Corey Pronman Highlighted Some Surprising Aspects Of Minnesota's Farm System

The Minnesota Wild are desperate to create a winning core. They already have an established superstar in Kirill Kaprizov, but time is ticking on them to prove to him that they're worthy of keeping him. So far, the Wild’s top performers are Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Matt Boldy, who just graduated from being a Wild prospect, according to The Athletic’s Corey Pronman. 

The Wild need more players to emerge as core pieces who can take them to new heights. Brock Faber has set the bar high for incoming prospects. Faber didn't win the Calder Trophy but is still projected to become an elite two-way defenseman and team leader. Marco Rossi just completed his first NHL season and finished 6th in voting. 

Jesper Wallstedt got a little taste of NHL competition last season, and he now better understands what playing at the highest level is like. It will still take time for Wallstedt to develop into a starting goaltender. However, he’ll likely be a backup goaltender next year. The Wild could be planning to roll Marc-Andre Fleury, Filip Gustavsson, and Wallstedt for the duration of the season, so Wallstedt will be part of the rotation. 

Danila Yurov and Zeev Buium are the next prospects who haven't experienced the NHL but are make-or-break prospects. Yurov’s KHL success will need to translate to maximize the Wild’s top-six for them to match other division rivals. Experts project Buium to become a high-producing defenseman, giving the Wild a great top pair with Faber and two successful power-play units. 

The Wild can create a great eight core consisting of Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, Boldy, Rossi, Faber, Wallstedt, Buium, and Yurov. That’s the core the Wild need heading into Kaprizov’s next contract term. Seeing Buium, Faber, Rossi, Wallstedt, and Yurov as Minnesota’s top-five prospects shouldn't be a surprise. 

However, here are some observations that stood out in a good and bad way when reading Pronman’s rankings and comments on notable Wild prospects. Remember, there are more experts than Pronman, and we shouldn’t rely on one expert. However, Pronman represents a unique opinion that fans should consider when determining whether prospects need more development. 

Surprises 

Caedan Bankier caught many by surprise when he came in sixth behind Yurov but ahead of Liam Ohgren (7th), Marat Khusnutdinov (11th), and Riley Heidt. Bankier is entering his sophomore season, where he can build on his rookie year. When injuries occur, Bankier might get the chance to play some games this season. Bankier is 6-foot-2, 192 lbs., fitting the Wild’s mold as a large, bottom-six centerman. 

Charlie Stramel is still considered a top-10 prospect despite two horrible seasons playing with the Wisconsin Badgers. Stramel claimed that Wisconsin wasn’t using him correctly, leading to him barely getting minutes. He transferred to the University of Michigan, where he'll reunite with head coach Adam Nightingale, who coached the US National Development Team from August 27, 2020, to May 3, 2022. Stramel is setting himself up to have a breakout season. 

What does Ryder Ritchie offer that Heidt and Haight don't? Pronman ranked Ritchie 10th. He’s not exactly sure what role Ritchie will have at the professional level. Ritchie frustrates coaches with his consistency but has the skill to be a top-nine player. Ritchie's game kind of sounds like the opposite of Ohgren’s. Still, it’s good that Ritchie got recognized.  

Kiviharju got the 13th and final spot, which was another surprise. However, it’s a pleasant one. Kiviharju made a name for himself when he went up to Guerin and told him he got the steal of the 2024 draft. 

Did the Wild find a dynamic duo in Buium and Kiviharju? Can Kiviharju replace Declan Chisholm's game? Kiviharju isn't projected to have the same ceiling as Buium, but someone like Carson Lambos should be looking in his rearview mirror. Wild fans won't see Kiviharju for a few years. Hopefully, he can unlock a new gear. 

The Bad 

Khusnutdinov falling out of the top-10 raises concerns about Khusnutdinov’s fit as a contributor to the Wild in the future. Khusnutdinov will likely make the team this year because they need centers who win faceoffs. If Khusnutdinov has a breakout season, then Pronman had Khusnutdinov too low. 

Heidt and Hunter Haight were honorable mentions that raised many questions. Pronman only wrote a small paragraph about Heidt’s game: 

“Riley Heidt is super skilled and intelligent. He dominated the WHL and can run a power play like a pro. He is a small forward with so-so footspeed, though, so how his game will translate to the NHL remains a major question.” 

NHL players will test Heidt. Guerin will likely let Heidt play nine games and then go back and dominate juniors. If the Wild cut him before the end of the preseason, it'll raise concerns. However, it doesn’t mean he won’t eventually make an impact in the NHL. 

Pronman didn’t comment on Haight. At this point, you must hope that Haight eventually adapts to the professional level. Can Haight avoid becoming another version of Adam Beckman? Haight went through a growth spurt and must learn how to use his new frame against men. 

The Wild have a developing core five in Buium, Faber, Rossi, Wallstedt, and Yurov to add with Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, and Boldy. These eight players could be on the 2025-26 roster once the cap opens up, which would be extremely exciting for fans. Is Ohgren better than we think? How much would Ohgren contribute to a scoring line? Ohgren playing with Eriksson Ek and Boldy makes too much sense. That gives Minnesota the chance to play Yurov with Rossi and Kaprizov. The Wild likely has set its top six. 

Minnesota’s depth group must take another step, but they don’t need to carry the team. Heidt having another year to mature only means good things for the Wild. He can work with Andy Ness like Rossi did to improve his skating speed. Stramel can develop into the next Marcus Foligno at Michigan, giving him further confidence and growth. Will Lambos break out this year? These rankings still show that the Wild have a good problem, and that's depth.