Minnesota Wild sign former 1st round pick and top prospect
We see all the time that a player will be drafted and absolutely light up the Junior levels, and unfortunately just cannot translate their game to the National Hockey League.
Thus far through his career, this is the story of Sam Steel.
Drafted 30th overall back in 2016 by the Anaheim Ducks, Steel was though to be a ''steal'' in the draft after he went on to score 131 points in 66 games in the WHL the year after he was drafted and also scored 9 points in 7 games at the World Juniors for Team Canada.
His rookie season in the NHL was actually fairly successful, scoring 11 points in 22 games, and also producing 20 games and 41 points in 53 AHL games. For a 20 year old playing against grown men for the first time, it was a pretty successful first campaign in professional hockey.
His following three seasons though, he did not continue to grow with the Ducks, he actually remained the most consistent goal scorer in the league as he scored 6 goals 4 years in a row.
The Ducks chose not to re-sign Steel this off-season and letting him go to free agency, where just today the Minnesota Wild swiped him up.
#mnwild announce they've signed Sam Steel to a one-year, $825k deal.� Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) August 30, 2022
Steel has shown on many occasions that he has the skill to play in the National Hockey League, but it has not worked in Anaheim, so perhaps a fresh start in Minnesota will see Steel finally break out of his shell.
| POLL | ||
30 AOUT | 129 ANSWERS Minnesota Wild sign former 1st round pick and top prospect Will Steel get better in Minnesota? | ||
| yes | 89 | 69 % |
| no | 40 | 31 % |
| List of polls | ||
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