Season Preview: Brock Nelson

Brock Nelson

Position: C
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185 lbs
Birthdate: October 15, 1991 (19 years old)
Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Acquired: Draft, Round 1, 30rd overall, 2010 NHL Entry draft

2010-2011 Team: North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA)
2010-2011 Stats: 42 GP - 8 G - 13 A - 21 P - 27 PIM
2011-2012 Team: North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA)
Team Role: Top 9 Forward

Last year: Nelson had a very good freshman year for North Dakota, averaging half a point a game mostly playing in a third line role. Brock was also invited to play for the United States World Junior team around Christmas, in which he played 5 games but only had one assist despite being injured during the tournament. North Dakota made it to the Frozen Four last season, giving Nelson the opportunity to play for a national championship, but he was unfortunately injured there too leaving the NCAA Semifinals against Michigan on a stretcher. Injuries aside, 21 points is nothing to sneeze at for a freshman, so overall Nelson put a very solid season together.

Expectations: Nelson will enter his sophomore college season much improved. After seeing him this summer, it is clear he has hit the weight room. He gained muscle and speed, and will be expected to improve upon his freshman point total. It's unclear right now where Nelson will slot in, but it will certainly be in the top 3 lines. With high powered, small forwards like Danny Kristo and Mario Lamoureux, Nelson will provide an element of size and speed that the Sioux can certainly use going forward. Brock is still a few years away, but it's important that he continues his development curve as he is playing in a great program at UND. Now a younger team, Nelson may be forced to take on a leadership role earlier than expected.

Projections: 44 GP - 14 G - 17 A - 31 P

Thoughts:

CH: The Nelson pick really came out of nowhere back in 2010, as the Islanders slipped back very late in the first round to select him. He looked a little uncomfortable in his first prospect camp, but that was certainly not the case this past summer. During the scrimmage, he looked like a completely improved player. His skating was above average. His size is above average. He has a great nose for the net and playmaking ability. Working with Anders Lee, the two combined for a multitude of goals on the top line for the White team. I'm really looking forward to watching him develop, as he certainly has the tools to be a versatile NHL player. The only question is where his potential will take him. The Islanders may have uncovered a great prospect here, it's just going to take a little while to get there.

AT: Along with Anders Lee, his performance at the Blue and White scrimmage was absolutely astonished compared to what he'd shown previously at camps, and even more so astonishing seeing how horrifying his last injury was. After most of us saw the replays, we thought there was a chance he'd never be the same. Man, this crow is tasty. His playmaking ability and passing still need a bit of work, but they were by far improved upon what we'd seen previously. He's bigger, stronger, and ready for his sophomore year at UND. There was clearly a reason Garth traded up to get him, and I think we may have seen it.

Draft: Countdown #15 - Rocco Grimaldi

As part of our draft preview, we will be counting down the top 15 eligible players as per ISS. However, this may not represent our true rankings. We will have a Draft Preview podcast as well as our composite rankings to go along with the countdown. However, since the Islanders have a top 5 pick, we wanted to focus our attention mostly on the high end prospects that may be joining the organization come June 24. So here we go:

USHL Images

15. Rocco Grimaldi
Position: Center
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 163
Shoots: Right
DOB: February 8, 1993
Nationality: USA
2010/11 Team: US NTDP U-18
League: USHL
Stats: 23 GP - 12 G - 13 A - 25 P - 18 PIM (USHL)
6 GP - 2 G - 6 A - 8 P - 6 PIM (WJC U-18)


CH: Grimaldi has had a very up and down year. The American born player was ranked as high as 25 in CSB's mid-season rankings before falling to 32 in their final rankings. The ISS ranked him very high at #15 in their May rankings, which is what we are using for these previews. This is a perfect example of how wide open the 2011 Draft is going to be.

Getting back to Grimaldi; he is a very small forward at only 5'6". This is a huge reason why he has not solidified himself as a top prospect in the class. To say it would be a reach for the Islanders to take him at 5 would be an understatement. There is plenty of possibility, however, that he will be there for the team's second pick at #34. I don't see him as a prime candidate for the Islanders, however, as Snow has been taking players with size recently. I don't believe the Islanders drafted anyone under 6'0" last year, and that might have been the case in 2009 as well.

Grimaldi is a project with a very long-term outlook. He has committed to North Dakota for the 2011-12 season (and beyond), which shows he is nowhere near NHL ready. He would graduate in 2016, which means that if he even came out a year or two early, he's not looking at seeing the NHL game until at least 2013-14. Chances are it will be even after that.

AT: It's not as if players with a lack of size fail to succeed... one Theoren Fleury would disagree with that. But the Islanders have quick, speedy forwards in Grabner - and Grabner's 6'1". I just don't see the Isles going for Grimaldi as he doesn't seem to fit with the plan that they're going for at the moment. He'd be a great project for a team such as the Flames who aren't that powerful down the center.

Most likely draft position: Between picks 25-35