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  • The Wild Can Still Land A Bona Fide Prospect With the 13th Pick


    Image courtesy of Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
    Luke Sims

    The 13th overall pick is a precarious spot for the Minnesota Wild. The Wild will miss out on the big prospects at the top of the draft, like Macklin Celebrini, Ivan Demidov, and Artyom Levshunov. And after those top guys, who knows how the draft will go this year? 

    Last season, the Wild went way off the board when they picked Charlie Stramel 21st overall. Stramel was not supposed to go until at least the start of the second round, but the Wild took him 21st overall. 

    Stramel has since been disappointing in college. After a challenging freshman year at Wisconsin, he followed it up with another not-so-good sophomore year. Stramel totaled just 20 points in 67 games across two years. Stramel will be taking his talents to Michigan State to play under Adam Nightengale, his former US National Development Team coach.

    The Stramel draft pick may leave Wild fans with a bad taste in their mouth about how Friday’s draft is going to go. But do not fear: The Wild should be getting a good player with the 13th pick. 

    “You’ve got 14 or 15 guys that are pretty agreed upon as the cream of the crop in this class,” The Athletic’s draft and prospects writer Scott Wheeler said. “There’s going to be a player available that I view as one of the best prospects in the draft, and most others agree one of the better ones, they’ll be able to get.”

    “I would think the D will go,” Chris Peters, a long-time NHL scout, said. “But otherwise you’re settling on a pretty good forward prospect. But if you feel those guys are falling back because of the natural draft order selection, you feel you can trade from 13 to 18 and maybe still get that guy or something, it’s worth a shot.”

    Sam Dickinson and Carter Yakemchuk are the defenders who are most likely to fall to Minnesota. The top-tier offensive guys like Zeev Buium and Zayne Parekh will most likely be off the board, and the consensus top-two defenders Artyom Levshunov and Anton Silayev should be long gone by 13. 

    There’s no guarantee that Dickinson and Yakemchuk will be there, but the chances are higher. The knock on Dickinson is that he doesn’t have elite traits in any area. He has good speed, good size, and good hockey sense, but his ceiling is not considered as high as some of the other defenders in this class. 

    Yakemchuk has some believers who think he should be long gone by pick 13. But the knock on Yakemchuk is that he’s a bit reckless. While he’s shown to be an elite goal scorer in the WHL, he took a ton of penalties and did not have elite foot speed. Yakemchuk is rough around the edges, but his potential is still sky-high. 

    The Wild could also move off the 13th pick. If the right prospects or trade fall into a spot they can get them, they won’t hesitate to move up or down. And the Wild think it could be advantageous to move up. 

    “We’d love to,” Wild Director of Amateur Scouting Judd Brackett said. “Every year, we identify the lines in the first round where you’d move up, where you’d stand still, where you’d trade back. We’d love to. The problem is going to be that the teams in those spots are very happy with their choices that they have. 

    “(Guerin) is very active. If we encourage him to make a call on a trade-up, he’s never afraid to. It’s really refreshing. From that standpoint, he’s very active. We’ll listen and identify it. I just think the chances to move up will be difficult. There are teams that have eyes on players they’ve liked. We’re 13, and if that range (of top players) is 12-14, most teams are liking the players in their grouping.”

    There is no clear guy I could see the Wild moving up for. Instead, I see them moving up or down the board to select a falling player. If Demidov or Lindstrom are still on the board when the seventh or eighth pick rolls around, I could see the Wild moving up to snag one of the elite talents in the class. 

    What if moving down for a player would be the better option?

    “That’s the trick,” Brackett said. “As the draft starts to unfold, usually there’s a line where you want to stand still and get a player from. And if, for some reason, the players we are eyeballing start to go sooner than we expected, we have to make a decision on the floor there and see if we can find a partner. It’s never as easy as it sounds. We can fantasize about trades, but if you don’t have the partner, nothing is happening.” 

    If the Wild ended up moving back, they should not go too far. A player like Sitan Solberg still fits their prototype as a big, aggressive defender. Who knows where the biggest wild card in the draft, Cole Eiserman, will go? However, he’ll probably be there for the Wild at 13 or later. 

    In terms of forwards, someone like Berkly Catton, Konsta Helenius, or Michael Brandsegg-Nygard should be available at 13, although Catton likely will be gone by then. A big toolsy center like Cayden Lindstrom might be there at 13, but centers like him don’t usually last too long in the draft. 

    However you slice it, the Wild will have a very good player on the board at 13. Whether it’s a forward or a defender, Minnesota will have an opportunity to add a very good player to the team's future. 

