Jack Peart – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #24 Minnesota Wild – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:01:57 +0000

SOUTH BEND, IN - NOVEMBER 14: Michigan State Spartans forward Charlie Stramel (15) reacts after a play during a men's college hockey game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on November 14, 2025 at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend IN. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire)

Prospect System Ranking – 24th (Last Year - 14th)
GM: Bill Guerin Hired: August 2019
COACH: John Hynes Hired: November 2023

It has been a slow build in Minnesota, and one that veered slightly off course for a few seasons. But with Kirill Kaprizov locked into a long-term deal and players like Matt Boldy continuing to develop into one of the NHL’s premier goal scorers, general manager Bill Guerin decided to take a major swing.

Taking advantage of a turbulent situation in the Pacific Northwest, Guerin made one of the most significant moves in franchise history. Parting with a trio of key future assets, along with the club’s 2027 first-round pick, he acquired star defenceman Quinn Hughes. The price was steep, but landing one of the world’s elite blueliners instantly elevated the Wild into legitimate contender status.

Minnesota’s sharp drop in the prospect rankings, however, is not solely tied to the Hughes trade. The more significant factor has been the graduation of several highly regarded prospects, including Zeev Buium, Liam Öhgren (both now traded), and Danila Yurov, who have all moved beyond prospect status and into the NHL picture. Their departures have naturally thinned what was previously considered one of the league’s mid-range pipelines. Now leading the next wave is Charlie Stramel (87th), who is thriving in his junior season at Michigan State as an assistant captain and one of the program’s top offensive contributors. The former first-round pick appears poised to sign his professional contract this spring as he prepares to make the transition to the pro ranks.

Another player enjoying a breakout campaign is 2025 fourth-round selection Adam Benák, a recent Western Michigan commit. The skilled forward has emerged as one of the OHL’s top point-per-game producers while playing a key role for a strong Brantford Bulldogs squad. Meanwhile, at the professional level, prospects such as Riley Heidt (100th), David Špaček (139th), and Hunter Haight are gaining valuable AHL experience and could push for NHL opportunities in the near future.

With Quinn Hughes now anchoring the blue line and a talented forward core already in place, Minnesota appears firmly committed to maximizing its current competitive window. The organization has already sacrificed significant draft capital, including its 2026 first-round pick and second-round selections in the next three drafts. All signs point toward pushing their chips toward contention. The window is open, and the time to capitalize is now.

NHL	RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	2024-25 TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
Min	1	Charlie Stramel	C	21	6-3/215	Michigan State (NCAA)	37	19	25	44	32
Min	2	Riley Heidt	C	21	5-10/180	Iowa (AHL)	71	8	17	25	38
Min	3	David Spacek	D	23	5-11/175	Iowa (AHL)	59	7	29	36	16
Min	3	David Spacek	D	23	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	2	0	0	0	0
Min	4	Ryder Ritchie	RW	19	6-0/175	Boston University (NCAA)	36	7	10	17	28
Min	5	Adam Benak	C	19	5-8/165	Brantford (OHL)	48	28	49	77	29
Min	6	Aron Kiviharju	D	20	5-10/185	HIFK (Fin-Liiga)	48	6	11	17	6
Min	7	Hunter Haight	C	22	5-10/175	Iowa (AHL)	54	18	14	32	22
Min	7	Hunter Haight	C	22	5-10/175	Minnesota (NHL)	9	1	1	2	4
Min	8	Carson Lambos	D	23	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	70	8	11	19	48
Min	8	Carson Lambos	D	23	6-1/200	Minnesota (NHL)	1	0	0	0	0
Min	9	Justin Kipkie	D	20	6-4/205	Arizona State (NCAA)	35	4	9	13	16
Min	10	Theodor Hallquisth	D	18	6-2/185	Troja-Ljungby (Allsvenskan)	30	0	3	3	14
Min	10	Theodor Hallquisth	D	18	6-2/185	Orebro (Swe J20)	17	0	6	6	29
Min	10	Theodor Hallquisth	D	18	6-2/185	Orebro (SHL)	8	0	1	1	2
Min	11	Caedan Bankier	C	23	6-2/190	Iowa (AHL)	66	10	10	20	18
Min	12	Jack Peart	D	23	5-11/185	Iowa (AHL)	61	4	11	15	24
Min	13	Rasmus Kumpulainen	C	20	6-2/190	Iowa (AHL)	48	1	4	5	24
Min	13	Rasmus Kumpulainen	C	20	6-2/190	Iowa (ECHL)	24	5	11	16	16
Min	14	Rieger Lorenz	LW	22	6-3/210	Denver (NCAA)	43	17	18	35	38
Min	14	Rieger Lorenz	LW	22	6-3/210	Iowa (AHL)	3	0	0	0	4
Min	15	Carter Klippenstein	C	19	6-3/180	Brandon (WHL)	38	11	17	28	74

1. Charlie Stramel, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

Sometimes it is worth it for a prospect to play four years in college, Charlie Stramel is proof of why. Ever since transferring to Michigan State, he has added an offensive dimension sorely needed in his game, without losing the two-way prowess that made him special. Stramel’s strong and quick skating is the foundation of his play in every zone. He is a great backchecker, forechecker and is great at annoying opponents during rushes. Adam Nightengale has fully awakened his offensive game, as Stramel nearly eclipsed 20 goals and 50 points this season. Much of the improvement has stemmed from offensive IQ, getting Stramel to become more involved in the offensive zone, and the results have been incredible. The Minnesota Wild are desperate to get this young man over to St. Paul for their playoff run. He is going to be a solid depth center for them this season, and many to come. Is Stramel a potential top six center? Even with this year's breakout, it seems unlikely. However, he has so many quality pro intangibles, it would be wise not to underestimate him.

2. Riley Heidt, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Riley Heidt has faced some expected struggles in his rookie AHL season and hasn’t been able to translate his high-octane playmaking to the next level thus far. This was always the concern with Heidt as a prospect and one of the main reasons his elite WHL scoring ability did not translate into his draft stock being anything higher than a late 2nd round pick. As a smaller player with average skating, it’s incredibly difficult to create the separation needed for offensive creation at higher levels, especially on the playmaking side. However, Heidt is still very young and many players struggle in their first professional season. Next season will be crucial for him to rebound and start showcasing the elite playmaking ability that allowed him to excel in junior. He’s still a ways away from getting a proper look in the NHL at this point but the ceiling remains fairly high with natural offensive ability. In terms of his ceiling, I still think it’s possible he can become a top six player, though a big rebound is needed before that can happen.

3. David Spacek, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Spacek is in his third full season of professional hockey and has emerged as a projectable bottom pairing defenseman in the NHL. He’s a safe defenseman who coaches can trust and is dependable when it comes to putting in a full effort every game. Despite playing in the AHL, he cracked Team Czechia’s roster for the Olympics, which is no easy feat. Spacek also earned his first crack at the NHL, having played in two games so far this season. I would expect him to start earning more time in the big leagues and eventually carve out a role as a bottom-pairing defenseman by the end of next season. Given his play style and career trajectory to this point, it’s unlikely he develops into a top four defenseman but his floor is high and there are signs he’s already outgrowing AHL hockey. Look for him to potentially earn a spot out of training camp next season.

4. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Boston University (NCAA)

Ritchie made the much-anticipated move to college hockey this offseason, heading to Boston University, and he has actually shown some solid strides as a prospect. In a year where almost every Terrier has taken a step back, Ritchie has led all BU freshmen in points, exhibiting some great flashes of his shot and playmaking ability. He’s even made adjustments to improve his game away from the puck, Ritchie has been steadily developing as an offensive threat. However, his move to the NCAA has proved that his upside is as limited as some feared. His skating is still average, and he will likely never be a play driver at any level. Additionally, he doesn’t have the willingness to use his 6’2 frame to play a more two-way game. Ritchie is still showing a limited game as he did in the WHL, however, the offensive upside in spite of his lack of speed gives many hope that with another year in college, he can round into a solid support scorer in the NHL.

5. Adam Benak, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

Selected 102nd overall in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild. Benak spent last season playing with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, recording 59 points in 56 games. After being selected second overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Brantford Bulldogs, Benak decided to make the move to play in the CHL this season. Benak got off to a real hot start with the Bulldogs recording 20 points in his first 10 games. Benak is currently averaging over 1.5 points per game playing on Brantford’s top line. Benak is a highly skilled playmaking center who can shift to the wing. Listed at 5-foot-8, Benak had little difficulty transitioning to the USHL and OHL, showcasing his elite creativity with the puck while producing at a high rate. There is no question he possesses the offensive skill, skating ability, and hockey IQ to project as a scoring winger at the NHL level. The challenge for Benak will come with handling the physical side of pro hockey as an undersized forward. He will need to find a way to bring a high level of consistency to every aspect in his game on the ice. He will need to continue working on winning puck battles against larger opponents through anticipation and body positioning, maintain a high tenacity on loose pucks, and find ways to avoid being closed out of plays. Minnesota is hoping Benak falls towards his ceiling potential and become a mid-round pick player that teams possibly regret overlooking on drafting earlier due to his size.

6. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (Liiga)

Aron Kiviharju, selected 122nd overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2024 NHL Draft, remains one of the most intellectually gifted defenders in his cohort. Once considered a consensus top-tier prospect early in his draft cycle, Kiviharju’s trajectory was interrupted by a significant knee injury in his draft year, causing him to slip in the draft. Since then, he has focused on steady development with HIFK in Liiga, cementing his reputation as a cerebral, high-IQ game manager who prioritizes processing speed over raw physical force. Kiviharju’s game is built on a foundation of elite anticipation and vision. While he is not the biggest defender at 5-foot-10, he relies on active stick-work, tight gap control, and exceptional positioning to negate rush attempts and kill plays efficiently. The primary developmental hurdle remains physical maturity and translating his high-end offensive awareness against heavy professional competition. Projection-wise, Kiviharju profiles as a potential middle-pair NHL defenseman and a specialist on the second power-play unit. His success at the next level will depend on his ability to continue adding strength to his frame to withstand the grind of the professional game while maintaining the elite processing speed that defines his ceiling.

7. Hunter Haight, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

In his sophomore AHL season, Haight has largely failed to increase his stock as a prospect. He has been an average AHL player for almost two seasons now, earning a five game NHL stint in the process. Haight has always been a prospect that scouts like based on his projectable tools. I liked him a lot back in his draft year and thought it was a fine pick by the Wild at #47. The progression hasn’t been ideal since then. The tools are all there – Haight is an above average skater, has good puck handling and can even mix it up physically. There are times he looks like a legit NHLer. For some reason, it is yet to all click for him despite being over 100 games into his pro career. For him, the floor is as a top six AHLer, similar to what he is now. If he can use his tools more effectively, I see a player who can mesh in the bottom-six despite his lack of size.

8. Carson Lambos, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Time is running out for the former first-round pick to live up to expectations. There just hasn’t been significant progression in his development since he was drafted. The knock on Lambos has always been that he lacks any elite traits that will make him an impactful defenseman at the NHL level. This is still very evident in his game and is something that is incredibly difficult to overcome. He's not particularly big or physical, his skating is average and he doesn’t provide much offense from the back end. The concern is that his skating and hockey sense won’t be able to keep up with the NHL pace. He’s already a serviceable AHLer and continues to improve but at this point the ceiling for Lambos is that of a bottom-pairing defenseman. It’s hard to see him reaching top-4 potential the Wild hoped for when they picked him. That being said, he played his first NHL game this season. Perhaps the Wild see him as being fairly close to NHL ready.

9. Justin Kipkie, D, Arizona State University (NCAA)

The aggressive and speedy NCHC conference was a perfect destination for Justin Kipkie. With his solid speed and great dexterity, he has adapted to the quickness of his opponents well, supporting his team on entries and defending the rush. The WHL prepared him at the latter, with his strong stick and gap control being his best facets at killing plays. His aggressiveness can get him in trouble at times, pinching too hard or trying to jump into plays prematurely, leaving him out of position to defend. Kipkie will likely be trusted with more minutes next season as a sophomore, as he has become more disciplined throughout his year. At that time, you could probably expect an uptick in offensive production as he continues to make the adjustment from the WHL to the NCAA. Kipkie's projection remains that of a solid bottom pairing type who could aid in the transition game.

10. Theo Hallquisth, D, Örebro HK (SHL)

While picking long-term project Hallquisth at 52nd overall in the 2025 NHL Draft is still seen as a reach, the Wild should be pretty pleased about how he’s coming along. The young RHD is logging serious minutes in the HockeyAllsvenskan with Troja-Ljungby, where he sees time on both the PK and PP. He’s even getting into SHL games with Orebro. Hallquisth is a mobile, physical defenceman who defends the rush well and is a very reliable passer. There is almost no risk to his game - Hallquisth isn’t someone who makes things happen, he’s more of a play settler and calming presence. He’s got a quick shot from the point, but otherwise his offensive zone play is limited. His gap management and skating quickness have taken steps and look very solid at the pro level. However, defending the cycle is a bit of a challenge currently. Like many young defencemen, he is prone to lapses in concentration and makes mistakes. Hallquisth is at his best when he keeps his game simple. Continued improvement to his overall mobility, physical strength and defensive reads may bear fruit for the Wild in a couple of years. Hallquisth projects to be a defence-first bottom pair defenceman who can PK.

11. Caedan Bankier, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Not a lot of growth from Bankier over these last few seasons and that has to be concerning to the Wild. A former WHL standout and Canadian WJC team member, Bankier may be on the bubble to be qualified.

12. Jack Peart, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Even throughout Peart’s NCAA time, he never really found that next level as an offensive defender. No question he’s intelligent, but average sized, jack of all trades type defenders have a pretty low hit rate. Now in his second pro season, the ceiling looks limited.

