EHM The Blue Line

Most of you will know him from EHM, he captured my interest and so I'd like to hear his story. Tried google but didn't find anything of interest so I figured maybe one of the Canadian members of this site knows something?
How come he didn't get drafted with those stats he put up in the OHL? Some sort of off the ice trouble? Medical issues?

From HockeysFuture.com:

Ryan Wilson is proof that statistics alone are not enough to go on when evaluating a prospect. The 6’1, 212lb defenseman put up 13 goals and 37 points this season, to go along with 149 penalty minutes. That type of production from a player Wilson’s size is impressive considering his age. Unfortunately, the Windsor, Ontario native struggled defensively most of the season, as a result of being asked to do too much for a team that finished last in its division. Another consequence of his misuse was that Wilson was not able to work on his flaws.

Here's the link to the full profile:
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/ryan_wilson

Cheers,
CatchUp

I noticed that one when I googled his name, it is from his 2nd season in the OHL though, so it is well old.

God knows why he never got drafted to the NHL.
When I was in Canada on holiday, I would watch him play for Toronto St. Michael's Majors in the OHL. Every game myself and my father came away thinking he was the best player on the ice in all but one game (vs Brampton when Wojtek Wolski was). This was before I was playing EHM like crazy so I wasn't influenced by his in game skill! He can hit, shoot, and logged a lot of ice time every game. Scout reports I have read all say that his skating is iffy and that he makes mistakes defensively, but I don't remember ever thinking that was an issue. Even if it was, it would only stop him being a top 2 or at most top 4 NHL d-man and said him to bottom pairing. There were no off ice issues reported, no health problems, although some scouts blamed his coaches for using him so much as the go-to guy rather than using his ice-time to put him in situations he needed improvement in (ie. less powerplay time, more PK). The ISS called him the best undrafted 1986/87 prospect on their website, so obviously I'm not alone in thinking he was a great prospect. He has signed a contract with the Calgary Flames as a free agent now and is playing in Quad City for the AHL Flames. My family was sat at a Majors game once and all said "what a goal" when he scored a slapshot or something, and the people in front of us turned around and smiled - turns out they were his parents. Anyway, long incoherent post over, here's a nice clip for you that sums up his hitting game. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu8bzgi6WaI

He's playing for Quad City (under contract to Calgary) and not doing too bad. 2 goals 6 points, 18 PIMs in 14 games. Maybe he'll get the coaching he needs to overcome his skating and defensive deficiencies.

Maybe Wilson should adopt a new position of forward if he isn't the best on the defensive side of things...

Honestly, he never got drafted for one reason only. His skating is nowhere near good enough.He has never ever shown any interest in making it any better than it was. Maybe that will change in Quad City, but I doubt it. He has always believed that his skillset is good enough to get him where he wants to be. So far it has, if he wants to play as a 4-5 dman in the AHL, and maybe have to play in the ECHL.

He is nowehere near capable of keeping up even to an NHL team's 4th line. Unless he turns himself into a goon. He has no hope. He cannot make the plays he needs to, to succeed offensively in the NHL as it stands now. And at his size...without skating...he has no hope.

So Ryan needs to get it together and maybe not being drafted will help him realize his deficiences. However...I doubt it since he was not drafted at age 18, at age 19, and at age 20....

what will make him see the light? I dunno, maybe nothing. There are zillions of kids with puck skills out there that succeed at lower levels..and guess what? They play beer league, because that is the only place there skating will allow them to go. Knock knee is an extremely difficult habit to break once you start it...and for all players who have it...they can only succeed to the point where their skills, size and strength allow them too. Ryan is at that point. If he does not overcome it...no NHL for him.


And that goes for him as a forward or a dman. He cannot skate at the NHL level the way he is right now. (SAw him on internet somewhere from a package about 1 month ago....forget where)

Figured I'd bump this thread and point out that our old friend Ryan Wilson just got himself his first NHL point tonight!

Yay.. Always loved this guy in EHM as the prospect that came outta nowhere.

Ville Leino [x]
Ryan Wilson [x]

Who's next?