    The Wild lack a top-tier defensive prospect like what Dickinson or Yakemchuk could provide. Bringing in a player like Catton or Helenius doesn’t fit with what Bill Guerin seems to be in the market to do. 

    Marco Rossi is a smaller center who has been the subject of trade rumors all offseason because Guerin wants to target a bigger player. Catton and Helenius are both below six feet tall but highly skilled. 

    Last season, the Wild prioritized size over skill with their first two picks, Rasmus Kumpulainen and Stramel. Then, Minnesota took Riley Heidt, who lit the WHL on fire. The Wild will allow Heidt to make the roster in the fall. 

    Have the Wild learned their lesson on drafting size over skill? 

    “In a perfect world,” Brackett said. “We can find the balance. We can find someone who is the best player available and fits a positional need, whether it’s size, strength or speed. We are always talking about our prospect pool and where it’s shallow and where we can make gains in a draft. But we won’t want to reach too far. We want to make sure we’re still in a range of player we think is going to be successful. 

    “More than need, it’s identity. There’s a culture being created, systematically, the way Guerin wants the team to play. So when we can find the best available that also fits that, we’re going to jump all over it. It doesn’t happen every year. Some years, you get higher here and lower in one area. But overall, we want to find the best cross-section of identity plus best player available.”

    Brackett has done a tremendous job identifying falling players who turn into steals. Just look at the past few drafts. Rossi and Marat Khusnutdinov were considered steals and fell because of their size. Now, they are both in the NHL. In 2021, Jesper Wallstedt and Carson Lambos should have gone way earlier, and the Wild capitalized by letting them both fall into their laps. In 2022, Danila Yurov was a top 10 talent in the class, but Minnesota got him at 24 due to geopolitical tensions. And just last year, the Wild scooped up Riley Hedit at the end of the second when his skill should have warranted a first-rounder. 

    Look at Brackett's time in Vancouver before he came to Minnesota. Brackett was able to secure multiple falling stars like Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko

    The draft can be one of the most stressful times of the year for Wild fans. 32 GMs packed into a giant sphere in a desert, giving each other passive-aggressive looks as fans and insiders refresh their Twitter pages looking for the latest breaking news. 

    But do not fret. While last season’s first round was not what many may have hoped for, the Wild still let Brackett do what Brackett does best: find value. Hedit in the second round was a steal, and Brackett is in an even better position this time. 

    Trust in Brackett and let him guide the proverbial Wild ship. Minnesota will get a good and valuable player as long as Brackett is the one turning in the names. 

    All stats and data via Elite Prospects and HockeyDB unless otherwise noted.

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    So a prospect that’s really seems to be flying under the radar is Artamonov. I don’t want him at 13 but he’s 6th all time for U18 players in the KHL. Between Tarasanko and daniil But with 23pts. He’s the first 17 year old khl player to score 4pts in a game as well. He’s not huge but he’s stocky at 5’11 200lbs

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    If you want to go need AND skill, Yakemchuk, Eiserman, or Sennecke if they are there.  The Wild are weak behind Kaprizov and Boldy.  Yakemchuk slots in right behind Faber probably in time for Spurgeon's contract to end (or just about), or Dickinson/Solberg can fit as Top 4/6 behind Brodin and Middleton.

    I'm not even against Helenius or Catton for size reasons.  They really should figure out who to shift to wing if they are really intent on Rossi, Heidt, Yurov, Khusnutdinov, Catton/Helenius/etc.  

    Edited by Citizen Strife
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    “There’s no guarantee that Dickinson and Yakemchuk will be there, but the chances are higher. The knock on Dickinson is that he doesn’t have elite traits in any area. He has good speed, good size, and good hockey sense, but his ceiling is not considered as high as some of the other defenders in this class. “

     

    from what I read in most articles/videos about Dickinson is that he’s one of the best skaters in the draft. “Even as one of the bigger players in his class, Dickinson's earned him fastest-skater honors with the puck on his stick, going both forward and backward. He also ranked second in transition ability. 

    I think he actually played on the 2nd pairing and still got 70 done points. He’s one of the best defenders at defending in that entire league too. If we got him I’d be ecstatic but I don’t think we have a chance.

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    38 minutes ago, Citizen Strife said:

    If you want to go need AND skill, Yakemchuk, Eiserman, or Sennecke if they are there.  The Wild are weak behind Kaprizov and Boldy.  Yakemchuk slots in right behind Faber probably in time for Spurgeon's contract to end (or just about), or Dickinson/Solberg can fit as Top 4/6 behind Brodin and Middleton.