13. Rasmus Kumpulainen, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

Playing in his first pro season, Kumpulainen has struggled to adapt. He’s spent half the year in the ECHL for that reason. The big pivot is a solid two-way player, but he looks a long way off.

14. Rieger Lorenz, LW, University of Denver (NCAA)

Lorenz is in the midst of his best NCAA season as a senior at the University of Denver, but the former AJHL standout has failed to really breakthrough offensively as a star at the college level. As such, he could be on the bubble to be signed when this NCAA season ends.

15. Carter Klippenstein, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

The offensive ceiling as a pro is pretty limited. But that’s not why the Wild drafted Klippenstein in the fourth-round last year. He has the size, skating ability, defensive IQ, and physicality to develop into an elite fourth line center and penalty killer.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #11

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 16:00:12 +0000

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 10: Austria's David Reinbacher #5 takes a slapshot against Sweden in Preliminary Round - Group B action at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship at Rogers Place on August 10, 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Top 20 Montreal Canadiens Prospects

1. David Reinbacher - D

Going 5th overall in this summer’s draft, a world of new expectations has been mounted upon the shoulders of the young Austrian defender who wasn’t even thought of as a surefire second rounder as late as the summer of 2022. This catapulting up the ranks automatically brings along unexpected pressures with it, each now compounded by his being diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter disease, which brings about cartilage and bone fragmentations in the knees. It is fully expected that the medical faculty will be able to get the problem under control, but the inherent risk is now only heightened. Nonetheless, Reinbacher is coming off a season for the ages in Switzerland’s top league where he eclipsed the 20-minute ice time mark in 20 of his 49 games on the season and put up an offensive stat- line that ultimately blew away anything seen from an 18-year old defenseman at any point in Switzerland’s top league history. Mark Streit? Roman Josi? They didn’t even come close at that age. Two WJCs and a strong showing at the men’s World Championships topped off a very busy year in which the swift-skating, offensively adept defender wowed the scouting world. He’ll be in Montreal’s main camp, then we find out where he’ll spend the upcoming season.

2. Lane Hutson - D

Standing at 5-10”, 161 pounds, there have been a large number of doubters when it comes to Hutson. This was despite a greater than point-per-game performance with the USNTDP as a defender in his draft year. Skip forward to last season, and what Hutson did as an NCAA freshman is nothing short of remarkable. Scoring the most points for a defender at his age since Brian Leetch (48 in only 38 games), Hutson was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He’s an extremely fun player to watch due to how well he sees the game and how light he is on his feet. He can dance along the blue line or storm up in transition, creating chances in the process. His defensive game seems to have improved from his draft year, with excellent positioning, quick attacks, and an active stick getting in lanes. With the path he’s on, the NHL is just a matter of time.

3. Joshua Roy - RW

Coming into the QMJHL in 2019-20 as the first-overall pick in the QMJHL Draft, there was a ton of excitement around the young forward. He played well in his rookie season, setting the stage for a strong draft year. He was good in that season as well but didn’t take the step forward that was hoped for. Still, the Canadiens bet on him, selecting him 150th overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. He responded with a 119-point season, leading the league in points and getting a nod as a First-Team All-Star. He followed that up with another dominant QMJHL season last year. Roy is an excellent possession player, protecting the puck well with quick, creative hands. His small-area game is excellent. He has done very well at adjusting his game in the moment. He seems like a safe bet to be a top nine contributor and is a candidate to make the jump next season.

4. Sean Farrell - C

It’s no longer a question of when Farrell will make the jump to the NHL since the young prospect has already made that jump. After a strong season in the USHL, Farrell slid in the 2020 NHL Draft all the way to the Canadiens' 124th pick. He responded with a 101-point season with the Chicago Steel and being honored as both the USHL and the USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year. He then made the jump to Harvard University, contributing over one point per game as a freshman. Last season he took another big step forward and was named a Hobey Baker Award Finalist. The Habs rewarded him with an NHL contract, and he made the jump to the league. Farrell is smaller at 5- 9”, 174-pounds, but his offensive intelligence shines every time he hits the ice. He’s well on his way to becoming a top six offensive factor.

5. Owen Beck - C

Selected in the 2022 NHL Draft, 33rd overall, Beck is one of the many OHLers the lost their entire 2020-21 season due to the pandemic. He came back in 2021-22 as an OHL rookie and impressed, being named to the Second All-Rookie Team and as the CHL Scholastic Player of the Year. He’s taken another step forward this season, thanks to his drives through the middle of the ice, his blazing speed, and his ability to dictate the pace of play. That resulted in a nod to Team Canada at the 2023 World Juniors where he won a gold medal, as well as an emergency call-up to the NHL where he played one game with the Canadiens. Look for Beck to make the move to the AHL next season as he attempts to carve out a role as a strong 3C in the NHL as someone who can play in any situation.

6. Logan Mailloux - D

There’s an asterisk next to Mailloux’s name as a Canadiens prospect due to comments earlier this year from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. He noted that if and when the team wants to bring him to the NHL, they’ll review the situation. But he did leave the door open for “redemption and rehabilitation” so Mailloux’s future remains to be seen*. The defender is a big body at 6-3”, 212 pounds, who plays an extremely confident game. He’s always ready to carry the puck on his own or jump into the rush. He needs to work on his timing though, as he can get caught taking risks and making poor decisions. He has a very hard shot and isn’t afraid to get physical. If all things work out for Mailloux, he has the potential to be a second-line defender, but this story doesn’t seem to be over just yet.

*The NHL has since opened the door for Mailloux to play.

7. Filip Mesar - C

After selecting Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Canadiens continued to look to Slovakia in the first round and nabbed Mesar at 26th overall. The winger already had two seasons of men’s hockey under his belt, playing with HK Poprad in the top-Slovak men’s league. He was immediately signed and came overseas, nearly made the NHL roster, then nearly stuck in the AHL, but ultimately was sent to the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers for the season. He’s a very strong skater who excels at getting off the wall and plays with a high level of confidence. He plays hard and fast, enough to help him succeed in the NHL. He might not be an overly offensive player in the league, but he’ll be a consistent contributor able to impact the game on every shift, likely in a middle-six role. He should jump to the AHL - at least - this season.

8. Riley Kidney - C

Kidney just seems to make consistent forward progress in his development. Ever since making the QMJHL in 2019-20, his stock has been rising, leading to back-to-back 100+ point seasons in the league. As is a theme with Canadiens prospects, they selected him 63rd overall in the 2021 NHL Draft, just before his first 100-point explosion. While he has shown the ability to bury the puck, it’s his playmaking ability that truly stands out, and he displays excellent vision and a knack for creating chances. He continues to get better and better and creates opportunities for himself as well, getting to the middle of the ice regularly. Kidney is strong off the puck as well, a competitor who always looks to get the puck back. He likely fits as a strong, bottom six forward and a candidate to move up when needed. His transition to the next level will be telling to his future ceiling.

