How Did the Jiricek Trade Affect the Wild’s Under-24 Group?

In late November, the Minnesota Wild traded Daemon Hunt to the Columbus Blue Jackets for David Jiricek, the No. 6 pick in 2022.

Did the Wild improve after the trade? Who are Minnesota’s top 15 under-24 players? How can its prospects continue to progress toward the NHL? 

Remember, players who are listed and who aren't listed still have the chance to move up. 

Forwards 

Matt Boldy (23), Marco Rossi (23), Liam Ohgren (20), Riley Heidt (19), Danila Yurov (20), Hunter Haight (20), Marat Khusnutdinov (22), Charlie Stramel (20), Ryder Ritchie (18), Rieger Lorenz (20), Rasmus Kumpulainen (19), Mikey Milne (22), Caedan Bankier (21), and Jimmy Clark (20) 

Defensemen 

Zeev Buium (19), Brock Faber (22), Carson Lambos (21), David Jiricek (21), Ryan O’Rourke (22), David Spacek (21), Stevie Leskovar (20), Sebastian Sioni (18), Jack Peart (21), Aron Kiviharju (18), Kyle Masters (21), Aaron Pionk (21), Kalem Parker (20), Ryan Healey (20), and Nate Benoit (22) 

Goalies

Jesper Wallstedt (22) and Chase Wutzke (18) 

Tier 1: All-Star talent and top-of-the-lineup player 

1. Boldy 

Role: Top-six and all-situations winger

Boldy is the Wild’s best offensive player outside of Kirill Kaprizov. He's still learning his identity and how he can be effective but is still experiencing growing pains. Boldy has much more growing to do and isn't a finished product. Still, opponents cannot ignore his speed, size, and playmaking ability. Boldy's in line to be Mats Zuccarello’s replacement on the top line. 

2. Faber 

Role: Top pairing two-way defenseman and all-situations defender 

Faber has established himself as the Wild’s No. 1 defenseman and Jared Spurgeon's successor. Faber can be a factor in all situations and has shown to be a power-play contributor. He’s also a tough player. Faber played with broken ribs, got into his first fight, and took a puck to the neck. 

Faber’s built like a tank and will continue his upward trend toward stardom. Eventually, he'll lead the Wild to a Stanley Cup as captain. 

3. Buium 

Role: Top pairing offensive defenseman and all-situations defender 

Buium will likely become Minnesota’s new and improved version of Ryan Suter. He’s shown he can produce while playing top-pairing minutes. Buium is finishing his sophomore season at Denver University and will have the chance to make the team next fall as soon as the Pioneers’ season ends. 

He'll be a game-changer offensively and be reliable defensively. Buium and Faber make the perfect pair. 

Tier 2: Top of the lineup player 

4. Rossi 

Role: Top-six center and top power-play producer

Rossi has started to show Bill Guerin why drafting him was the right move. Mycrodiatis almost prevented him from playing the game he loved, but he continued to fight. How much more does Rossi need to prove? 

If he continues progressing, the Wild will have a better version of Logan Couture, who the San Jose Sharks drafted 9th overall in 2007. Like Rossi, Couture played for the Ottawa 67s, but Rossi was more productive. He'll be able to thrive with Kaprizov and Boldy. 

5. Wallstedt 

Role: Starting goaltender 

Wallstedt is still struggling to establish himself as a starting goaltender in the NHL. However, once he figures out his game, he can be as good as Filip Gustavsson, if not better. Wallstedt still has a good system behind him to develop him. 

Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur had an awful AHL career but happened to be one of the best all-time NHL goaltenders. Wallstedt's still a top-five prospect due to how long his development path is as a goalie. 

Tier 3: Borderline top-of-the-lineup player 

6. Yurov 

Role: Versatile top-six and all-situations forward 

Yurov has taken a step back in his development due to dealing with injuries, but his upside can't be ignored as a versatile top-six producer. Even The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler's pretty high on him. 

Yurov will likely start as a right wing when he comes over from the KHL. With Marcus Johansson coming off the books next season, the Wild can pair Yurov with Ohgren and Joel Eriksson Ek. 

