Article: What Can the Wild Expect From Their First-Round Pick?

[Justin Hein]

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[Protec]

I’m looking at Riley Heidt even though not too big. I don’t think Moore or Danielson are there at 21st.

I've got a feeling Brackett goes for Molgaard though. Trying to prove guruism. I would like it if they could get him in the 2nd round. Maybe they could wheel a trade to bump up from 53rd using their other 2nd. Perhaps they could move Zuccarello and pick up a third 2nd rounder to target centers between 21st and 53rd overall? That’d be pretty sweet.
 

Normally I’m not suggesting elite Swede solutions but a center playing SHL in their draft year is pretty good. Maybe the Wild could get him 53rd.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

1 hour ago, Protec said:

looking at Riley Heidt even though not too big.

Looks like he is a smallish C prospect who's very good at skating and passing, although less dangerous as a primary goal scorer. In short, similar to Rossi.

Sounds like Moore will go top 15. Heidt could end up close to the Wild selection. Danielson is less certain to go top 15 and might also be close to where the Wild select.

I suspect the Wild may have eyes on forwards like Danielson or Colby Barlow if either is there at #21. Honzek or Koehn Ziemmer may also get long looks(particularly if they should trade back with the Blues to get an extra 1st).

Don't know if they'll be coveting D given that they have a number of quality prospects there already, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

 

[Tony Abbott]

Honestly, I'd say they have more quality forward prospects than D. 

[vonlonster67]

Justen, looks like you did a deep dive, but forgot one important element? Who's doing the picking? If you watched the game winning goal last night you'll see a player who was picked  in 2021 by Dallas in the 1st round (23rd overall) Wyatt Johnston.

I have TWO WORDS for you: Judd Brackett 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

30 minutes ago, Tony Abbott said:

I'd say they have more quality forward prospects than D.

I can understand that, particularly if you say Faber is no longer in the prospect pool. Of the top 14 skaters in the prospect pool listed by the Athletic, 6 of them were D with 8 forwards.

Considering teams generally suit up twice as many forwards as defensemen, it seems somewhat skewed towards defensemen on raw numbers, but if you take Faber out of the mix, it does leave 5 of the remaining top 6 as forwards, so you could probably make a case either way.

I notice that Hunter Haight, Mike Milne, and Kyle Masters also did not make the top 15, so feelings on those guys could also alter someone's perception.

After the Wild dropped to 22nd in scoring this season, I think many might be leaning towards skilled forwards with some size, but getting the best player is ideal regardless of position, if the Wild can identify the best prospects.

The draft lists all vary substantially, and individual NHL teams are likely to vary significantly from any online draft board, so hard to know for sure who will be there when the Wild draft. I imagine there will be some quality D prospects late in the 1st as well.

1	Jesper Wallstedt	G	20	Iowa
2	Marco Rossi	C	21	Iowa/Minnesota
3	Liam Ohgren	LW	18	Djurgarden
4	Danila Yurov	RW/LW	19	Magnitogorsk
5	Brock Faber	RHD	20	Minnesota
6	Carson Lambos	LHD	20	Winnipeg
7	Marat Khusnutdinov	C	20	St. Petersburg
8	Jack Peart	LHD	19	St. Cloud State
9	Adam Beckman	LW	21	Iowa
10	David Spacek	RHD	19	Sherbrooke
11	Caedan Bankier	C/LW	20	Kamloops
12	Rieger Lorenz	LW	18	Denver
13	Daemon Hunt	LHD	20	Iowa
14	Ryan O’Rourke	LHD	20	Iowa
15	Servac Petrovsky	C	18	Owen Sound

[Protec]

Quote

Looks like he is a smallish C prospect who's very good at skating and passing, although less dangerous as a primary goal scorer. In short, similar to Rossi.

Perhaps depending on where you look. I see him listed closer to 6’ than Rossi and heavier with more grit. Tied with Bedard for assists in the WHL so not crazy to suggest he’s similar to Rossi but I would argue NA kids who come from SK and played their way onto WHL teams have a different quality. Jarvis was almost the same exact type of player from the WHL. Brayden Point too, Barzal too. I am just saying the Wild’s position at 21st could put them between the bigger top tier guys and the bigger bodied second tier talent guys like Danny Nelson or perhaps Calum Ritchie.

