Article: The Wild Might Have Something With Newly Drafted Defensemen Theodor Hallquisth

[Neil Urbanski]

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[Kato AK]

I had 2 issues with this pick. The first is that the pick was a reach by most prospect rankings, so much of a reach that his consolidated rank on EP would have left him available at the Wild next pick.

The other issue is that every other forward taken after this pick in the second round, including Wozniak which HW did an article on, supposedly fit what the wild are looking for 6'+, skating, scoring, etc. 

Hopefully Judd didn't get too cute with his scouting again.

[MrCheatachu]

21 minutes ago, Kato AK said:

I had 2 issues with this pick. The first is that the pick was a reach by most prospect rankings, so much of a reach that his consolidated rank on EP would have left him available at the Wild next pick.

The other issue is that every other forward taken after this pick in the second round, including Wozniak which HW did an article on, supposedly fit what the wild are looking for 6'+, skating, scoring, etc. 

Hopefully Judd didn't get too cute with his scouting again.

Our 2nd round draft picks from the past 6 years:

Hunter Jones, Vlad Firstov, Ryan O'Rourke, Marat Khusnutdinov, Jack Peart, Caedan Bankier, Rieger Lorenz, Hunter Haight, Riley Heidt, Rasmus Kumpulainen, Ryder Richie.

You have to go all the way back to 2015 to get Jordan Greenway at 50th to be the last guy not drafted in the 1st round by this team to make an NHL impact beyond making our prospect pool move up in the Athletic's rankings.

2nd+ round picks are low hit rate for finding NHL players regardless, so if Brackett wanted a guy in the higher rounds who's 'not going to make an impact' over another guy who's 'not going to make an impact' i'm not going to lose too much sleep over it.

 

[Enforceror]

30 minutes ago, MrCheatachu said:

Our 2nd round draft picks from the past 6 years:

Hunter Jones, Vlad Firstov, Ryan O'Rourke, Marat Khusnutdinov, Jack Peart, Caedan Bankier, Rieger Lorenz, Hunter Haight, Riley Heidt, Rasmus Kumpulainen, Ryder Richie.

You have to go all the way back to 2015 to get Jordan Greenway at 50th to be the last guy not drafted in the 1st round by this team to make an NHL impact beyond making our prospect pool move up in the Athletic's rankings.

2nd+ round picks are low hit rate for finding NHL players regardless, so if Brackett wanted a guy in the higher rounds who's 'not going to make an impact' over another guy who's 'not going to make an impact' i'm not going to lose too much sleep over it.

 

Alright, I used AI to compile this and had to re-phrase quite a few times. I still think it's leaving out some players but, for the sake of arguments sake, I'll drop this turd here. Take it with a couple pounds of salt.

NHL Draft Gems — 2nd Round or Later (2010–2025)

Anaheim Ducks

• John Gibson (2nd round, 39th overall, 2011) – Elite goalie, multiple All-Star selections.

Boston Bruins

• Charlie Coyle (2nd round, 28th overall, 2010) – Versatile two-way forward.

Calgary Flames

• Johnny Gaudreau (4th round, 104th overall, 2011) – Elite scorer, multiple 90+ point seasons.

Carolina Hurricanes

• Sebastian Aho (2nd round, 35th overall, 2015) – Consistent 30+ goal scorer.

Chicago Blackhawks

• Alex DeBrincat (2nd round, 39th overall, 2016) – Multiple 40-goal seasons.

Colorado Avalanche

• Sam Girard (2nd round, 47th overall, 2016) – Stanley Cup winner, top puck-moving defenseman.

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Oliver Bjorkstrand (3rd round, 89th overall, 2013) – Reliable scorer and playmaker.

Dallas Stars

• Jason Robertson (2nd round, 39th overall, 2017) – Multiple 40-goal seasons.

• Wyatt Johnston (3rd round, 23rd overall, 2021) – Emerging top-six forward.

Minnesota Wild

• Kirill Kaprizov (5th round, 135th overall, 2015) – Multiple 40-goal seasons, Calder Trophy winner.

