Winter Drafted 3rd Overall by the Minnesota Chiefs

In the end, it all worked out. David Winter had wanted to go to the Chiefs all along and the team out of Minnesota had their eyes set on Winter for weeks as well. So it came as no surprise when Chiefs-GM Jon Doran and Co-GM Brodie Witzel stepped to the podium and announced: “The Minnesota Chiefs are proud to select, from the Prince George Firebirds of the NWJHL, David Winter!”


David Winter, S7 3rd Overall Pick, Minnesota Chiefs

A bit more surprising, at least compared to the situation a few days ago, was that the Chiefs had their first pick that early. They were the 3rd team to announce their selection, only Elias Armia (Edmonton) and Rashad Thomas Winnipeg) had heard their names called prior. David Winter as the 3rd Overall Pick? A lot of Scouts, Analysts and Fans were wondering if this was a wise choice. Winter had been seen as a mid-to-late 1st Rounder, who could even drop to the 2nd round, and now he was one of the top-picks of the S7-Draft. He didn’t have an impressive junior-season scoring wise, yet the Chiefs traded up not once, but twice to make sure they got the German Forward, moving up from #9 to #5 and then to #3. The trust that the Chiefs are putting in their newest member will put a lot of pressure on him, but that’s not something Winter worries about right now.


Whoooaaa, Free Hat!

“I couldn’t be happier! The Chiefs were the team I wanted to go to all along and it’s just awesome that it all worked out”, Winter told the media in his Post-Draft Interview. “I was so overwhelmed by how committed they were to get me prior to the draft. I only heard great things about the organization and the interviews I had with them confirmed everything I had heard. There are so many awesome guys on this team and it will be an honor for me to play with them. That they even traded up to make sure that I was still available is… well, I can’t even find the right words… It just shows that this is the right place for me and that I will be very happy here. Now it is my turn to give something back and give everything for this great organization!”
Winter knows though, that a lot of people don’t think it was a good decision to pick him so early. “I want to say I don’t care, but that just isn’t true. Of course it bothers me that people question the pick and think the Chiefs made a mistake by trading up and selecting me. But I will try to take this as an extra-motivation to prove these people wrong.” Even Winter can’t deny that it was a bit of a reach that he was selected this early. He hasn’t been a Top-5 Forward in any of the Pre-Draft Rankings, was very low in Most Mock-Drafts until the day of the Draft and now isn’t one of the best-rated picks in the Post-Draft-Articles either. “I understand where those people are coming from, I’m not the most flashy player and other guys have been more impressive in Juniors”, Winter admits. “But I try to compensate this with a great work-ethic and a good attitude and I think that’s what Minnesota recognized.”


David Winter talking to his new GM Jon Doran and Co-GM Brodie Witzel.

Being surrounded by players like close friend Christoph Klose and former Junior-Co-GM Zach Miller, as well as a GM-crew that puts a lot of trust into him, isn’t the only thing that will make David Winter very happy in Minnesota the next few years. The other thing is his new Entry-Level-Contract, that he just signed. It will pay him 4 million per year for the next three seasons, just an average salary for an SHLer, but a lot of money for a guy from a country like Germany, where hockey-players are happy if they make a few hundert-thousand bucks. “When I saw the contract I was about to sign for the first time, I couldn’t really believe it”, Winter stated, “I haven’t been close to this much money ever before in my life. I know there are some dangers to suddenly having this kind of material wealth without having accomplished much yet. But I will try to be responsible with it and this money also gives me a change to pay those people and communities back that have helped me so much in my life. I’ll try to build a program to support junior-players in Germany and help them make the jump to North-America, if they want to and I also hope that I can give something back to all those amazing people in Prince George, who have made my first year in North America such a pleasant experience.” It is also rumored that Winter’s parents will move to a new, bigger house in Germany very soon, but the player didn’t want to comment on that.


Here I am! Now could I get a Chiefs-jersey please?

Being picked by the Minnesota Chiefs in the Draft wasn’t the only big news for David Winter this weekend. Just hours before the Edmonton Comets opened the draft with their 1st Overall selection, Winter was informed that he’ll represent Team UK at this year’s World Championships. “It’s terrific, but with all the buzz about the draft the past few days, I had almost no time to reflect on this. I mean, I haven’t played a single SHL-game yet and will already get the opportunity to represent my country, I probably still need some time to realize all this”, Winter commented after the release of Team UKs roster. “I’ll probably only play on the 4th line, but I’m fine with that. There are so many talented and awesome players on this team, I’ll be happy to be in their shadow and get the chance to learn from them.” The fact that Winter was named to Team UK is even more impressive, if you consider that he didn’t even make the WJC-squad for his country this season. From a not-good-enough-junior to a guy who can play with the pros: The IHF-selections are a pretty good mirror on how Winter’s status among the hockey-world has changed within the last few months.