I’m with you on the contradiction between ragging on little Euro players only to suggest a 5’10”/5’11” guy. Ultimately, the Wild would wanna target guys who are big and can skate. That’s not a teachable thing necessarily. Equally important for me is the guy’s determination level. Going gets tough factor so to speak. 
 

Looking at how the Wild got burned in 2020 and how Wyatt Johnston who was selected just after the Wild took Wallstedt it’s evidence to me that the Wild should go hard on centers who can skate. Hintz is another one the Wild didn’t get cause somebody traded the picks away and now these fast players who can really wheel are burning the Wild while we wait for players to develop and lick our wounds from shitty GM decisions and so-called draft gurus...

[Imyourhuckleberry]

Dallas has had some big hits in the draft the last 8 years, getting Hintz one pick prior to Greenway in 2015.

The 2017 draft really set them up nicely when they added Heiskanen at #3(finished the prior season as the 7th worst team and moved up via lottery), then added Oettinger at #26 and Jason Robertson at #39.

Colorado was by far the worst team in the league that 2016-2017 year, so had to settle for Cale Makar at #4 when 3 teams jumped ahead of them in the lottery--Flyers really botched that one. After adding Landeskog(#2 overall) in 2011, MacKinnon(#1) in 2013, and Rantanen(#10) in 2015, Makar was the last elite player they needed to develop into a powerhouse.

The 2017 draft is the year of the Hanzal torpedo. Not only did he ruin the team chemistry, he also cost them their 1st and 2nd round picks, eliminating the opportunity to draft Oettinger or Robertson. I like Mason Shaw, but if he's the most you got from a draft, it wasn't the best draft year for your club.

I believe Dallas drafted well the last 2 years as well. While Wyatt Johnston is the only surefire NHLer of them so far, they added a lot of prospect talent.

For Guerin, adding Addison and Lambos for Zucker may end up looking great a few years down the road. Moving Fiala for Faber and Ohgren might look like a gem in a few years as well. I have trouble faulting them for taking Wallstedt over Wyatt Johnston. Johnston seemed a great prospect and is looking good for his age with a very solid veteran cast around him, but Wallstedt was projected top 10 and may develop into a cup-level goalie.

[Mateo3xm]

These are some of the players I really like in no particular order.

What are people’s thought on the upcoming draft? Who do you guys want and why?

Most are centers and one Defenseman. I really hope it’s a center that they pick with some size. Would be fantastic if they could get 2 big and talented Centers and one more big Dman in the 1st through 3rd round.

 

This draft is stacked I almost wish they’d trade a player to get another 2nd.

 

Nate Danielson C 6’1, R, Proj 8th to 26th

78pts in Whl

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/562426/nate-danielson

Pros:

-fast, intelligent center with no obvious flaws in his game.

-very safe pick

Cons:

• Aggressiveness
• Consistency

Compared to Yanni Gourde

 

 

Riley Heidt F/C 5’11, L Proj 11th to 51st

97pts in Whl

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/565748/riley-heidt

Pros:

-speed 

-very good shot

-compete level

Cons

-composure in big game 

-size

 

 

Brayden Yager C/W 6’0, R Proj 7th to 25th

78pts in Whl

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/565757/brayden-yager

Pros:

-very good shot

-compete level

-two way

Cons:

-passing

-playmaking

-ok skating

 

 

Calum Ritchie C 6’2, R Proj 10th to 28th

59pts in Whl 

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/603108/calum-ritchie

Pros:

-IQ

-size

-stick work

-hard shot 

Cons

-unselfish almost to a flaw

-overall offensive ability 

-speed

-inconsistent 

 

 

Samuel Honzek C/W, 6’4, L Proj 9th to 29th

56pts

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/578968/samuel-honzek

Pros:

-Good edges and speed for his size

-size

-Offense

Cons:

-defensive game

-work ethic

-prob more winger than C

 

 

Matt wood C/RW 6’3, R Proj 11th to 31st

34pts in NCAA

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/603587/matthew-wood

Pros:

-PPG as freshman in NCAA 

-Size

-Soft hands and great shot

-Work ethic and maturity

Cons:

-Speed, acceleration 

-Raw

-more winger than C

 

 