Montreal Canadiens

• Brendan Gallagher (5th round, 147th overall, 2010) – Consistent 20+ goal scorer.

Nashville Predators

• Nicolas Hague (2nd round, 34th overall, 2017) – Stanley Cup champion defenseman.

New Jersey Devils

• Jesper Bratt (6th round, 162nd overall, 2016) – Multiple 80+ point seasons.

New York Rangers

• Adam Fox (2nd round, 66th overall, 2016) – Norris Trophy winner, elite offensive defenseman.

Ottawa Senators

• Mark Stone (6th round, 178th overall, 2010) – Multiple 30+ goal seasons.

Philadelphia Flyers

• Shayne Gostisbehere (3rd round, 78th overall, 2012) – 60+ point defenseman.

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Jake Guentzel (3rd round, 77th overall, 2013) – Multiple 40-goal seasons.

St. Louis Blues

• Jordan Kyrou (2nd round, 35th overall, 2016) – Emerging top-six forward.

Tampa Bay Lightning

• Nikita Kucherov (2nd round, 58th overall, 2011) – Multiple 100+ point seasons.

Toronto Maple Leafs

• Nick Robertson (2nd round, 53rd overall, 2019) – Emerging scorer.

Edited July 10 by Enforceror

[FredJohnson]

Gotta add weight or he’s a bust. It’s a fact.

[1Brotherbill]

2 hours ago, Enforceror said:

Alright, I used AI to compile this and had to re-phrase quite a few times. I still think it's leaving out some players but, for the sake of arguments sake, I'll drop this turd here. Take it with a couple pounds of salt.

NHL Draft Gems — 2nd Round or Later (2010–2025)

Anaheim Ducks

• John Gibson (2nd round, 39th overall, 2011) – Elite goalie, multiple All-Star selections.

Boston Bruins

• Charlie Coyle (2nd round, 28th overall, 2010) – Versatile two-way forward.

Calgary Flames

• Johnny Gaudreau (4th round, 104th overall, 2011) – Elite scorer, multiple 90+ point seasons.

Carolina Hurricanes

• Sebastian Aho (2nd round, 35th overall, 2015) – Consistent 30+ goal scorer.

Chicago Blackhawks

• Alex DeBrincat (2nd round, 39th overall, 2016) – Multiple 40-goal seasons.

Colorado Avalanche

• Sam Girard (2nd round, 47th overall, 2016) – Stanley Cup winner, top puck-moving defenseman.

Columbus Blue Jackets

• Oliver Bjorkstrand (3rd round, 89th overall, 2013) – Reliable scorer and playmaker.

Dallas Stars

• Jason Robertson (2nd round, 39th overall, 2017) – Multiple 40-goal seasons.

• Wyatt Johnston (3rd round, 23rd overall, 2021) – Emerging top-six forward.

Minnesota Wild

• Kirill Kaprizov (5th round, 135th overall, 2015) – Multiple 40-goal seasons, Calder Trophy winner.

Montreal Canadiens

• Brendan Gallagher (5th round, 147th overall, 2010) – Consistent 20+ goal scorer.

Nashville Predators

• Nicolas Hague (2nd round, 34th overall, 2017) – Stanley Cup champion defenseman.

New Jersey Devils

• Jesper Bratt (6th round, 162nd overall, 2016) – Multiple 80+ point seasons.

New York Rangers

• Adam Fox (2nd round, 66th overall, 2016) – Norris Trophy winner, elite offensive defenseman.

Ottawa Senators

• Mark Stone (6th round, 178th overall, 2010) – Multiple 30+ goal seasons.

Philadelphia Flyers

• Shayne Gostisbehere (3rd round, 78th overall, 2012) – 60+ point defenseman.

Pittsburgh Penguins

• Jake Guentzel (3rd round, 77th overall, 2013) – Multiple 40-goal seasons.

St. Louis Blues

• Jordan Kyrou (2nd round, 35th overall, 2016) – Emerging top-six forward.

Tampa Bay Lightning

• Nikita Kucherov (2nd round, 58th overall, 2011) – Multiple 100+ point seasons.

