Top-20 Espoirs - MINNESOTA NORTH STARS


	Top-20 des meilleurs espoirs NORTH STARS DU MINNESOTA Analyses de Scott Wheeler de The Athletic.
	1- Michael DiPietro Gardien 22 ans 6'0 201 lbs Repêché 106ie au total en 2017 par Vancouver.	" DiPietro has settled into a nice groove as a good (just shy of top) AHL goalie who is capable of stealing games when he’s on. He’s got rare athleticism that has been talked about for years, with explosiveness to his movements that gives him a unique (or close) ability to go post-to-post or low-to-high to make difficult saves. And while he’s small in stature for today’s goalies (6-foot), he has worked hard to add weight and fill out his frame to build on that athletic advantage, fill out the frame a little more, and develop himself without losing some of the quickness that defines his game. He has also always been a beloved teammate for his charismatic, high-energy personality. And while there are still times when mid-danger shots sneak through his body more than they should, or his activeness in the net puts him out of position, he has made enough progress on both fronts to continue to warrant belief in his NHL aspirations. "

	2- Aleksi Heimosalmi Défenseur 18 ans 5'11 170 lbs Repêché 34ie au total en 2021 par Minnesota.	" It can be hard to measure success for a player in Heimosalmi’s situation this year. He’s playing 17 minutes a night in the fifth-best pro league in the world as a teenager. But he’s also playing for one of the worst teams in that league and his results (underlying and raw counting stats) don’t favour him. None of that warrants strong determinations on what he is or what he’ll become one way or another. But it’s not as though he has taken off on a steep upward trajectory either. Heimosalmi’s game is built around his footwork, his insides edges, his pivots, and increasingly his speed in straight lines (the other stuff has always popped but he looks faster through his pushes this year too, which is great). His smooth four-way mobility can really catch your attention and he’s the kind of player who’s more likely to carry than pass if there’s open space available to him. He works the blue line effortlessly, navigating across and off of it to change looks, put opposing teams into scrambles, and open up his options. His ability to make opposing players behave like he wants them to really stands out and allows him to escape pressure, create entries, and then manage play inside the offensive zone. His skating also helps him play a stick-on-puck, disruptive style defensively. But he’s also on the smaller side for a defenceman and his puck skill and shooting don’t pop. His finished product may be something. It’s not around the next corner though. "

	3- Joel Blomqvist Gardien 19 ans 6'2 183 lbs Repêché 59ie au total en 2020 par Minnesota.	" Blomqvist, who only just turned 20 on Jan. 10, has a career save percentage above .920 in both Finland’s top junior league and Liiga, its top pro league. And while the Liiga sample remains small, the promise of his play there, especially as a teenager for almost all of it, is real. He’s not a big goalie (6-foot-2, 183 pounds) but he has grown in the last year and he uses the size he does have to play aggressively, challenging lines on shooters. And while I wouldn’t necessarily call him explosive as an athlete, he goes post-to-post and low-to-high quickly, using good tracking and fast movement to track pucks and get to his spots early so that he’s in control of his stance when the shot comes. There are times when that can break down and he can look a little scrambled, or he’ll let a routine shot squeak through his body, but those aren’t uncommon for young goalies. And on the whole, I’d qualify him as a technically sound goalie who does a good job squaring up on shots, making difficult saves, and anticipating play. "

	4- Sampo Ranta Ailier Gauche / Ailier Droit 21 ans 6'2 194 lbs Repêché 56ie au total en 2018 par Minnesota.	" Following a strong finish to his college career, Ranta has already established himself as a depth call-up option for the NHL team and an effective player for the AHL club. He plays a heavy, up-tempo style with impressive speed for his 200-plus pound 6-foot-2 frame. He’s a powerful north-south skater who can play in transition, shoot the puck, turn defenders, forecheck, and win races. His east-to-west game leaves a lot to be desired, though. He doesn’t use his linemates all that well and his game on the perimeter is limited beyond his cycle presence because he lacks creativity. He’s really good at his thing, though, and that thing has resulted in driving the interior and playing to the net with an aggressive mentality. He’s one of those players where when he’s on, he’s all over the place. The finer skills can lack finesse and touch but he has endearing qualities as a potential fourth liner. "

	5- Maxwell Crozier Défenseur 21 ans 6'2 194 lbs Repêché 137ie au total en 2019 par Minnesota.	" Crozier has grown on me gradually over his now two and a half seasons in college. He’s a huge part of what the Friars do at both ends thanks to progress made on his skating and the settling down of his decision-making to rein in some of his recklessness that once featured prominent in his game. He has also developed some softer skill to layer in some finesse to what was once characterized as a rigid game. His offensive game doesn’t pop but he’s now got good hands and improved fluidity in his skating alongside his already-heavy shot, which combine to give his game inside the offensive zone and in transition a little more substance. He’s still a difficult player to handicap in terms of NHL upside but he intrigues me as someone who has developed into more than the throwback type he used to be. "

	6- Samuel Johannesson Défenseur 21 ans 5'11 176 lbs Repêché 139ie au total en 2020 par Minnesota.	" After playing very limited minutes in his two prior seasons with a top Rogle team, Johannesson has taken on a slightly bigger role this year, averaging 13 and a half minutes a night (and much more than that of late). He’s the kind of player who could slide onto a third pairing in Cleveland tomorrow and be effective. He makes the first play he sees (and occasionally the long one), makes it smooth, and just goes about his business through repetition of simple executions. Defensively, he also plays within himself, reading offensive carriers well, forcing them wide, and then playing within his team’s structure to keep play to the outside in the defensive zone. I think there’s more skill there than he has been allowed to show in his role (he’s got some power play upside at mid-tier pro levels but he won’t be that guy if he ever makes it to the NHL) but there are questions about NHL upside with him because he’s not dynamic for his size (5-foot-11), he’s not physical, he’s not going to be a penalty killer, and he probably tops out as a good AHLer who fills in as a second or third call-up option but probably won’t ever play more than limited NHL minutes even if he does get past the AHL. I’d consider signing him and playing him in the AHL because I think he’s got more to show though. "

	7- Olivier Nadeau Ailier Droit / Centre 18 ans 6'2 198 lbs Repêché 103ie au total en 2021 par Minnesota.	" Nadeau’s a big, strong, puck-protection winger who controls the puck well, understands how to use his linemates, and has surprising finesse to his game. I like the way he works from the outside in, whether that’s taking the puck off the wall to the inside or waiting for a seam to open so that he can make a play through the centre of the ice from the perimeter. His acceleration from a standstill needs some work if he’s going to win the 10-foot races that are so common at the pro level and create like he has in junior. But I’ve seen progress there this year. He’s a top player in the QMJHL, he’s got desired size (6-foot-2, about 200 pounds), and he can make plays. He’s also playing a more forceful game this year (with and without the puck), which I think is a positive sign if he’s going to meet his third-line ceiling at the next level. I’m a fan. "