Ryan Leonard C 5’11, R Proj 7th to 25th

94pts in NDTP

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/603021/ryan-leonard

Pros:

-versatility, very good at C, lw and rw

-two way

-speed

-good offense 

Cons:

-size

-Proj as more of winger by some

 

Charlie Stramel F 6’3, R Proj 21st to 43rd

12pts NCAA

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/623837/charlie-stramel

Pros: 

-Size and speed for his size

-physicality and good defensively 

-power forward with strong hockey IQ and work ethic

Cons:

-inconsistent 

-acceleration, takes time to reach top speed

-playmaking

 

 

Lukas Dragicevic RHD 6’2, Proj 16th to 50th

75pts Whl

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/529817/lukas-dragicevic

Pros:

-Size, passing and skating

-Durable and confident 

-Skilled

Cons:

-Takes to many chances

-defensive play

-started playing defense in 2020

 

David Enstrom C 6’3, L Proj 22nd to 60th

4pts in 11games SHL, 

https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/608308/david-edstrom

Pros:

-Big two way Center

-compete level, hard worker

-good skater for size

Cons:

-not offensively flashy

Comparable Nhl player: Joel Eriksson Ek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mateo3xm]

12 hours ago, Protec said:

I’m looking at Riley Heidt even though not too big. I don’t think Moore or Danielson are there at 21st.

I've got a feeling Brackett goes for Molgaard though. Trying to prove guruism. I would like it if they could get him in the 2nd round. Maybe they could wheel a trade to bump up from 53rd using their other 2nd. Perhaps they could move Zuccarello and pick up a third 2nd rounder to target centers between 21st and 53rd overall? That’d be pretty sweet.
 

Normally I’m not suggesting elite Swede solutions but a center playing SHL in their draft year is pretty good. Maybe the Wild could get him 53rd.

I don’t see anything particularly great with Molgaard. He’s projected to go in the mid 2nd round.

if he picked him in the first it would be a travesty.

7pts in 41 games isn’t really impressive to me.

David Enstrom had 4pts in 11 games and he’s 6’3.

there should be much better options in the 1st round, even in the 2nd I would think.

 

[Mateo3xm]

10 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Looks like he is a smallish C prospect who's very good at skating and passing, although less dangerous as a primary goal scorer. In short, similar to Rossi.

Sounds like Moore will go top 15. Heidt could end up close to the Wild selection. Danielson is less certain to go top 15 and might also be close to where the Wild select.

I suspect the Wild may have eyes on forwards like Danielson or Colby Barlow if either is there at #21. Honzek or Koehn Ziemmer may also get long looks(particularly if they should trade back with the Blues to get an extra 1st).

Don't know if they'll be coveting D given that they have a number of quality prospects there already, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

 

Colby Barlow is a LW. We’ve got enough of those.

I feel like it’s safe to say we need a couple of Big Centerman and maybe a big physical defensman.

Koehn Ziemmer is a 6ft RW projected to go in 2nd round even though he has good stats.

there should be better players available in the first. I hope they go with a C.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

7 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

I hope they go with a C.

Everyone would love a C with size and elite tools. Where the Wild are picking, the higher end players who fit that description might be gone. At that point, do you take an undersized guy who can play C, a bigger center who is clearly not as skilled at their current development stage, or do you take the bigger skilled players elsewhere?

That's a tough decision every year.

Ziemmer is projected 2nd round by some, and late 1st by some. He was part of the reason Heidt put up so many points on the year, and Heidt was part of the reason Ziemmer put up so many points. Which one will transition to the NHL best is up for debate.

Heidt has elite skating/passing while Ziemmer may have fewer elite traits, but delivers goals and perhaps a more well-rounded game. He's likely more physically ready. Heidt also might be gone by 21.

One of the people at The Hockey Writers has Ziemmer rated #21 overall. They are not the only ones who have him as a top 30 player, but I was also suggesting the Wild could possibly add him if they trade down in the 1st.

https://thehockeywriters.com/koehn-ziemmer-2023-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/

[mnfaninnc]

I'm liking Danielson and Ritchie at this point. If we got a large RHS defender, I could see that, but if we take another LW, I'll probably rip apart my shirt!

This article by Justin was spot on with one exception.  He addressed it, but didn't really do the research. This draft is supposed to rival 2003. 2015 was also a really good draft. But, let's look at 2003.