9. Adam Engstrom - D

One of the fastest rising prospects in the Montreal system, Engstrom has gone from a third rounder last year to one of the top defensive prospects in a deep prospect pool because of his strong debut in the SHL. He was fantastic for Rogle, an organization with a reputation for developing high end defenders. An intelligent two-way blueliner, Engstrom does so many things well. He starts the breakout well thanks to great instincts and quick feet. He can quarterback the powerplay. He has great defensive awareness and understands how to use his mobility to help him be aggressive in his own zone. So what are the next steps? Engstrom will return to Rogle of the SHL this year and will look to establish himself as one of the top defenders in all of Sweden. Maybe that takes one year, maybe two. Our guess has Montreal looking to bring him over following this season, especially if his positive progression continues.

10. Jakub Dobes - G

Goaltender Dobes had his eyes set on the NHL and moving up in the hockey world, heading overseas from Czechia two years before his draft year, starting early in AAA and high school hockey. He moved up to the NAHL and then USHL, catching the attention of the Canadiens, who drafted him 136th overall in 2020. After one more season in the USHL, he moved to NCAA Ohio State where he stood out as a rookie. With a strong sophomore season under his belt as well, the Canadiens saw enough, signing him to his entry-level deal. He has good size at 6- 4”, 201 pounds, challenges attackers, and tracks the puck with ease. His movement can be a struggle, especially laterally, where he can get caught. Stepping into the pros this season will help to shed some light on how he projects. For now, he likely looks like a depth, AHL goaltender.

11. Jacob Fowler - G

A 2023 draft selection, Fowler’s 2022-23 season could not have gone any better. He was the USHL’s Goaltender of the Year and captured a USHL championship. He should be the immediate starter for a great Boston College team next year and will be focusing on improving his agility and quickness throughout his college career.

12. Oliver Kapanen - C

As you might expect from the nephew of former NHL’er Sami Kapanen, Oliver is a speedy, two-way center with a chance to develop into a solid middle six option for the Canadiens. He is coming off his best season to date in Liiga and may only need one more year in Finland before making the jump.

13. Emil Heineman - LW

Heineman is a powerful and quick North/South winger with a great shot and scoring touch. He was an immediate impact player at the end of the year for Laval. Hopefully he can keep that going over a full season this year.

14. Mattias Norlinder - D

Norlinder’s development hasn’t exactly gone the way many had anticipated. A strong offensive defender thanks to his excellent mobility and instincts at the point, Norlinder’s had trouble with consistency in the AHL. This is likely a big year for his development.

15. Jan Mysak - C

After a solid few years in the OHL, it feels like Mysak was really hurt by the Covid situation as his development stalled during that difficult 2020-21 season. His first true pro season last year wasn’t great; he needs to find a way to play between the hash marks like he did in the OHL. It’s still too early to give up on the former second rounder.

16. Cayden Primeau - G

It would appear that Montreal has grown tired of Primeau’s inconsistent play at the AHL level and his inability to truly take that next step forward, as they signed Dobes and drafted a few netminders this year. The former top prospect will need to pass through waivers to be sent down so he will need a huge camp to win back admiration.

17. Jayden Struble - D

Even though his offensive game never developed in college (with Northeastern) the way many thought it might, Struble still offers value as a potential defensive defender thanks to his athleticism and physicality. He will play his first pro year with Laval this season.

18. William Trudeau - D

Trudeau, an intelligent two-way defender and puck mover, had a terrific rookie year with Laval last season and really opened some eyes in the organization. If he can continue to improve his skating, he could be an option for the Canadiens in the near future.

19. Xavier Simoneau - C

The odds are stacked against the diminutive pivot, but don’t completely count him out. The talented playmaker has that feisty demeanour and the speed you look for from smaller players. He showed a lot of promise in his first pro season with Laval.

20. Vinzenz Rohrer - C

A feisty and versatile forward, Rohrer can slide up and down the lineup due to his consistent effort and energy. He made a shocking choice to leave the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL for the Swiss men’s league for this upcoming season and it will be interesting to see how he performs at a pro level.

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MINNESOTA WILD – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #8

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 11:27:30 +0000

Jesper Wallstedt.

Top 20 Minnesota Wild Prospects

1. Jesper Wallstedt - C

Wallstedt has all the tools necessary to become a premier starting goaltender in the NHL, and it's only a matter of time until that potential turns into reality. The Iowa Wild were careful with his workload last season, having him split net duties with veteran Zane McIntyre, but the stoic Swede is no stranger to pressure and probably could have handled more responsibility without even breaking a sweat, despite his young age and it being his first season outside of Sweden. He oozes composure and is well beyond his years in terms of technique and ability to read the play. The phrase “work smarter, not harder” fits him like a glove, as he never seems to scramble or panic, and makes a lot of stops look easy, simply by being in the exact position he needs to be in and letting his form and natural size do the work.

2. Marco Rossi - C

Rossi being robbed of an entire year of hockey due to Covid-related illness at one of the most pivotal times of his development is an utter tragedy. He made a laughingstock of opposing OHL teams in his final season in Ottawa and seemed primed and ready to keep that momentum going. However, anyone who is familiar with him knows that his drive to improve is nearly unparalleled and that if he really wants to become one of the best players in the world (and he does), then it's going to happen eventually. Don't read too much into him coming up short in his first attempt to jump to the NHL. He's almost impossible to strip the puck from, which is a rarity for a player his size, and good luck stopping him from sending it where he wants it to go. Minnesota will pry the door wide open for Rossi this season.

3. Danila Yurov - RW

Yurov was a major wildcard in his draft year, being viewed by some scouts as a possible top 10 talent, while also being viewed with scepticism by others due to the quality of development he was receiving in Russia. After two years of splitting time equally between the junior MHL and the professional KHL he spent the vast majority of his 2022-23 season playing in one of the best leagues in the world, albeit with modest results in terms of offensive production. The bad news is that his ice time was lacking, averaging well below 10 minutes per game. Yurov has the potential to become a well-rounded top six scorer and play-driver at the NHL level, with high-end puck skills, shooting talent, and defence-unravelling processing, but his current developmental situation is raising genuine concerns that his growth will remain stunted until he leaves his homeland.

4. Liam Ohgren - LW

Öhgren's 2021-22 season was a tale of two draft years: he absolutely torched Sweden's top junior league to the tune of 33 goals and 25 assists in just 25 games but managed only a meagre one goal and one assist in 25 appearances in the SHL. This statistical discrepancy led to some questions about how translatable his scoring ability is to the professional level. And while the HockeyAllsvenskan is not on the same level as the SHL, he is nevertheless showing how scalable his game can be. He uses his strength and sturdy frame to fight through checks and win positioning in prime areas and has the shot mechanics and scoring touch to fill the back of the net. He isn't the fastest or most elusive forward but knows how to maximize what he does have when attacking off the rush.