7. Ohgren 

Role: Top-nine and all-situations winger 

The blend of size, defense, speed, physicality, and having a true sniper’s shot. Ohgren’s close to getting better minutes. The Wild must choose between keeping Jakub Lauko and Khusnutdinov to fit Yurov and Ohgren.

Ohgren will get a top-six shot next to Yurov and Eriksson Ek. Are the Wild getting its next Brian Rolston, who was a three-time 30-goal scorer? 

Tier 4: Middle of the lineup player 

8. Stramel 

Role: Versatile up and down the lineup and all-situations center 

Stramel is establishing himself as someone you can play all over the lineup. He's showing he can be reliable in a top-six role if the Wild must tap into their injury depth. 

Stramel can deliver if the team needs a right-shot center when Eriksson Ek is out with an injury next to Kaprizov. He can be a net-front presence and score off one-timers. He can also be a defensive presence on penalty kills and be physical. 

9. Haight 

Role: Versatile middle-six and second power play producer 

Haight is showing promise in Iowa after finishing his junior career. Haight can potentially be a right-shot version of Johansson but with a better shot and more puck-handling skill. He will be a crucial factor on the team's second power play. He's also been playing alongside Ohgren as one of his playmakers in Iowa. 

10. Heidt 

Role: Middle-six winger and second power-play producer 

Heidt will be able to join Iowa next fall, where he’ll get to play professionally to improve his game. Will his WHL production translate to Iowa? Heidt won't be putting up the same numbers, but can he be a driver offensively? 

Like Lambos, Heidt will take more time to develop in Iowa.

11. Jiricek 

Role: Second-pairing offensive defenseman and power play producer 

Jiricek will take time to learn the Wild’s system down in Iowa, but the Wild are a fresh start for him. He'll need Andy Ness to help improve his skating, including skating backward. Ness worked with Rossi, and now he's a top-six regular. 

Jiricek must become a well-rounded player to go along with his offensive instincts and shot. Jiricek doesn’t have to be a top-pairing defenseman. He will play an essential role on the Wild if he can improve his game to be a second-pairing player. 

Tier 5: Bottom of the lineup player 

12. Khusnutdinov 

Role: Versatile bottom-six and penalty killer 

Khusnutdinov's trending in the wrong direction, but can still be a reliable shutdown forward and top penalty killer. Does Khusnutdinov have a long-term future in Minnesota? The Wild often prioritize size, and power forwards like Lorenz and Kumpulainen aren't that far from making the NHL. 

13. Milne 

Role: Bottom-six and all-situations winger

Milne is performing well in Iowa and showing potential as a secondary producer. He will soon receive more call-ups. Like Khusnutdinov, Milne has similar speed but is larger at 5 feet 11 inches and 187 pounds. He plays similarly to Mason Shaw, but hopefully, he will have a better career and avoid ACL injuries. 

14. Lorenz 

Role: Versatile bottom-six and all-situations forward 

Lorenz was never supposed to be a big-time scorer. However, Lorenz is someone who can possibly bring more offense than someone like Brandon Duhaime and size than Connor Dewar. When the team needs another net-front presence on the power play, then Lorenz can deliver. Lorenz can play a shutdown role and be a key penalty killer. 

15. Kumpulainen 

Role: Bottom-six and all-situations center 

Minnesota has another version of Mikko Koivu. While Kumpulainen will likely be a lesser version of Koivu, he'll still be able to add a playmaking style to the fourth line. Don't worry about Kumpulainen's production in Finland. He will be a primary shutdown center and penalty killer, but if the team needs a power play forward, Kumpulainen can also provide that. 

The Wild are brewing something that will help them be successful as soon as next season when Buium, Yurov, and Ohgren join the team. Once Ryan Hartman, Zuccarello, and Zach Bogosian are off the books, we'll see Haight, Heidt, Jiricek, and Stramel come into play. So, patience will be key, as current contracts must expire for them to get bigger roles. However, it'll be worth the wait.