Mikael Granlund

History

2008-09: Mikael Granlund played for Karpat in the Finnish Junior "A" league.  In 35 games, he scored 21 goals and 36 assists for 57 points.  Played for Finland at both the U-20 and U-18 World Junior Championships.  In 6 games at the U-20, Granlund scored 2 goals and 1 assist for 3 points.  At the U-18 tournament, he scored 2 goals and added 11 assists for 13 points.

2009-10: Granlund played for HIFK in Finland's top league.  In 43 games, he scored 13 goals and added 27 assists for 40 points.  Granlund scored 1 goal and notched 5 assists in 6 playoff games.  Granlund once again represented Finland at both the U-20 and U-18 World Junior Championships.  In 6 games at the U-20, Granlund scored 1 goal and added 6 assists for 7 points.  At the U-18, he netted 4 goals and added 9 assists for 13 points in 6 games.

2010-11: Granlund's highlight reel goal for Finland at the 2011 IIHF World Championship was perhaps the most memorable moment in a season in which he won championships in Finland's SM-Liiga and with Team Finland. Granlund skated in 39 games in his second season with HIFK in the SM-Liiga – missing time due to a concussion. Playing alongside former NHLer Ville Peltonen, he scored 8 goals with 28 assists and was +6 with 14 PMs. In 15 playoff games he scored 5 goals with 11 assists and was +2 with 4 PMs as HIFK won the Kanada Cup. Granlund was unable to play in the 2011 U20 World Junior Championship in January but played for Finland's mens national team as a 19-year old. In nine games he scored 2 goals with 7 assists and Finland defeated Sweden to win its first world title since 1995.

2011-12: Granlund was the leading scorer for HIFK Helsinki in Finland's SM-Liiga as a 19-year-old and represented Finland in the 2012 IIHF World Championship and U20 World Junior Championship tournaments. He scored 20 goals with 31 assists and was plus-20 with 18 penalty minutes in 45 regular season games and was minus-two with 2 assists in four playoff games for HIFK. Skating for the host team Finland at the World Championship, he scored 1 goal with 4 assists in five games. Finland finished fourth; falling to the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game. Finland was also fourth at the WJC and Granlund was tied with Sweden's Max Friberg (ANA) for second among all scorers with 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists) in seven games. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Wild in May, 2012.

2012-13: Granlund had a challenging first season in North America — suffering an ankle injury with the AHL's Houston Aeros during the lockout in addition to the expected travails of a 20-year-old NHL rookie from Europe. He skated in 19 games with Minnesota following the lockout (being a healthy scratch at times) before being sent back to the AHL in March. Granlund was re-called in April and in 27 games with the Wild he scored 2 goals with 6 assists and was -4 with 6 penalty minutes. He did not play in the playoff series with Chicago. Granlund scored 4 goals with 8 assists in his first eight games with Houston before the injury and finished the year with 10 goals and 18 assists in 29 games and was -1 with 8 penalty minutes. Houston was fourth in the South Division. Granlund scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was -2 with 4 penalty minutes in five playoff games. He ended the year playing for Finland in the IIHF World championship: scoring 1 goal with 2 assists in four games for Team Finland. He assisted on both Finland goals in the 3-2 shootout loss to the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game.

Talent Analysis

A superlative playmaker and puckhandler, Granlund's upside seems to be that of an NHL All-Star.

Future

After a disappointing North American pro debut, Granlund should hit the ground running in 2013-14. No longer blocked for a top-six slot with the Wild, he should see far more power play time and better linemates than he did in his rookie year. Granlund is expected to be a major offensive contributor at the NHL level.