5. Brock Faber - D

The Wild had a lot of defensive depth even before Faber's 2022-23 season ended and he signed his entry-level contract, so it speaks volumes that the team insisted on getting him into their lineup before the end of the regular season to better gauge what he can do against NHL competition. He is a local boy through and through, growing up in Maple Grove and then playing his college hockey about a 15-minute drive from the Wild's home arena. And as if that didn't already raise fan expectations enough, he was a star player on one of the best school teams in the country. The good news is that he takes his game to another level under the bright lights. A sublime skater who also thinks as fast as he moves, Faber left an impact in his NHL debut and isn't going to slow down one bit from here.

6. Marat Khusnutdinov - C

It is going to be fascinating to watch how Khusnutdinov transitions to North America and tries to find his way there, whenever he decides to make that leap. On the bigger ice surface in Russia, he is electrifying. His skating is magnificent, his energy never runs out, and his eyes light up every time he gets the chance to touch the puck. There are few prospects who can go for a Globetrotter-like skate through and around opposing players like Khusnutdinov. He is going to have to get a lot more used to getting hit, stick-checked, and angled to the outside once h moves over to play on the smaller ice surfaces in North America. That said, as hard as it is to single-handedly drive possession in that sort of way in the NHL, Khusnutdinov is one of the few rare talents who could actually make it work.

7. Carson Lambos - D

Lambos has spent the past three seasons on a very strong WHL Winnipeg ICE team, and while that might seem like a good thing overall, questions have arisen about whether it might have been a detriment to his individual development in some ways. Once considered one of the best defensemen in the world for his age group, his stock started to fall early in his draft season and hasn't really recovered since. Most notably, he was omitted from Canada's 2023 World Juniors roster despite having represented his country at the tournament in 2022. His game is balanced and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses, however he hasn't turned into a genuine difference-making, impact player like was once expected. The ICE are so talented and so deep that some of their players don't get enough of the stress-testing that often leads to growth. Turning pro could be a rude awakening for Lambos.

8. Adam Beckman - LW

Beckman has had a few cups of coffee in the NHL already, and while they haven't yet led to his first NHL goal or a full-time role, both of those things seem inevitable. He is a north-south, goal-scoring winger who applies a lot of power to both his skating stride and his shots. Allow him to generate a head of steam and some space with the puck and it usually leads to a quality scoring chance, and without the puck he can close on opponents quickly on the forecheck. His game undeniably tilts more to the offensive side than the defensive side, but with his reach and how easily he can cover ground in a straight line he can still be a disruptive force. With the right linemates and the right usage Beckman could become a 20-goal scorer in the NHL at his peak.

9. Riley Heidt - C

A player’s stats never tell his full story, but in Heidt’s case they paint a fairly accurate picture. A split of 25 goals and 72 assists last season showcases his proclivity for playmaking, and 43 of his 97 points coming with the man advantage make it obvious where his offense shines the brightest. He’s the type of player that a coach wants to have the puck more than any others. He is a true play driver, with a stellar knack for receiving pucks, getting them under his control, keeping them safe under his guard, and then making sure they get where he wants them to go. His head is constantly up and scanning the ice in front of him, and he can handle, pass or shoot the puck without having to redirect his vision. For a smaller forward he plays with a sneaky amount of bite and pestilence. Getting his skating up a notch or two long term is essential, to consistently gain enough separation space to overcome his lack of strength. Despite some limitations with his game, he still projects comfortably as a second-line NHL center and top-unit powerplay specialist.

10. Charlie Stramel - C

While Stramel would not have been our first choice at 21st overall, we understand why the Wild selected him where they did. Even though we had him ranked 61st heading into the draft, we expected him to be a first-round pick. Entering the NCAA as a freshman with a fair amount of prospect hype, his disappointing season with a disappointing Wisconsin program placed a lot of doubt on his upside. Stramel has a big frame at 6- 3” and 215 pounds, and he started to find out how to use that size to his advantage over the course of the season. With his size and strength, he’s extremely difficult to knock off the puck or even off balance. However, consistency was a major issue last year. Will the coaching change to former Minnesota State bench boss Mike Hastings have a profoundly positive effect on his development?

11. Caeden Bankier - C

A big two-way center, Bankier was excellent in the WHL last year, emerging as one of the top pivots in the league. He looks on track to become a quality middle six option for Minnesota in the future and will turn pro this year.

12. Rasmus Kumpulainen - C

The Wild’s second round pick in 2023, Kumpulainen is a rangy pivot with a penchant for driving the net and playing a power game down low. Recently drafted by Oshawa in the CHL Import Draft, there will be a push to get him there to continue his development. The OHL would be a great place for him to focus on improving his skating.

13. Ryan O’Rourke - D

Thus far, O’Rourke’s offensive game hasn’t translated to the pro level, but he remains a solid prospect because of his defensive acumen. A staunch, physical defender, he should become a serviceable #4-6 for Minnesota if he can continue to improve his skating.

14. Samuel Walker - C

Walker, an undersized scoring forward, was signed by Minnesota after the Lightning failed to come to an agreement with him following his senior year at the University of Minnesota. He is coming off a terrific first year in the AHL with Iowa, even getting into some games for the Wild.

15. Jack Peart - D

A strong two-way defender, Peart had a very good sophomore year at St. Cloud State and he has a chance to be one of the better defenders in the NCAA this year if he continues to progress.

16. Hunter Haight - C

Haight’s game really took off following a trade to Saginaw this year and he will look to be a huge piece of their Memorial Cup push this season. The key for Haight is maintaining his physical intensity. He is at his best when he brings a physical element to match his skill.

17. Daemon Hunt - D

Hunt is a similar player to O’Rourke in the sense that his offensive abilities aren’t likely to translate to the pro level, making him more of a mobile, stay-at-home type. The two are likely on a similar timeline and will be battling for a depth spot soon.

18. Vladislav Firstov - LW

Firstov, a big power winger, left UConn to play in the KHL last season. That move was a good one for his development as he was one of the top rookies in the league. He will now return to North America to play in the AHL this year and expectations are high.

19. Mikey Milne - LW

A relentless competitor and a winger with a unrelenting motor, Milne knows exactly what he is and what he can be for the Wild in the future. He’s not going to be a top six option, but if his offensive game continues to develop, he could end up being a great bottom six forward and penalty killer.

20. David Spacek - D

Spacek is coming off a great season that saw him continue his high level of play in the QMJHL, while also helping Czechia to a Silver medal at the WJC as one of the tournament’s best defenders. He is now focusing his attention on turning pro in the AHL and the key will be improving his footwork and mobility.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #4 Minnesota Wild

Derek Neumeier — Thu, 25 May 2023 17:49:22 +0000

The Wild have put together back-to-back 100 points plus seasons. 113 points in 2021-22, good for fifth in the league, falling back slightly to 103 points and 11^th last season. They are currently built around three critical young pieces, superstar 26-year-old Kirill Kaprizov, Matthew Boldy (22) and Joel Eriksson Ek (26). Goaltender Filip Gustavsson emerged last season as a future star at 24-years-old. In the system, they have another outstanding prospect, ranked as the first goaltender overall by McKeen’s, in Jesper Wallstedt. Both have the ability to emerge as a strong number one in net.

