Wilderness Walk: NHL Entry Draft Day 1

Happy Friyay Wilderness!

And a great Friyay it is! It is draft day, and the Minnesota Wild currently hold the 12th overall selection in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft and should have their picking of high quality prospects in their position. It should be an interesting weekend with lots of action on the Minnesota Wild front both in the draft selections and the possibility of trades. From what it sounds like, General Manager Paul Fenton is open to are open to “any and all” trade offers.

2019 NHL Entry Draft Schedule

Round 1: Friday, June 21, 7 p.m. CT (NBCSN, SN, TVAS)

Rounds 2-7: Saturday, June 22, 12 p.m. CT (NHL Network, SN)

Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC

Make sure to check out our Draft Day Threads for both day one and two of the NHL Entry Draft. Today’s thread will post at 6:30 p.m. CT. On day two, the thread will post at 11:30 a.m. CT. It will be a great place to talk Wild, draft, and maybe even a trade this weekend!

Friyay Fun Fact: The last time the Wild had at least one pick in every round of the NHL Entry Draft was 2012. That year they picked a guy named Matt Dumba seventh overall. You ever heard of him?!

Wild News

Offseason scenarios for the Wild: All the possible paths for a team looking to deal – The Athletic
Trade Zucker? Sign Spurgeon? Shop Parise? A look at all the Wild are facing as they brace for a weekend that will shape their offseason

Wild offseason about to pick up after NHL awards - StarTribune.com
Aside from some minor maneuvering (front-office shuffling and a few signings), it's been a ho-hum summer so far. That's about to change.

All the DRAFT Info You Need

The 2019 Minnesota Wild draft primer
Will the Minnesota Wild add a goal scorer or a goaltender in the first round? The latest on this year's NHL draft and a roundup of the latest mocks

Five players the Wild might take with the 12th overall pick - StarTribune.com
Here's a few of the players the Wild might be mulling over in the draft:

Wild is looking for a major piece of a major rebuild in this draft - StarTribune.com
At No. 12, the Wild is scheduled to make its highest pick since it drafted defenseman Matt Dumba seventh overall in 2012. The team also has single picks in the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds and two in the sixth.

Previous Wild first-round draft picks - StarTribune.com
Here's a brief history of the players the Wild have selected in the first round

2019 NHL Draft: Hughes vs. Kakko
Did right wing Kaapo Kakko of TSP in Finland do enough this season to replace center Jack Hughes of USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Under-18 team as the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft?

Mock draft: Hughes No. 1 to Devils, Kakko second pick to Rangers
NHL.com writers Adam Kimelman, Mike G. Morreale and Guillaume Lepage see the intrigue at the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena in Vancouver starting with the Chicago Blackhawks at the No. 3 pick.

Jack Hughes, Kaapo Kakko help renew Devils-Rangers rivalry
The top two picks in the draft will invigorate the Hudson River Rivalry, which has been alternately one-sided for seven years.

2019 NHL draft primer - Answering the 25 biggest last-minute questions
Expectations for Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. The team that must ace the draft. Odds we see a first-round goalie. All that and more from our experts.

ICYMI: A goalie at No. 12? Why Spencer Knight might be a fit for the Wild’s first pick – The Athletic
The Wild need a Goalie of the Future. There are many risks in looking for that in the first round. But it might make sense come Friday.

ICYMI: Pronman’s 2019 NHL Draft Board: Top 107 prospects – The Athletic
Corey Pronman ranks the best draft-eligible prospects for the 2019 NHL Draft.

ICYMI: Pronman’s Mock Draft 2.0: How have trades impacted the 2019 NHL Draft? – The Athletic
With just two days until the NHL Draft, Corey Pronman tells you what to expect in the first round.

ICYMI: Pronman’s 2019 NHL Draft Board: Top goalie prospects – The Athletic
Corey Pronman ranks the best goalie prospects for the 2019 NHL Draft.

‘Sky’s the limit’: How Brayden Tracey went from off the radar to top NHL prospect – The Athletic
Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Tracey jumped more than 50 spots between the NHL's midseason and final draft rankings.

What makes NHL Draft prospect Alex Turcotte tick? ‘I just want to be the best’ – The Athletic
Suburban Chicago native Alex Turcotte is similar and different from his father Alfie, a former NHL player himself.