Toronto Maple Leafs

• Nick Robertson (2nd round, 53rd overall, 2019) – Emerging scorer.

Nineteen teams on the list 8 of them are from the 2nd round.  Picks outside of the first round have a difficult time making a huge impact in the NHL.  

Does that mean this kid won't make it to St. Paul.  No, it doesn't but it does mean it will be abnormal for him to be a star in the NHL. 

[Pewterschmidt]

2 hours ago, FredJohnson said:

Gotta add weight or he’s a bust. It’s a fact.

bill looked like this before he ate Nordy

[B1GKappa97]

I'm not believing in the blueliner hype anymore!! After Peart and Lambos and O'Rourke/Hunt all turned into big nothing burgers, its time for me to see to believe! 

I mean that kid we drafted in the 4th round last year was supposedly the self-proclaimed 'steal of the draft' and what's he up to now? Even after drafting him we still traded a haul to bring in Jiricek. 

Show me something, blue liners!

Edited July 11 by B1GKappa97

[MNCountryLife]

BG is banking on a lot of things going right this year to make an impact.

• Buium and Jiricek can step in and play solid D.
• Yurov and Ohgren can step in and play solid F.
• Sturm can come in and solidify our PK.
• Tarasenko can come in and solidify or PP.
• We can snag a TDL impact player.
• The old crew of Spurge, Zuc, Bogo and Foligno will not diminish.
• Boldy, Rossi, Trenin and Faber take another step up.
• Brodin gets healthy quickly.

A lot of things have to go right... 

[Sam]

10 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

BG is banking on a lot of things going right this year to make an impact.

• Buium and Jiricek can step in and play solid D.
• Yurov and Ohgren can step in and play solid F.
• Sturm can come in and solidify our PK.
• Tarasenko can come in and solidify or PP.
• We can snag a TDL impact player.
• The old crew of Spurge, Zuc, Bogo and Foligno will not diminish.
• Boldy, Rossi, Trenin and Faber take another step up.
• Brodin gets healthy quickly.

A lot of things have to go right... 

And Kap re-ups.

[Neil Urbanski]

1 hour ago, B1GKappa97 said:

I mean that kid we drafted in the 4th round last year was supposedly the self-proclaimed 'steal of the draft' and what's he up to now?

https://hockeywilderness.com/news-rumors/minnesota-wild/aron-kiviharju-is-leading-minnesotas-finnish-revolution-r30497/

 

[Pewterschmidt]

40 minutes ago, MNCountryLife said:

The old crew of Spurge, Zuc, Bogo and Foligno will not diminish.

Great post.  This is the wildest wildcard.  Could also add Hartman, Ek (miles are stacking up), and brodin to this list.  Our large group of Old’s is another year older

[Kato AK]

22 hours ago, MrCheatachu said:

2nd+ round picks are low hit rate for finding NHL players regardless, so if Brackett wanted a guy in the higher rounds who's 'not going to make an impact' over another guy who's 'not going to make an impact' i'm not going to lose too much sleep over it.

 

While I agree that 2nd+ picks are low hit rates to make it to the NHL, my point is that BG lowered his odds by selecting someone that should have been 3rd or 4th round plus. 

They also went against their previous track record of selecting players that slide down the board (yurov, Khiviharu, etc). There were 3 players on the board that were potential 1st rounders before last season but slid down for...reasons. McKinney (next pick), Wozniak (3 picks later) and Ryabkin (Carolina).

The pick was a head scratcher at minimum. Feels like the Filip Johansson pick all over again.

[Pewterschmidt]

20 minutes ago, Kato AK said:

While I agree that 2nd+ picks are low hit rates to make it to the NHL, my point is that BG lowered his odds by selecting someone that should have been 3rd or 4th round plus. 

They also went against their previous track record of selecting players that slide down the board (yurov, Khiviharu, etc). There were 3 players on the board that were potential 1st rounders before last season but slid down for...reasons. McKinney (next pick), Wozniak (3 picks later) and Ryabkin (Carolina).