GM Bill Guerin was appointed in August 2020 and has overseen the last two drafts. To date, he has held onto his picks and added through trade. He made four first-round picks in those two drafts netting Liam Ohgren (#19), Danila Yurov (#24) and Carson Lambos (#26) along with Wallstedt (#20). He has made 12 picks in the first four rounds over two years, replenishing an already strong prospect system. He has added at the deadline to improve playoff chances, but they have not been large swings but mainly depth adds, apart from Marc-Andre Fleury last year for a second. Nor has he been particularly active in free agency. Marco Rossi joins Wallstedt ranked with our top 20 prospects, at #16, and should make the leap to the NHL next season with a wide-open opportunity. Guerin’s caution to date will likely hold as he sees how this strong system progresses next season. They are not far away from competing for Stanley Cups, and if he sees things lining up, he has the cards to play.

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 06: Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) skates with the puck during the NHL game between Minnesota Wild and Boston Bruins on January 6, 2022, at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire)

Jesper Wallstedt

Wallstedt has all the tools necessary to become a premier starting goaltender in the NHL, and it's only a matter of time until that potential turns into reality. The Iowa Wild were careful with his workload this season, making him split net duties with veteran Zane McIntyre, but the stoic Swede is no stranger to pressure and probably could have handled more responsibility without even breaking a sweat, despite his young age and it being his first season outside of Sweden. He oozes composure and is well beyond his years in terms of technique and reading the play. The phrase “work smarter, not harder” fits him like a glove, as he never seems to scramble or panic, and makes a lot of stops look easy simply from being in the exact position he needs to be in and letting his form and natural size do the work.

2. Marco Rossi

Rossi being robbed of an entire year of hockey at one of the most pivotal times of his development is an utter tragedy. He made a laughingstock of opposing OHL teams in his final season in Ottawa and seemed primed and ready to keep that momentum going. However, anyone who is familiar with him knows that his drive to improve is nearly unparalleled, and that if he really wants to become one of the best players in the world (and he does), then it's going to happen eventually. Don't read too much into him coming up short in his first attempt to jump to the NHL. He's almost impossible to strip the puck from, which is a rarity for a player his size, and good luck stopping him from sending it where he wants it to go. Minnesota will pry the door wide open for Rossi next season.

3. Danila Yurov

Yurov was a major wildcard in his draft year, being viewed by some scouts as a possible top 10 talent, while being viewed with skepticism by others due to the quality of development he was receiving in Russia. After two years of splitting time equally between the junior MHL and the professional KHL he spent the vast majority of his 2022-23 season playing in one of the best leagues in the world, with modest results in terms of points. The bad news is that his ice time was lacking, averaging well below 10 minutes per game. Yurov has the potential to become a well-rounded top six scorer and play-driver at the NHL level, with high-end puck skills, shooting talent and defense-unravelling processing, but his current developmental situation is raising genuine concerns that he is growing as much as he could and should be.

4. Liam Ohgren

Öhgren's 2021-22 season was a tale of two draft years: he absolutely torched Sweden's top junior league to the tune of 33 goals and 25 assists in just 25 games but managed only a meagre one goal and one assist in 25 appearances in the SHL. This statistical discrepancy led to some questions about how translatable his scoring ability is to the professional level. And while the HockeyAllsvenskan is not on the lame level as the SHL, he is nevertheless showing how scalable his game can be. He uses his strength and sturdy frame to fight through checks and win positioning in prime areas and has the shot mechanics and scoring touch to fill the back of the net. He isn't the fastest or most elusive forward but knows how to maximize what he does have when attacking off the rush.

5. Brock Faber

Minnesota had a lot of defensive depth even before Faber's season ended and he signed his entry-level contract, so it speaks volumes that the team insisted on getting him into their lineup before the end of the regular season to better gauge what he can do against NHL competition. He is a local boy through and through, growing up in Maple Grove and then playing his college hockey about a 15-minute drive from the Wild's home arena. And as if that didn't already raise fan expectations enough, he was a star player on one of the best school teams in the country. The good news is that he uses bright spotlights to take his game to another level. A sublime skater who also thinks as fast as he moves, Faber left an impact in his NHL debut and isn't going to slow down one bit from here.

6. Marat Khusnutdinov

It is going to be absolutely fascinating to watch how Khusnutdinov transitions to North America and tries to find his way there, whenever he decides to make that leap. On the bigger ice surface in Russia, he is electrifying. His skating his magnificent, his energy reserves never run out, and his eyes light up every time he gets the chance to touch the puck. There are few prospects who can go for a Globetrotter-like skate through and around opposing players like he can. On smaller ice surfaces, however, he is going to have to get a lot more used to getting hit, stick-checked, and angled to the outside. That said, as hard as it is to single-handedly drive possession in that sort of way in the NHL, Khusnutdinov is one of the few rare talents who could actually make it work.

7. Carson Lambos

Lambos has spent the past two seasons on a very strong Winnipeg team, and while that might seem like a good thing overall, questions have arisen about whether it might have been a detriment to his individual development in some ways. Once considered one of the best defensemen in the world for his age group, his stock started to fall early in his draft season and hasn't really recovered since. Most notably, he was omitted from Canada's 2023 World Juniors roster despite being there in 2022. His game is balanced and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses; however, he hasn't turned into a genuine difference-making, impact player like was once expected. The Ice are so talented and so deep that some of their players don't get enough of the stress-testing that often leads to growth. Turning pro could be a rude awakening for Lambos.

8. Adam Beckman

Beckman has had a few cups of coffee in the NHL already, and while they haven't yet led to his first NHL goal or a full-time role, both of those things do seem inevitable. He is a north-south, goal-scoring winger who applies a lot of power to both his skating stride and his shots. Allow him to generate a head of steam and some space with the puck and it usually leads to a quality scoring chance, and without the puck he can close on opponents quickly on the forecheck. His game undeniably tilts more to the offensive side than the defensive side, but with his reach and how easily he can cover ground in a straight line he can still be a disruptive force. With the right linemates and the right usage Beckman could become a 20-goal scorer in the NHL when he reaches his peak.

9. Caedan Bankier

Bankier took a huge step forward in his development this season and was rewarded with a spot on Canada's World Juniors roster, leaving his very first international tournament with a gold medal around his neck. He could also add a Memorial Cup to his resume this season as a key member of host Kamloop's strong roster. When he has possession of the puck, he is difficult to contain, using his frame, strength and hands to play keep-away, and he is above average at finishing plays as both a playmaker and a shooter. Those strengths have always been there, and he's rounded out his game with improved conditioning, mobility and off-puck play. The overall package is impressive, and further gains in all areas are still possible. Bankier is a very safe bet to make it as an NHLer because he should be able to fit into a variety of different roles.