    I'm not even against Helenius or Catton for size reasons.  They really should figure out who to shift to wing if they are really intent on Rossi, Heidt, Yurov, Khusnutdinov, Catton/Helenius/etc.  

    I really like Stian Solberg but I’d be disappointed if they got him at 13. That’s a big reach in my opinion. If we somehow got 2 first round picks and he was one of them it would be easier to stomach.

    either way I think we have a good chance at Sennecke, Eiserman, Yakemchuk, Helenius, Catton, MBN. I’d actually be happier if they picked Michael Hage over a couple of them. In the last like 15 games of the year he was at around 2 pts per game. He’s a great skater, playmaker, goal scorer and has high iq. He’s a true center and between 6’1-6’2. I just hope they don’t pick someone extremely safe. They need to go for a home run.

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    1 hour ago, Mateo3xm said:

    So a prospect that’s really seems to be flying under the radar is Artamonov. I don’t want him at 13 but he’s 6th all time for U18 players in the KHL. Between Tarasanko and daniil But with 23pts. He’s the first 17 year old khl player to score 4pts in a game as well. He’s not huge but he’s stocky at 5’11 200lbs

    That’s a great argument my friend!

    you did spell tarasenko wrong!

    I expected better from you

    But silliness aside - 

    no, 13th pick should only be used in a trade package, as our needs now are immediate help and not grooming another prospect (we have plenty of those)

    cheers 🍻 

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    I don't know much about any of these guys, but I really don't think Yakemchuker is gonna be there at 13. I think Iginla will be and I hope like hell they pass on him. Seems a lot of the steam around him is his old man. I wouldn't be betting that will carry over. 

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    Just now, Willy the poor boy said:

    I don't know much about any of these guys, but I really don't think Yakemchuker is gonna be there at 13. I think Iginla will be and I hope like hell they pass on him. Seems a lot of the steam around him is his old man. I wouldn't be betting that will carry over. 

    Legacy traits. He’s good in his own right as well. Dobberprospects compares him to Wyatt Johnson and has him 6th overall.

    I doubt he makes it to 13 honestly, he’s probably gone in the top-10.

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    1 hour ago, B1GKappa97 said:

    If Catton miraculously falls to #13 and we pass on him because he’s not 6’ I’m gonna riot in the streets!

    It isn't because Catton isn't 6', it's because he's 163. Adding 35 lbs. on him is a big ask. He'll fill out some, but he'll have to lift his way into an NHL ready body.

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    3 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

    If we somehow got 2 first round picks

    I’m in on this with the depth of this year’s draft. Trade back, grab Solberg, and pick up  another player in the first round. I’m not sure what the ask is but we still have a lot of holes to fill. Definitely going to be a very good player at 13. Maximize that value. I know 2025 is a big season but 2027 is the year we should be looking for max SC fuel. 

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    3 hours ago, B1GKappa97 said:

    If Catton miraculously falls to #13 and we pass on him because he’s not 6’ I’m gonna riot in the streets!

    He kinda reminds me of Barzal a little bit. 

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    2 hours ago, B1GKappa97 said:

    Legacy traits. He’s good in his own right as well. Dobberprospects compares him to Wyatt Johnson and has him 6th overall.

    I doubt he makes it to 13 honestly, he’s probably gone in the top-10.

    I personally don't think there's any chance at all Iginla makes it past Calgary at 9.  He might go higher, but the Flames won't pass on him.

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    5 hours ago, Mateo3xm said:

    I’d actually be happier if they picked Michael Hage over a couple of them. In the last like 15 games of the year he was at around 2 pts per game. He’s a great skater, playmaker, goal scorer and has high iq. He’s a true center and between 6’1-6’2.

    When I first mentioned Hage here, he was being talked about as someone in the 20s of the 1st round, but he has been climbing in some forums. I'm definitely not opposed to him as the selection, perhaps over Helenius, but it feels like he may go just outside the top 15.

    He was injured the prior year, and had a bit of a slow start this season, but he really finished strong and showed why he would have been highly successful in the WHL had he gone there. Hage going to Michigan could be a great place for him to develop for a year or two before joining an NHL team.

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    4 hours ago, Willy the poor boy said:

    Iginla will be and I hope like hell they pass on him. Seems a lot of the steam around him is his old man. I wouldn't be betting that will carry over. 

    Iginla was more productive than Beckett Sennecke and he's been suggested as a top 10 pick.  Both were outscored on their own teams by older players, but both had very strong playoff runs.  I'd probably put both ahead of Eiserman.

