Zack Mitchell is a late bloomer with low ceiling and high floor. The Minnesota Wild hope that the undrafted Canadian outplays his expectation. So far in two professional seasons, he has been among the leading scorers in Iowa.
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The
have had some success signing undrafted players.
is the next player hoping to prove to be a late bloomer.
Mitchell has been one of the better offensive players on the really bad Iowa Wild teams the last two seasons. He finished fourth in points as a first year pro in 2014-15 with 35 points, including second on the team with 17 goals. Last season, he led the team with 22 goals and 42 points.
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The 6-foot-1-inch tall and 194-pound right wing attended development camps for the
in 2012-13 and
the following offseason. Neither resulted in a contract offer and he returned to the Guelph Storm for an overage season.
He scored 31 goals and 52 assists and signed with the Wild after the completion of the Memorial Cup.
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Hockey’s Future projects that he will play a “lower line two-way forward” role and will be “capable of playing in any situation.” They praise his character, smarts and discipline. They are concerned with his “average skills and size” and call his skating and mobility “a work in progress.”
Mitchell may never become an elite nor high end NHL player, but should be no worse than fourth line player that can move up if needed. He has the ability to score in close and uses his high hockey-IQ to find holes the defense.