10. Ryan O'Rourke

There was never any doubt that O'Rourke would find a way to hold his own at the AHL level, especially after a successful junior career that saw him evolve into a steady, sturdy blueliner who was no fun to play against. The real question, though, has always been about just how much NHL upside he possesses. There are some things to really like about his game: his natural leadership, his smarts, his competitive drive. Unfortunately, not he's the most naturally gifted skater or puck handler, and he has less reach than a lot of top defenders who share his strengths. As effective as he is right now, will he be able to shutdown the biggest or the fastest players in the world? At the very least, O'Rourke should become a trustworthy third-pairing defenseman who sets a positive example for his teammates and is low-maintenance for coaches.

2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAM PREVIEW – UNITED STATES

Ethan Hetu — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 15:37:00 +0000

Luke Hughes of USA celebrates after 0-1 during the friendly under-20 ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2022 in Moncton.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

United States National Team Overview

It’s safe to say that given all the talent present on their roster, Team USA’s performance at the 2022 World Junior Championships in Edmonton was a disappointment. The Americans cruised past Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in the group stage, and also pulled ouat a gutsy 3-2 win against Sweden, the eventual bronze medalists. But their undefeated run came to an end as they were upset in the quarterfinals by the Czech Republic, with an undisciplined five-minute major penalty to Brett Berard, as well as an unfortunate injury to Luke Hughes, impeding their ability to make a late comeback.

The success Team USA saw in 2021 was not to be repeated in 2022, but now the Americans enter the 2023 tournament with the hope of re-creating the magic that saw them capture the gold medal so recently. Coach Rand Pecknold will be behind the bench with the goal of translating the success he’s had at Quinnipiac to the international stage.

At the time of writing, the Americans have not yet finalized their tournament roster, with 25 players still vying for a chance to represent their country. Only 23 of those players will truly be registered to participate, with the other two being utilized as spares. Even with those cuts, Team USA looks like it will be able to bank on some pre-existing chemistry, thanks to the USNTDP, to serve as the foundation of their squad.

Up front, the engine of the team is expected to be centered around top 2022 draft picks Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier, and Jimmy Snuggerud. Each player in that trio is off to a hot start to begin their collegiate careers and given their pre-existing chemistry together, the expectation is that they’ll be able to hit the ground running. They’re three of the most talented offensive players at the tournament, and if they get things going, they should be able to do some real damage to opposing defenses. Rounding out the core scoring lineup is a pair of Winnipeg Jets first-rounders, 2021 top pick Chaz Lucius and 2022 selection Rutger McGroarty.

On the back end, the Americans’ defense corps looks filled to the brim with players who should be a treat to watch. Phenom Luke Hughes is the favorite to be the team’s number-one defenseman, and his smooth-skating, electric two-way game will look great on the international stage. Ryan Chesley should be able to provide stability and strength to the Americans’ blueline. Lane Hutson, who has taken the NCAA by storm in his freshman season, will look to exact a great degree of punishment to opposing players unfamiliar with his dynamic, pace-pushing style.

While number-one goalie Kaidan Mbereko is no Spencer Knight, the twice-undrafted netminder has had an incredible start to his collegiate career at Colorado College. With some WJC experience already under his belt, Mbereko’s ability to take the highs and the lows of last year’s tournament and have them inform his decision-making and play in this year’s edition will be a valuable asset. Andrew Oke and Trey Augustine will be waiting in the wings behind Mbereko, but the odds any of them see major action at this tournament are slim. This is Mbereko’s chance to shine, and if he can perform at the tournament as he has so far in college, the Americans will be in good hands.

This is a squad that has an enviable mix of elite top-end talent and carefully chosen role players. While they may not be quite as strong on paper as the team that captured gold in 2021, they have all the ingredients they need to be able to go on a run. While the other members of Group B, notably Finland and Slovakia, will put up a fight, this team has to be considered the favorites to win the group and make a push to win a medal.

10 Players to Watch

Logan Cooley - (ARI) C
For some, Cooley’s selection as the top center at the 2022 NHL draft came as a surprise. For the months, even years leading up to the event, it was presumed that Canadian Shane Wright would be the top center selected. But in choosing Cooley with the third-overall pick while Wright remained on the board, the Arizona Coyotes took a bold bet on the tantalizing package of skills Cooley provides. So far in his freshman season at the University of Minnesota, Cooley has rewarded that faith. With 25 points in 19 games, Cooley ranks second on his team behind likely WJC linemate Jimmy Snuggerud and has proved that his highly creative offensive style would translate to a more difficult level of hockey. He’ll be expected to be a top-of-the-lineup offensive generator for Team USA, and if his above-point-per-game performance at the 2022 tournament is any indication, he should be up to the task.

Luke Hughes - (NJD) D
Luke Hughes made the choice to return to the University of Michigan after a wildly successful sophomore season with the idea that his game could use some more refinement and development at the NCAA level. Now a year older, a year wiser, and a year more developed, Hughes looks poised to build off of his impressive first WJC tournament and become one of the stars of this year’s edition. He scored six points in five games at the 2022 tournament and has scored at nearly a point-per-game rate at Michigan. The largest of the three Hughes brothers, there are few things Hughes can’t do. He uses his mobility expertly to provide value on both ends of the ice, and he looks poised to take the role of Team USA’s number-one defenseman. This tournament offers Hughes a massive stage to showcase the progress he’s made at Michigan and expect coach Pecknold to lean on him heavily.

Jimmy Snuggerud - (STL) RW
In the midst of all the flashy, exciting talent that came out of the USNTDP for the 2022 draft, Jimmy Snuggerud, who went 23rd overall to the St. Louis Blues, probably didn’t get as much standalone attention as he should have. Because he often played next to two of the draft’s top-five selections, the virtues of Snuggerud’s game often didn’t attract the sort of attention and praise they probably deserved. Now, though, this WJC tournament offers the perfect stage to rectify that mistake. Snuggerud, who has set the NCAA ablaze as a freshman with 27 points in 20 games, will likely be re-united with Cooley and Cutter Gauthier to form a line that has the potential to be the best of the tournament. Snuggerud’s puck protection skills and ability to get the most out of his linemates will be of particular value in this best-on-best tournament, making him among the players with the most potential to really pop on the USA’s roster.

Cutter Gauthier of USA celebrates during the friendly under-20 ice hockey game between Sweden and USA on December 21, 2022 in Moncton.
Photo: Simon Hastegård / BILDBYRÅN

Cutter Gauthier - (PHI) LW
Like his former NTDP teammates Cooley and Snuggerud, Gauthier has also had an exceptional start to his collegiate career. Gauthier has quickly become the centerpiece player at Boston College and is scoring at a nearly goal-per-game rate despite a weaker supporting cast than what Cooley and Snuggerud can boast. If Pecknold does indeed reunite that prolific NTDP trio, expect Gauthier to be Team USA’s primary triggerman. With how well the trio works together and how creative Cooley can be at finding passing lanes and opportunities to set up linemates where none immediately appear to exist, Gauthier having a sort of 2018 Kieffer Bellows-like tournament where he simply keeps finding the back of the net would not be a complete shock. He’s an incredible offensive talent, and his presence on the team should make enjoying Team USA’s top line go to work one of the biggest treats in the tournament.