David Winter carrying Team UK’s colors. Well, kind of.

Winter will also meet another familiar face on the ice, when he suits up for the Chiefs for the first team. With the 16th Overall selection, their only other pick this year, the Chiefs drafted Winter’s junior teammate Gene Parmesan. And Winter had nothing but good things to say about the Canadian Defenseman: “Gene was a very underrated player before the draft, a lot of people probably didn’t even knew who he was, when the Chiefs announced they picked him. But I know that he is a great and dedicated player who does everything to help his team be successful. He was a great locker-room guy and a leader on the ice in Prince George and I think he has the potential to become the same kind of player here in Minnesota. I’m very happy that I’ll get to play with him again!”
Parmesan and Winter weren’t the only former Firebirds selected in this year’s draft. Despite the fact that Prince George didn’t make the finals in the NWJHL this year, the great work of their GMs was awarded in the draft, where the Firebirds arguably provided the most quality of all NWJHL-teams: Five Firebirds were picked in the first two rounds, which means that 25% of the top-prospects came out of Prince George. An impressive mark and something, that makes Winter very happy too: “If you look at the talent our GMs Fisher and Miller found in the NWJHL-draft and via Free Agency, it’s really impressive. Congratulations to Tobias Funke, Julien Dupont, Frank Jiao, Gene Parmesan and all my other former teammates who have been drafted, I hope you all have great careers!”

Words: 1363

Images: 5

Evan Winter
Edmonton Blizzard
Player Page - Update Page

Awesome read, great work!

Dont worry about the pressure, our goal is to win it all this season and with you we will do it. Glad to have you on board.

(And you should finally have LR access within the day)

Awesome read! Glad to have you here in Minnesota!

No mention of me, ok I see how it is. I'm not passing to you...you're on the Spezza no pass list

:lol: JK bud, welcome to Minnesota!

The Chiefs kind of had to make some of those moves when they did. If the draft had stayed as it was initially, I had 5/6, and the picks in front of me stayed as they were (giving either Johansen or Vatty to Edmonton at 3) there's a decent chance you'd be in a Rage uniform.

Where the difference lies is that after Belmont, I wanted any of the top tier wingers, whereas Minnesota specifically wanted you ahead of everyone. I had you up there, but I had you/Belmont/Thomas/Wagner/Aseplin all there and they had you specifically.

Good read, hope to face you on the ice soon

Originally posted by diamond_ace@Jan 1 2012, 09:07 PM
The Chiefs kind of had to make some of those moves when they did. If the draft had stayed as it was initially, I had 5/6, and the picks in front of me stayed as they were (giving either Johansen or Vatty to Edmonton at 3) there's a decent chance you'd be in a Rage uniform.

Where the difference lies is that after Belmont, I wanted any of the top tier wingers, whereas Minnesota specifically wanted you ahead of everyone. I had you up there, but I had you/Belmont/Thomas/Wagner/Aseplin all there and they had you specifically.

If the Chiefs would've stayed at #9, I think their chance of picking me would've been pretty slim... The Rage and I think three other teams picking before the Chiefs had at least shown some interest and I think it would've been likely that I would've gone to one of them.

Evan Winter
Edmonton Blizzard
Player Page - Update Page

David, Congrats on the 3rd selection, you definitely deserved it and I couldn't think of a better all around teammate than you to go into the Chiefs organization!