Layton Ahac is the BCHL's secret weapon at the NHL draft - TheHockeyNews
Jr. A prospects rarely get much attention in the NHL draft, but after fighting his way up to the BCHL's elite, defenseman Layton Ahac is ready to show what he can do.

2019 NHL Draft: Who are the most underrated defensemen available? - TheHockeyNews
Bowen Byram is the clear No. 1 defensive prospect, but once again, the depth of talented blueliners runs deep in this year's draft. Here's a look at some of the most underrated defenders heading into this weekend's selection process.

2019 NHL Mock Draft: Predicting a turbulent first round - Sportsnet.ca
Sportsnet's prospect guru and draft expert Sam Cosentino has talked to scouts, GMs and viewed all of these players himself throughout the 2018-19 season to end up here, with his 2019 NHL Mock Draft.

Blackhawks open to trading No. 3 pick in Draft, but it's 'unlikely'
The Chicago Blackhawks would consider trading the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, general manager Stan Bowman said Wednesday.

On Frozen Pond

Six Minnesotans selected for USA Hockey's World Junior Summer Showcase - StarTribune.com
The players will be competing for roster spots for the World Junior Championship.

Gophers men's hockey gets much younger with signing of 11 players - StarTribune.com
The Gophers announced a class of 11 incoming freshmen for 2019-20, a group that includes six forwards, three defensemen and two goalies

Off the Trail

Insider Trading: Toronto Maple Leafs in the thick of the trade talk leading up to NHL Draft - TSN.ca
TSN Hockey Insiders Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger and Pierre LeBrun joined host James Duthie to discuss the latest with the Maple Leafs, why GMs in Western Canada might be busy the next few days and much more.

NHL expands video review after calls missed in playoffs - TSN.ca
VANCOUVER — The NHL is expanding its video review process to a format that would have had the potential to alter two notable missed calls during the playoffs — though the rule changes come at a price.

Callahan diagnosed with degenerative back disease - TSN.ca
Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Callahan has been diagnosed with degenerative back disease and will be placed on long-term injured reserve. According to Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois, it has been recommended that Callahan no longer play professional hockey.

Miller signs one-year contract to remain with Ducks
Ryan Miller signed a one-year contract to remain with the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

Perry has 'a fire in me' after being bought out by Ducks
Corey Perry's contract was bought out by the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday.

Luongo decision on future OK with Panthers, whatever it is
Roberto Luongo is expected to tell the Florida Panthers of his plans for next season in the next few days, TSN reported Wednesday.

Burakovsky may not get contract offer to remain with Capitals
Andre Burakovsky, who can become a restricted free agent July 1, may not receive a qualifying offer from the Washington Capitals.

NHL Rumors: Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks
In today's NHL rumor rundown there are updates on some of yesterday's rumor hits including more on Jesse Puljujarvi, Alex Edler, Mikkel Boedker and more.

Even if Mrazek and McElhinney walk, the Hurricanes aren't without options in goal next season - TheHockeyNews
Carolina plucked two pieces off the scrap heap last season and made the post-season, and with an up-and-comer in the AHL and a chance to nab an established veteran on the free agent market, the Hurricanes should be fine even if their two keepers leave this summer.

Five potential destinations for first-time free agent Corey Perry - TheHockeyNews
He's never known any NHL organization other than the Anaheim Ducks, but following his buyout, the veteran winger is set to become a free agent. Where will the former Hart Trophy winner end up next season?

Kyle Dubas says Toronto Maple Leafs won't necessarily match offer sheets - TSN.ca
VANCOUVER — Kyle Dubas says if Mitch Marner — or the Maple Leafs' other restricted free agents, for that matter — signs an offer sheet with another team, Toronto might let the player walk.

New Alex Edler deal with Canucks the sensible solution for both sides - Sportsnet.ca
The idea Vancouver would somehow improve next season without Edler – or anything in trade for him – was always preposterous.

Maple Leafs' Dubas: Good chance Patrick Marleau returns next season - Sportsnet.ca
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas said there's a good chance veteran forward Patrick Marleau will return to the team next season.

Panthers expect to hear Roberto Luongo's plans soon - Sportsnet.ca
The Florida Panthers expect to hear soon what veteran goaltender Roberto Luongo's plans are regarding next season and beyond.

An Open Letter to Mitch Marner, from Steve Dangle - Sportsnet.ca
As the Mitch Marner contract negotiations continue with no end in sight, Steve Dangle has a few things he'd like to get off his chest in an open letter to the Toronto Maple Leafs restricted free agent forward...