at the NHL level. It is this lack of blue chip prospects, which is why Assistant General Manager Tommy Thompson said the team will be looking for a player who will add a little 'pizzaz.' The logical place to add 'pizzaz' is at forward. Luckily for the Wild, carrying the 12th Overall pick of the draft will likely give them an opportunity to pick a forward who can give fans back in the State of Hockey a reason to be excited. As I have done for the last 3 years I will provide 5 picks I think the Wild would consider at forward, defense and at goaltender to select in the first round. Ultimately I will submit my own mock draft for the State of Hockey, and feel free to chime on my selections. Since it is an important draft, I decided to step it up a notch and I purchased an International Scouting Service NHL Draft Guide for $60. As a person with a degree in history you cannot just rely on one source; so I will be using the draft guide as well as NHL Central Scouting and the Hockey News to augment my selections as well. A quick look at the CSS list and the ISS list and you will notice distinctive differences. What I am looking for in my 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 forward selections for the Minnesota Wild. FORWARDS: 1. Scott Glennie - Center (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL)Height: 6'1" Weight: 182lbs Shoots: Right Stats: 55GP 28G 42A = 70pts 25 PIM'sISS Rank: #20 CSS Rank: #7 North American The Hockey News' Rank: #14Talent Analysis: Glennie is a high-octane forward who has great offensive awareness. Reports vary as to his skating ability (from excellent to above average depending on what you read), but he can make plays very well at top speed and in the high traffic areas. He is a dual threat who can make things happen by setting up teammates with his deft passes or by lighting the lamp with his quick release. He must work on his strength as well as his defensive game to be effective at the NHL level. The Winnipeg, Manitoba-native is not a physical player but demonstrated great resilience after breaking his elbow mid-season this year to rally back towards the home stretch of the season. Bottom Line: He projects to be a top-six forward who has great hockey instincts in the offensive zone who would give Minnesota the up-tempo dual threat it could so desperately use. 2. Landon Ferraro - Right Wing (Red Deer Rebels, WHL)Height: 5'11" Weight: 165lbs Shoots: Right Stats: 68GP 37G 18A = 55pts 99 PIM'sISS Rank: #17 CSS Rank: #18 North American The Hockey News' Rank: #28Talent Analysis: The son of former NHL'er Ray Ferraro, the similarly sized winger definitely has the same scoring touch his dad did, scoring 37 goals on a terrible Red Deer team. He demonstrated an ability to remain positive despite being on a team that struggled to win games which is a testament to his character. While he may be described as a streaky scorer one thing that is always consistent is his effort. He possesses a wicked release, but has also shown a propensity for having good touch near the crease as well. Ferraro is a tremendous skater, who loves to shoot the puck and is very responsible defensively as well. Like Glennie, he is not a physical player and he will need to improve his strength to be effective at the next level. The Burnaby, British Columbia-native is expected to have a huge year on a much-improved Red Deer squad next season. Bottom Line: He is a player with a strong desire to score goals, who can excel at both ends of the ice and will be a top six forward at the NHL level. 3. Jordan Schroeder - Right Wing (University of Minnesota, WCHA)Height: 5'8" Weight: 175lbs Shoots: Right Stats: 35GP 13G 32A = 45pts 29 PIM'sISS Rank: #14 CSS Rank: #5 North American The Hockey News' Rank: #9Talent Analysis: Minnesota fans are very familiar with this Golden Gopher's skillset as he lived up to the hype with a strong freshman season. Schroeder is an excellent skater with outstanding hockey sense. While Gopher fans hoped he'd score more goals, he demonstrated an ability to make things happen with great playmaking ability and on-ice vision. Some scouts think his small stature will be a hindrance at the pro level he may have assuaged some of that by showing some great strength at the combine where he tied for second with 17 reps at 150lbs. Defensively he's average but was not asked to really play that role on the offensively-minded Gophers. The Prior Lake, Minnesota-native was criticized for not showing the same level of play against the tougher teams at the U-20 World Junior Championships the way he did against weaker squads, but he is a great talent and some Minnesota fans want the Wild to select him because he is indeed a talented Minnesota-born player. Bottom Line: Schroeder is a skilled playmaker with uncanny offensive instincts who might be gone by the time the Wild make their pick. 4. Jacob Josefson - Center (Djurgarden, Eliteserien-SWE)Height: 6'0" Weight: 187lbs Shoots: Left Stats: 50GP 5G 11A = 16pts 14 PIM'sISS Rank: #11 CSS Rank: #3 European The Hockey News' Rank: #15Talent Analysis: Is perhaps the best two-way player in the draft with excellent instincts at both ends of the ice. He is a good skater but does not have outstanding acceleration. Josefson's stats may not 'wow' you, but those totals were playing the Swedish Elite League while on the 4th line on a struggling Djurgarden team. Josefson is more of a playmaker than a goal scorer but does have a good shot. He plays a gritty style of game, where he excels in battles for the puck along the boards and loves to dish out hits. The Stockholm-native is an unselfish team player who is comfortable in a checking role or playing as part of a skilled line. He had a diminished performance at the U-20 World Junior Championships due to a stomach ailment. Bottom Line: He is a great two-way forward, a consumate team player who has great playmaking ability to put up points at the next level. 5. Peter Holland - Center (Guelph Storm, OHL)Height: 6'2" Weight: 182lbs Shoots: Left Stats: 68GP 28G 39A = 67pts 42 PIM'sISS Rank: #15 CSS Rank: #19 North American The Hockey News' Rank: #19Talent Analysis: Scouts love his size, athletic ability and his skill level but it is consistency that has been the limiting factor for the Caledon, Ontario-native. There seems to be mixed reports from scouts where some question his desire and sense of initiative while others feel his approach is more analytical as he tries to devise a better way to confront situations on the ice. At times with Guelph he was used as a power play quarterback where he distributed the puck effectively and does not hesitate to take chances to shoot the puck. He has above average ability in faceoffs which is an area the Wild would like to improve, and plays a responsible defensive game as well. Despite his good-sized frame he is not a physical player and believe he could be better served by driving to the net for goals. Bottom Line: Scouts believe he has the ability to be a 1st line NHL center, but must solve issues with consistency.