#40 Niclas Wastlund - W - VANCOUVER WHALERS / TORONTO NORTH STARS


NICLAS WASTLUND | HOF GM (LAP) - 1080 - 800 -178
Name: Niclas Wastlund
Age: 61
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 235 lbs
Number: 77
Birthplace: Hudiksvall, Sweden
Birthday: July 16th
------------------------------------------------------------
EEL Career Statistics
S1 STHLM: GP: 60 || G: 4 || A: 20 || P: 24 || +/-: 13 || PIMS: 112 || H: 133 || SB: 100
------------------------------------------------------------
NWJHL Career Statistics
S7 VAN: GP: 38 || G: 5 || A: 22 || P: 27 || +/-: 18 || PIMS: 22 || H: 63 || SB: 50
------------------------------------------------------------
SHL Career Statistics
S8 MIN: GP: 45 || G: 2 || A: 15 || P: 17 || +/-: 10 || PIMS: 81 || H: 54 || SB: 38 || TA: 23
S9 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 9 || A: 24|| P: 33 || +/-: 17 || PIMS: 95 || H: 116 || SB: 37 || TA: 60
S10 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 25 || A: 33 || P: 58 || +/-: 25 || PIMS: 62 || H: 136 || SB: 44 || TA: 38
S11 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 29 || A: 27 || P: 56 || +/-: 48 || PIMS: 31 || H: 194 || SB: 52 || TA: 41
S12 MIN: GP: 27 || G: 4 || A: 19 || P: 23 || +/-: 2 || PIMS: 31 || H: 60 || SB: 20 || TA: 00
S13 MIN: GP: 50 || G: 7 || A: 33 || P: 40 || +/-: 11 || PIMS: 57 || H: 91 || SB: 67 || TA: 0
------------------------------------------------------------
SHL Playoff Statistics
S8 MIN: GP: 12 || G: 1 || A: 5 || P: 6 || +/-: 2 || PIMS: 18 || H: 7 || SB: 14 || TA: 5
S9 MIN: GP: 7 || G: 1 || A: 1 || P: 2 || +/-: -3 || PIMS: 2 || H: 16 || SB: 6 || TA: 6
S10 MIN: GP: 21 || G: 6 || A: 5 || P: 11 || +/-: 5 || PIMS: 10 || H: 69 || SB: 14 || TA: 22
S11 MIN: GP: 11 || G: 5 || A: 3 || P: 8 || +/-: -8 || PIMS: 8 || H: 46 || SB: 12 || TA: 9
S12 MIN: GP: 15 || G: 1 || A: 13 || P: 14 || +/-: 5 || PIMS: 16 || H: 32 || SB: 9 || TA: NA
S13 MIN: GP: 9 || G: 2 || A: 8 || P: 10 || +/-: 0 || PIMS: 2 || H: 22 || SB: 20 || TA: NA
------------------------------------------------------------
SHL General Manager Record
S15 LAP: W: 20 || L: 24 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 46 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S16 LAP: W: 33 || L: 15 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 68 || RESULT: 1st WEST  - LOST in 1st Round to EDM
S17 LAP: W: 29 || L: 16 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 63 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - CHALLENGE CUP CHAMPIONS 
S18 LAP: W: 25 || L: 23 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 52 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S19 LAP: W: 27 || L: 17 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 60 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST in 1st Round to SEA
S20 LAP: W: 26 || L: 15 || OTL: 9 ||  PTS: 61 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST in 1st Round to TEX
S21 LAP: W: 26 || L: 19 || OTL: 7 ||  PTS: 59 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST 1st Round to TEX
S22 LAP: W: 33 || L: 13 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 72 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST in Challenge Cup Finals to MAN
S23 LAP: W: 30 || L: 18 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 64 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST 1st Round to SEA
S24 LAP: W: 31 || L: 12 || OTL: 9 ||  PTS: 71 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST in Challenge Cup Finals to HAM
S25 LAP: W: 25 || L: 20 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S26 LAP: W: 26 || L: 22 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 54 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S27 LAP: W: 26 || L: 20 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 56 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S28 LAP: W: 26 || L: 17 || OTL: 7 ||  PTS: 59 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S29 LAP: W: 16 || L: 31 || OTL: 3 ||  PTS: 35 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S30 LAP: W: 22 || L: 25 || OTL: 3 ||  PTS: 47 || RESULT: 6th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S31 LAP: W: 27 || L: 22 || OTL: 1 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S32 LAP: W: 38 || L: 10 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 78 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST 1st Round to CAL
S33 LAP: W: 29 || L: 16 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 63 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST 2nd Round to CAL
S34 LAP: W: 30 || L: 12 || OTL: 8 ||  PTS: 68 || RESULT: 1st WEST - LOST 1st Round to TEX
S35 LAP: W: 28 || L: 18 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 60 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST 1st Round to POR
