Chase Lang: 22nd best young Minnesota Wild player

Chase Lang has turned himself into quality two-way prospect. He remains a relatively unknown player, but has improved his production throughout his four seasons in the WHL. He enters the professional ranks this season after getting a small taste of the AHL late last season.

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have done a good job in recent years of finding very good players in the latter rounds of the draft. In 2014, they did so in the sixth round with the selection of center

Chase Lang

He began his junior career in a more defensive role. It showed in his stats, 14 goals and 22 assists in 112 games over his first two seasons for the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. His ability to play on the defensive side of the puck made the Wild take notice.

After entering the Wild organization, he began to elevate the offensive side of his game. Despite remaining in a more defensive role, he more than doubled both his goal and assist output while playing in five fewer games.

Then last season, his last season of junior eligibility, he told Wild.com at the 2015 development camp that he expected to play a greater role for the Hitmen that season. He responded by recording new career-highs in goals and assists while playing for both the Hitmen and Vancouver Giants.

Next: Minnesota Wild: World Cup of Hockey First Look

Dobber prospects is skeptical of Lang’s future in the professional ranks. Everything is accompanied with a “but.”

Hockey’s Future is less on the fence about his future, but still does not believe he has NHL offensive skills. They see his ceiling as on the third line with the ability to move up if necessary.

Wild assistant general manager Brent Flahr believes that a shutdown and penalty kill role will be where he is most successful.

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