    I don't think the steam is totally due to his father, but that certainly could elevate him a little bit given that he'll carry some of the physical attributes.  It's his offensive skill, particularly shooting that will get him drafted though.

    I think it will be hard for Calgary to pass on him because Tij Iginla will be an NHL player, selected by a team shortly after them if they pass, and if the guy they get isn't as good, their fans will be haunted by the decision--particularly if he ends up on a team within their division and becomes a prolific scorer.

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    8 hours ago, mnfaninnc said:

    It isn't because Catton isn't 6', it's because he's 163. Adding 35 lbs. on him is a big ask. He'll fill out some, but he'll have to lift his way into an NHL ready body.

    He's only 18. It's not that big of an ask. It'll be another 3 years before he's got a shot at the NHL but he could easily get to around 180lbs by that point if he's dedicated enough in the weight room and cares more about hitting the NHL quickly than keeping his beach body.

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    11 hours ago, B1GKappa97 said:

    If Catton miraculously falls to #13 and we pass on him because he’s not 6’ I’m gonna riot in the streets!

    I'd kinda like to see that happen. Only because I've never seen a one man riot before. I'll bring the popcorn.

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    9 hours ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    I think it will be hard for Calgary to pass on him because Tij Iginla will be an NHL player, selected by a team shortly after them if they pass, and if the guy they get isn't as good, their fans will be haunted by the decision--particularly if he ends up on a team within their division and becomes a prolific scorer.

    If they actually do pass, shouldn't it be a red flag?  

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    4 hours ago, Fezig said:

    I'd kinda like to see that happen. Only because I've never seen a one man riot before. I'll bring the popcorn.

    OCCUPY THE X!!! 

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    51 minutes ago, Will D. Ness said:

    If they actually do pass, shouldn't it be a red flag?  

    Maybe if they go with another forward? But not sure I would call it a red flag.

    The current management might simply believe another player is the better prospect in their scouting evaluations. A top 10 selection isn't something you want to get wrong and if they think someone else projects to another level of player, it's their job to optimize that rather than worrying about the family ties.

    No idea how it will play out. Iginla is going in the top 16, it's just a matter of where. The fact that some draft rankings have him squarely in the 9/10 range of best available players makes it a pretty good bet Calgary adds him.

    I guess if they still have Jerome Iginla in a special advisor role, and they don't select him, it could be viewed as a red flag by other teams, but I wouldn't necessarily view it as a major strike against his future success, just a really high vote of confidence for whoever they might select(I still think it will be Tij).

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    6 hours ago, B1GKappa97 said:

    He's only 18. It's not that big of an ask. It'll be another 3 years before he's got a shot at the NHL but he could easily get to around 180lbs by that point if he's dedicated enough in the weight room and cares more about hitting the NHL quickly than keeping his beach body.

    17 pounds in 3 years is most likely his fill out weight. I still think it'll be too light and he'll end up being too weak. Speed is a great thing to have, but we haven't had great playoff success with speed (such as Zucker being completely shut down). Then, it's more about battle and the bigger guys have more of an advantage in that arena. 

    I always thought the goal was to win 4 7 game series after the regular season, not to win the President's trophy. Catton helps with the President's trophy, a larger body who can skate and has skill helps with the Stanley Cup.

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    I've suggested move up pretty much since the end of the season. But the option of moving down is also there. With who off the board (probably a collection of players) would a move down be a better move? 

    For me, if Lindstrom, Silayev, Yakemchuk, Dickinson, and Mich St. guy are off the board, I think a look down might be a consideration. Who are your must haves guys?

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    1 hour ago, Imyourhuckleberry said:

    I guess if they still have Jerome Iginla in a special advisor role, and they don't select him, it could be viewed as a red flag by other teams, but I wouldn't necessarily view it as a major strike against his future success, just a really high vote of confidence for whoever they might select(I still think it will be Tij).

    If Calgary passes at #9, I'm thinking we probably should pass at #13.  

    (I don't think they will pass either)

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    19 hours ago, Citizen Strife said:

    If you want to go need AND skill, Yakemchuk, Eiserman, or Sennecke if they are there.  The Wild are weak behind Kaprizov and Boldy.  Yakemchuk slots in right behind Faber probably in time for Spurgeon's contract to end (or just about), or Dickinson/Solberg can fit as Top 4/6 behind Brodin and Middleton.

    I'm not even against Helenius or Catton for size reasons.  They really should figure out who to shift to wing if they are really intent on Rossi, Heidt, Yurov, Khusnutdinov, Catton/Helenius/etc.  

    good problem to have

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