The pick was a head scratcher at minimum. Feels like the Filip Johansson pick all over again.

Judd needs to work at his hot dog stand full time and the Wild org needs a competent head of scouting.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

On 7/11/2025 at 8:42 AM, B1GKappa97 said:

After Peart and Lambos and O'Rourke/Hunt all turned into big nothing burgers, its time for me to see to believe! 

I mean that kid we drafted in the 4th round last year was supposedly the self-proclaimed 'steal of the draft' and what's he up to now? Even after drafting him we still traded a haul to bring in Jiricek. 

Show me something, blue liners!

I'll grant you Peart and O'Rourke, but Lambos just turned 22 in January, and had a solid AHL season. Hunt wasn't far off from capable NHL plan, and just turned 23. The Wild didn't pick up Chisholm until he was 24 and waived from Winnipeg.

Lambos is progressing reasonably. He could be a solid 2-way defensemen for a 3rd pairing, if not 2nd pairing, as he develops further. The current front office doesn't believe in putting guys on NHL ice to make a bunch of mistakes and coach them there.

The Wild seem to want the mistakes made and coaching corrections made in lower leagues like the AHL, so they are slow to let the young guys get many games at the NHL level before they are truly ready.

Other teams may let young guys play before they have a complete game or are physically ready for the NHL, but that isn't always ideal for development.

The Wild likely will have a lot of young guys stepping in this season(Buium, Jiricek, Yurov, Ohgren), and Lambos probably isn't one of them to start the season, but he may show up later in the year as an injury callup.

Riley Heidt, likely in AHL this year, is still listed among the top 100 drafted skater prospects for The Athletic. Here's all of the Wild players who made it:

#5 overall, 1st tier(1-7), Zeev Buium -- there were only 7 players in tier 1.

#33 overall, last player in 3rd tier(16-33), David Jiricek

#37 overall, 4th tier(34-70), Danila Yurov

#79 overall, 5th tier(71-100), Liam Ohgren

#100 overall, 5th tier(71-100), Riley Heidt.

Wallstedt was not eligible for the list in case anyone was wondering, as they do goalies separate, and have not released that list yet.

Aron Kiviharju played 52 regular season games at age 18 in the professional league many consider to the be 3rd best in the world, behind the NHL and KHL. He also played in their 4 playoff games. His statistics didn't stand out from others(positively or negatively), but just playing each night as a part of the regular lineup for a SHL team as an 18 year old defenseman is pretty impressive. The other defensemen on his team who played 50+ games were 25, 30, and 33 years old.

[B1GKappa97]

2 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

I'll grant you Peart and O'Rourke, but Lambos just turned 22 in January, and had a solid AHL season. Hunt wasn't far off from capable NHL plan, and just turned 23. The Wild didn't pick up Chisholm until he was 24 and waived from Winnipeg.

Lambos is progressing reasonably. He could be a solid 2-way defensemen for a 3rd pairing, if not 2nd pairing, as he develops further. The current front office doesn't believe in putting guys on NHL ice to make a bunch of mistakes and coach them there.

Aron Kiviharju played 52 regular season games at age 18 in the professional league many consider to the be 3rd best in the world, behind the NHL and KHL. He also played in their 4 playoff games. His statistics didn't stand out from others(positively or negatively), but just playing each night as a part of the regular lineup for a SHL team as an 18 year old defenseman is pretty impressive. The other defensemen on his team who played 50+ games were 25, 30, and 33 years old.

Lambos wasn't billed as a 'solid' AHL player though. He was supposedly a top-10 value who fell because of COVID and a leg injury. Turns out that wasn't the case. 

Idk about the Finnish hockey league being considered the 3rd best. From what I've always read, that would be the Swedish Hockey League where Gustavsson and Wallstedt, and now Hallquesth, came from. 

It just seems like our defensemen have tended to take a long time to develop despite being regarded as "good picks" by fans and the pundits at the time of the selection.

I mean Zeev was a great one and he'll also happen to be the only blueliner we've drafted, since Billy took over, who's going to get NHL time early in their career. Despite the hype, the blueliners have been a little disappointing and I think Billy's own actions show he knows that.