• 17- Zach Parise
• 18- Eric Fehr
• 19- Ryan Getzlaf
• 20- Brent Burns
• 21- Mark Stuart
• 22- Marc-Antoine Pouliot   lol Edmonton
• 23- Ryan Kesler
• 24- Mike Richards

Others available were Corey Perry, Loui Eriksson, Patrice Bergeron, Shea Weber, and, of course, Joe Pavelski.

Shooter has pretty much delegated the draft to Judd Brackett, but perhaps he can swing a deal for somewhere around 12 not giving up our 21. Could this be the year that Shooter takes back some of the final decision power? 

I would love to find our version of Ryan Getzlaf or Ryan Kesler in this current group. I'd like to hear that Guerin is taking a larger role in the interview process. 

To me, this is the final year of the build up in the retool. I'd expect the next 2 years to be pretty difficult results wise for the team, however, like the past 2 seasons, I'll be looking at growth of the kids as the benchmark. I would expect us to have good draft slots the next 2 years, unless we continue overachieving. 

So, what that means is simple. We've got a 1st and 2 2nds already on our list. I'd like to see us trade our 2024 1st, top 15 protected and maybe the 2nds to try and get 2 more mid level 1sts. That doesn't include the players/prospects it will take to accomplish this. And then, we can't whiff. 

I would expect that the 3 1sts this year, the 2 firsts last year and The Wall will be ready at approximately the same time. I'd also believe that Lambos will be ready shortly prior to that group, and, we'd have Khus, O'Rourke and Hunt coming in about the same time. Not all will make it, but the turnover should be right about '24. 

I'd target AZ at 12 and Detroit at either 9 or 17. All prospects would be on the table, as would Zuccarello, Addison, and Foligno. I'd go all centers with each pick and hope I found 2 gems.

 

[Protec]

Not too sure on kid named Koehn, pronounced "Cone". Maybe the Wild can find a guy named "Pylon" in the draft? 

Aho and Hintz went second round, I'm looking at Molgaard playing SHL with men in his draft year so total points compared to Canadian juniors isn't gonna be easy to compare. I'm mostly just joking about draft-gurus and their need to prove great future-vision like Brackett did on Juolevi or Fenton with Fil Johhannsson. Pass on reliable North American picks for  Scandinavian secret studs.

Personally, I'm mentally preparing for Brackett to go outside the box and allow Dallas, Nashville, and STL to get the guys who will burn the Wild in a year or two while MN waits for the Bombardir, McLeod, Hendricks development program to inject the grit into Swedes and Austrians.

[Protec]

Quote

I'd target AZ at 12 and Detroit at either 9 or 17. All prospects would be on the table, as would Zuccarello, Addison, and Foligno. I'd go all centers with each pick and hope I found 2 gems.

How bout since Jarry is expiring in Pittsburgh for 3.5M, GMBG tries to move up to 14th with Fleury and the 21st pick? 
 

That would give the Wild some better center options if you only have one 1st round pick or allow them to get a specific guy they like.

Another suggestion would be to trade a player with the Wild’s lesser second round pick or a 2024 pick for either Arizona’s 12th or Detroit’s 17th overall. If the Wild could get two centers in the first that would be really nice. Zuccarello in Detroit or Arizona for a year wouldn’t be a terrible fit. The Wild could sweeten the pot with futures and perhaps those teams would do a trade. Zuccarello + Rossi or Addison plus a pick might be enough to get 12th or 17th.
 

[mnfaninnc]

23 hours ago, Protec said:

Another suggestion would be to trade a player with the Wild’s lesser second round pick or a 2024 pick for either Arizona’s 12th or Detroit’s 17th overall. If the Wild could get two centers in the first that would be really nice. Zuccarello in Detroit or Arizona for a year wouldn’t be a terrible fit. The Wild could sweeten the pot with futures and perhaps those teams would do a trade. Zuccarello + Rossi or Addison plus a pick might be enough to get 12th or 17th.

This was exactly how I was thinking. I'd think that Detroit is at the point where both Zuccarello and Addison would be good additions to their club. If I'm including Rossi in this mix, I've got to insist on #9, but wouldn't mind including a top 2024 protected pick in the mix. I was hoping for something like #53+Addison=#17.