S36 LAP: W: 24 || L: 22 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 52 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S37 LAP: W: 25 || L: 20 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S38 LAP: W: 20 || L: 26 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 44 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S39 LAP: W: 25 || L: 19 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 56 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST Challenge Cup Final to MIN
S40 LAP: W: 25 || L: 18 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 57 || RESULT: 5th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S41 LAP: W: 33 || L: 13 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 70 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST Challenge Cup Final to WKP
S42 LAP: W: 28 || L: 22 || OTL: 0 ||  PTS: 56 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST 1st Round to EDM
S43 LAP: W: 28 || L: 20 || OTL: 2 ||  PTS: 58 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - LOST 2nd Round to WPG
S44 LAP: W: 30 || L: 16 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 64 || RESULT: 2nd WEST - LOST 1st Round to WPG
S45 LAP: W: 24 || L: 20 || OTL: 6 ||  PTS: 54 || RESULT: 4th WEST - LOST 1st Round to EDM
S46 LAP: W: 25 || L: 20 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 55 || RESULT: 3rd WEST - 2nd in Southwest -
S47 LAP: W: 20 || L: 25 || OTL: 5 ||  PTS: 45 || RESULT: 7th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S48 LAP: W: 20 || L: 29 || OTL: 1 ||  PTS: 41 || RESULT: 8th WEST - MISSED PLAYOFFS
S49 LAP: W: 21 || L: 19 || OTL: 10 ||  PTS: 52 || RESULT: 5th WEST - LOST Wildcard Round to EDM
S50 LAP: W: 26 || L: 23 || OTL: 1 ||  PTS: 53 || RESULT: 5th WEST - LOST Wildcard Round to CAL
S51 LAP: W: 21 || L: 25 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 46 || RESULT: 5th WEST - LOST Western Conference Finals to EDM
S52 LAP: W: 25 || L: 21 || OTL: 4 ||  PTS: 54 || RESULT: 4th WEST -
S53 LAP: W: 00 || L: 00 || OTL: 0 ||  PTS: 00 || RESULT: ??? WEST -
Total Record: W: 991 || L:  743 || OTL: 170  || TOTAL: 1,904
------------------------------------------------------------
Transactions:
Drafted 11th overall by Stockholm in the S1 EEL Draft
Drafted 7th Overall by Vancouver in EEL Supplemental Draft
Drafted 4th Overall by Minnesota in the S8 SHL Draft
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accomplishments:
Named S1 Stampede Team Captain
Season 1 EEL All-Star Selection 
Named S7 Vancouver Alternate Captain
S7 Raymond Lindsay Award Winner (Fan voted League MVP)
Season 7 NWJHL All-Star Selection - 1st Overall in Fantasy Draft
1st Defenseman Taken in the S8 Draft
GM of Team Sweden at the S8 WJC
Team Sweden - Gold Medal Winner S8 WJC
S8 SHL All-Star
S9 SHL All-Star
S10 SHL All-Star - Voted #2 Starting D
S11 SHL All-Star - Voted #1 Starting D
S13 SHL All-Star
S9 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
S10 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
S11 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
S12 Minnesota Chiefs Alternate Captain
Team Sweden - S10 Olympic Team Captain
S10 Challenge Cup Champion - Minnesota Chiefs
S12 Challenge Cup Champion - Minnesota Chiefs
S10 Stevens Trophy Runner-Up
Vancouver Whalers' Top D-Man Trophy named "Niclas Wastlund Trophy"
** Suspended for 25 games in S12.
League Record for Best Plus/Minus in S11 for +48
Hired as Los Angeles Panthers GM - S15
Won Western Conference Title - S16
S17 Challenge Cup Champion - GM LA Panthers
S17 JJ Krever Award Winner (Top GM)
S22 Clarence Campbell Trophy Winner
S23 President's Trophy Award Winner
S24 President's Trophy Award Winner
S32 President's Trophy Award Winner
S32 Lance Uppercut Trophy Award Winner (Top GM)
S32 Joe McKeil Trophy Award Winner (Top Coach)
S34 Joe McKeil Trophy Award Winner (Top Coach)
S42 Joe McKeil Trophy Award Winner (Top Coach)
S43 Game 331 - 4-1 WIN v.s Toronto North Stars - 778th Win - 1st to hit this mark - Most Wins as a GM in SHL History
--------------------------------------------------
Contract:
Signed 3yr/10.5M Contract in S8 with NTC.
Signed 5yr/18M Contract Extension in S10 with NTC
Retired S13
Retired as LA Panthers GM After the S55 Season

Originally posted by City Of Walrus@Jan 1 2012, 09:32 PM
David, Congrats on the 3rd selection, you definitely deserved it and I couldn't think of a better all around teammate than you to go into the Chiefs organization!

Thanks !

And I'm so happy you went in the 1st round after some people seemed to forget about you, you really deserve being an early pick!

Evan Winter
Edmonton Blizzard
Player Page - Update Page

Great article, buddy. Looking forward to seeing you on the simulation ice!

GoB's Writing Thread

Originally posted by WiTzzEL@Jan 1 2012, 02:26 PM
Dont worry about the pressure, our goal is to win it all this season

Cup stays in the West, let us bet money on it