Theodor Hallquisth Should Factor Into Minnesota's Plans As A Right-Side Defenseman

The Minnesota Wild are looking for more defensemen in their organization who can make a long-term impact. This is my second piece on Theodor Hallquisth, who isn't on the Wild’s Top-11 prospect list yet. I'm quickly becoming a fan of Hallquisth because he’s an all-around player. That’s why he has top-four potential.

The Wild have built an intriguing pipeline of right-side defensemen, starting with Brock Faber, who’s already the team’s cornerstone. However, Faber doesn’t have to worry about anyone taking his top-pair job, including Hallquisth. David Jiricek, David Spacek, and Sebastian Soini are notable prospects with NHL ceilings. They are Hallquisth’s organizational competition.

Jiricek is Minnesota’s best right-side defenseman prospect due to his unique combination of size and shot. However, he will still need to earn his spot in the Wild’s lineup. Jiricek lacks the well-rounded game needed to be a top-four defenseman right now. His skating must improve, and he often gets caught playing subpar defense in crucial situations.

If Jiricek doesn’t develop over the summer, he could have a short-term future in Minnesota. He must develop a two-way game and better skating speed. Will injuries plague his performance? That’s an expensive gamble.

Jiricek can still develop into a more physical version of Justin Schultz with a better shot. Schultz was a supporting player to Kris Letang when the Pittsburgh Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups. Zeev Buium is projected to become the Wild’s version of Letang, and Jiricek could play a big role in supporting Buium’s offense.

By trading Declan Chisholm, general manager Bill Guerin created an opportunity for Minnesota’s prospects. The question is, does Spacek have a long-term future? 

Spacek will need to elevate his offensive game to earn any sort of long-term consideration. He brings a defensive foundation with offensive instincts and is the son of former defenseman Jaroslav Spacek.

Jaroslav played 13 seasons with the Florida Panthers, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Carolina Hurricanes. He was never an All-Star but could play in the top-4. He scored 30 points in two seasons and 40 points in three seasons.

The point is that Jaroslav demonstrated longevity. It’s not easy to play 13 years in the NHL. Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin have played more than 14 years; it takes a special talent to last that long. Can Spacek show better offensive upside than his father?

Soini is an interesting prospect. He has a lower ceiling than Jiricek, Spacek, and Hallquisth. Soini can play a 200-foot game, but he’s an average skater. His physical play and defensive awareness are his best tools. Picture a lighter version of Christian Folin.

Folin played seven years, but never played more than 65 games in a season. He played for the Wild, LA Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and Canadiens before returning to Europe. I’d keep Soini around as the 7th defenseman because he can carve out an NHL role.

Depth chart

Tier 1: Faber

Tier 2: Jiricek

Tier 3: Spacek and Hallquisth

Tier 4: Soini

Hallquisth needs to stay in the gym, like Liam Ohgren, and continue getting shredded. He should keep improving his skating stride so he can become an elite skater like Brodin. He’s going to become what Joel Eriksson Ek developed into: a player who drives opponents crazy. 

He might surprise you with his offensive traits. I could see him scoring somewhere between 5 and 10 goals and 20 and 35 assists. Hallquisth has plenty of time to develop his game, but could become a stud once he arrives in St. Paul.