Where Are They Now? Wild Draft Picks in 2002

After the jump, we'll meet the class of 2002.

I think I speak for us all when I say we were excited to see what Butch could do as a centerman. It is his "natural" position, and may have been on the Havlat - Latendresse line right now. Imagine the passes he could make to those two. It was not to be. A concussion has likely taken this entire season from Butch, and we will need to wait until next year to see what he can do.

Result: Neutral. He has shown flash and ability, even in a defensive system. Until we can see what he can do in this new system, we need to reserve judgment. Let's just say, I have my doubts.

Result: Neutral - Minor bust. A second round pick should be a pick that contributes to the franchise. While Harding has served his role admirably, he has contributed very little to the success of the franchise as a whole.

Third Round: Due to trades, the Wild had two picks in this round, one right after the other.

Mike Erickson (F) - Looking at stats and the number of teams he played for, Erickson doesn't seem as though hockey was truly his calling. He went to the U of M before transferring to Western Michigan University, a well known hockey powerhouse. After college, he dumped immediately into the ECHL before jumping ship completely and heading for Europe. The last season he has reported stats was 2008-09 in Europe.

Result: Bust.

Brust has played consistently and solid throughout his career. This season he has seen a back and forth between the Aeros and the ECHL Everblades. Where ever he is, he has played well. Would be good for him to get out of the Wild system and try and make a big break.

Result: (Sorry Ms. C) Bust. Third rounders need to add value, as well. From the big league perspective, he has not done that. Love ya, Brusty. Nothing but love.

Valterri Fillpula was taken 12 picks after Brust.

Round Five: Not sure why the fifth round pick is so low in this draft. There were several conditional picks included in previous trades, I would guess that played into it.

Armands Berzins (F) - Played two seasons in the ECHL before heading over seas. He is currently with Dynamo Riga of the KHL.

Result: Bust.

Result: Neutral. Again, a sixth round pick can;t be counted on to be a team changer. He certainly looked to be coming along, but eventually ran into a wall.

Round Seven: Niklas Eckerblom (RW) - A super long shot pick, Eckerblom never even made the trip to North America.

Result: Bust.

Round Eight: Christoph Brandner (LW) - Played 35 games with the Wild in 2003-04 campaign, earning 9 points. He then spent the remainder of that season, and the follwoing season with the Aeros before going back over seas. He is currently playing for the same team he was drafted off of in Austria.

Result: Small win. An eight round pick put in 35 games in the NHL. Not too bad.

Round Nine: In what can only be He Who Shall No Longer be Named's finest hour, the Wild secured two picks in the ninth round. It is likely that the reason the eight and ninth rounds were eventually done away with are found here.

Mikhail Tyuyapkin - Wilderness reader Jonsey's favorite draft pick, Tyuyapkin has got to have one of the cooler names in Wild history. However, that is about all he ever panned out to be. "Yaps," as I like to call him, never left Russia and is currently playing for Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo of the KHL.

Result: Bust.

Mike Hannula (F) - "Mikey Bigs" played one season for the Aeros, registering 27 points in 67 games, and likely realized that North American hockey was not his cup of tea. He returned to the Swedish Elite League, and is currently playing for the Ufa Salavat Yulayev (yes, that is the real name) of the KHL.

Result: Bust

Summary: Another convoluted draft during the height of the Dark Ages. Bouchard is the best pick of this draft, and he is a fringe candidate at this point. Harding could turn out to be a super stud, but it won't be for the Wild. Brust has made fans, but will not be an NHL goalie anytime soon. More picks that never even came close to NHL action. I would guess this is common place for all NHL teams, but it was a calling card of our beloved GM. Looking at a grade? I give it a C-.

-Buddha