Which is why he made sure to move up for Buium and then also trade for Jiricek just a few months later, because nobody else was even close to a long-term NHL role over the timeline of the Spurgy/Bogosian contracts.

[Imyourhuckleberry]

12 minutes ago, B1GKappa97 said:

Idk about the Finnish hockey league being considered the 3rd best. From what I've always read, that would be the Swedish Hockey League where Gustavsson and Wallstedt, and now Hallquesth, came from. 

You're absolutely right about that. I misspoke for some reason thinking of him as SHL, but the Finnish hockey league(Liiga) is rated as the next highest after the Swedish Hockey League, so 4th, and still higher in the top 10 ranking than AHL or NCAA, with the Swiss, German, and Czech leagues also ahead of those two.

Lambos doesn't seem far off now, which is fine for the 26th pick in the draft at age 22.  His first AHL season wasn't particularly strong, but his last 2 WHL seasons were quite good and his most recent AHL season was solid too. Replacing a first time head coach with a new head coach who has a solid and lengthy history in charge, the Iowa Wild will likely have more effective coaching this year, so perhaps the players there will look a bit better moving forward.

Lambos doesn't have the power shot, elite speed, or huge size that the top prospects possess, but he also doesn't have glaring weaknesses. Along with hockey IQ, his skating is listed as a strength, just not lightning fast.

Lambos could still develop into a solid all around player who helps out on the 3rd pairing, or elevates occasionally to 2nd pairing if he cannot win a 2nd pairing spot outright. He had been projected as a 2nd pairing defenseman in his draft profile.

[B1GKappa97]

11 minutes ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

Lambos could still develop into a solid all around player who helps out on the 3rd pairing, or elevates occasionally to 2nd pairing if he cannot win a 2nd pairing spot outright. He had been projected as a 2nd pairing defenseman in his draft profile.

Yeah but only because we traded off Hunt, who was in line to play before Lambos. Which is a little disappointing regarding the hype Lambos had at the time we drafted him and considering that Hunt was a 3rd round pick. 

At the time we drafted Lambos I think we all had visions of him being a 2nd pairing defender at worst and instead the GM has just made moves to insulate him from having to play in the NHL the last couple seasons.

So I'm done buying the hype on these blueliners until we start producing them at a more reliable clip! 

[Imyourhuckleberry]

1 hour ago, B1GKappa97 said:

Yeah but only because we traded off Hunt, who was in line to play before Lambos. Which is a little disappointing regarding the hype Lambos had at the time we drafted him and considering that Hunt was a 3rd round pick. 

Hunt was a year ahead in development, so was in line to play ahead of Lambos, but likely with a 3rd pairing ceiling in St. Paul. They are preparing Lambos for life above the 3rd pairing as the top pairing D in Iowa. Hunt will likely be limited to 3rd pairing when called upon at the NHL level. Columbus never put him in an NHL game after he came over in the Jiricek deal.

Lambos was probably going to jump Hunt with the Wild, but not by rushing him while he's still young. Added strength and pro experience from significant AHL minutes should help him adjust fairly well when he is called upon.

Brodin is under contract for a while yet, so it will be hard to play ahead of him or Buium, but Lambos could eventuate fit into Brodin's spot once he's no longer with the Wild.

I think the Wild moves for defensemen were more a moment of opportunity that they shouldn't pass up rather than an indictment on the progress of Lambos. Buium is recognized by some experts as a top 5 drafted prospect(for skaters that haven't had a full season established in the NHL), a clear top pairing and power play driver, and many were shocked to see him make it out of the top 10. You don't pass that up just because you have a decent late 1st round prospect.

Jiricek plays the other side and was a top 10 pick with an aging Spurgeon currently filling that role. The Wild gave up pick #20 for Jiricek, which could have been used on a RHD like Logan Hensler, but he's probably around 4 years away from being a productive NHL player. The Wild want to compete now.

A lot of great teams have strong defensemen throughout, and Lambos should have a solid fit among them once he's developed.