Chaz Lucius - (WPG) C
Since somewhat unexpectedly falling to the late teens of the 2021 draft, Chaz Lucius’ development has been a bit rocky. While he still managed to score 19 points in 24 games, injuries derailed the second half of his season, and in the Summer he made the surprising choice to forgo a second year of college in favor of beginning his professional career in the fall. So far, Lucius has been easing into the professional game, playing in a bit of a sheltered role with a healthy dose of power play time. While his production, five points in 12 games, isn’t going to set the world on fire, the AHL is a difficult league for a teenager and that’s a healthy start. The WJC will provide an opportunity for Lucius to add some definitively positive momentum to his development track, and remind everyone why he was such a highly-regarded draft prospect at the NTDP. He does come into this tournament a little banged up, so his injury status will be something to monitor.

Lane Hutson - (MTL) D
When Lane Hutson, who some observers believed was a first-round talent, fell all the way to the Montreal Canadiens at 62nd overall, the drop made some sense. Hutson is, after all, a defenseman with significant size challenges, and were he in the NHL today he would be among the league’s smallest blueliners. But so far in his freshman campaign at Boston University, all Hutson has done is put forth a highly convincing case for why he should have been given more consideration as a potential first-rounder in his draft. Hutson leads all freshmen defensemen in points-per-game with 18 points in 16 games, and his ability to take over shifts and leave a major impact on games has made tuning into Terriers games an extremely exciting prospect. If Pecknold shows a similar level of faith in Hutson that Terriers head coach Jay Pandolfo does, the best-on-best setting could bring out the best Hutson has to offer.

Jack Peart - (MIN) D
After a solid but not overwhelmingly productive freshman season at St. Cloud State, Peart, a Minnesota Wild second-round pick, was expected to take a major jump in his game for his sophomore season. So far, he has delivered, scoring 15 points in 18 games. His performance so far this year has solidified his status as one of the faster-rising prospects in the Wild’s farm. An offensive generator at heart, Peart is expected to have a larger role on this year’s WJC squad than he had at the last tournament. If paired with a more defensively-focused partner, Peart has all the offensive skill to make his mark on a game. While Team USA figures to have quite a few defensemen who possess major offensive talent, Peart has what it takes to put together a tournament to remember.

Kaidan Mbereko - (UNDRAFTED) G
Most of the players who look slated to play major roles on Team USA for this tournament were highly-regarded, highly-drafted prospects. Mbereko is, well, not that. At least not yet, anyway. As a five-foot-eleven goaltender with a sub-.900 save percentage at the USNTDP and with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars, it was not entirely a surprise that Mbereko was passed over at the 2021 and 2022 drafts. Mbereko backstopped the Americans at the 2022 WJC, impressing with a .925 save percentage. Mbereko is in line to get another run at WJC glory this winter, and he’ll do so on the heels of a brilliant start to his first season at Colorado College. In 14 games there Mbereko has a .926 save percentage, and he’s putting together quite the case in advance of his final year of draft eligibility. With light competition for his job as the number-one netminder, Mbereko will have the chance to put an exclamation point on what has been a dream run to start this season.

Red Savage - (DET) C
Most of the players listed thus far come from highly skilled offensive backgrounds and boast advanced toolkits for making the lives of opposing defensemen extremely difficult. Savage isn’t totally devoid of offensive ability, but he’s a clear step down from players such as Cooley and Gauthier. That being said, though, he has his own ways of making the work of opposing players extremely difficult. A 2021 fourth-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, Savage is a highly energetic, physical forward who can contribute in all three zones. He’s expected to be a penalty kill contributor at the tournament, and an important down-the-lineup energy player who can push the pace and wreak havoc on the forecheck. As fun as that might be to watch, a successful team isn’t going just have a lineup full of Logan Cooleys. When the Americans are deep in the trenches of a physical matchup against a top opponent, expect Savage to be there to lead the way in breaking the stalemate.

Sean Behrens - (COL) D
The Americans’ defense corps might surprise some in that out of all eight players brought to the tournament, just two are at or above six feet tall. Behrens is another on Team USA’s roster in the five-foot-ten puck-mover mold, and he plays that style extremely effectively. He was an important defenseman for the Denver Pioneers last season, scoring 29 points in 37 games as a freshman en route to a National Championship victory. Behrens’ production hasn’t quite popped yet this year, but that shouldn’t give anyone pause in their evaluation of the 2021 Colorado Avalanche second-round pick. Behrens is one of the best skating defensemen on the team, and he pairs his smooth work on his feet with a high level of intelligence and hockey IQ. There are few problems that Behrens runs into on the ice that he can’t think or move his way out of, and his skating ability combined with his intelligence and versatility will afford him a chance to be a standout among the Americans’ stable of quality puck-moving defensemen.

Sleeper: Seamus Casey - (NJD) D

With how many standout puck-moving defensemen figure to be at coach Pecknold’s disposal for this WJC, it’s not set in stone that 2022 New Jersey Devils second-round pick Seamus Casey will play a major role at this tournament. But after the start he’s had at the University of Michigan, with 16 points in his first 20 games, it’ll be difficult to count him out. Casey’s skating is his true standout tool, and his mobility holds its own against his best-skating peers. Casey’s offensive IQ and ability to orchestrate dangerous attacking plays from the back end would make him likely to be an important offensive contributor on most other teams. But on this Team USA, it's fair to wonder if his overall skillset, those high-end offensive tools combined with lackluster defensive ability, makes him the right fit for this team given the other players on the roster. That being said, though, if Casey does ultimately get a shot to impress, I wouldn’t want to be the one to bet against him. Of course, given that the USA still needs to register its final roster, there's also a chance that Casey finds himself the odd defender out given the team's offensive blueliner depth.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MINNESOTA WILD – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 18:44:27 +0000

1 - Marco Rossi C

The last two years have not been easy for Marco Rossi, the ninth overall pick by Minnesota in 2020. For those unaware, he missed nearly all of the 2020-21 season due to Covid-19 complications. For the average person, this would be quite the setback. However, Rossi is a notoriously hard worker and gym rat and he worked hard to get himself back for the start of last season. It was a highly successful one for him too, as he led the Iowa Wild in scoring and even earned a cup of coffee with Minnesota: quite the remarkable bounce back. The Austrian pivot is a tremendous playmaker. His vision and passing precision may be among the best of any player currently outside of the NHL. He may not be huge, but he is also as strong as an ox, allowing Rossi to control the wall and the puck in open ice. He is so difficult to separate from the puck. He is also a strong two-way presence who brings physical intensity and a hunger for the puck on every shift. If his development goes well, Rossi could easily find himself a candidate for the Selke Trophy at some point during his career. One of the only things missing from his game at a younger age are explosiveness and first step quickness. An average skater, Rossi will need to continue to improve in this department to unlock his full potential. The Wild will be forced to make a tough decision this coming season. It is very likely he will push hard for a spot on the Wild’s main roster; however, Minnesota’s forward depth is very strong right now. They could use Rossi in a fourth line center role and ease him in, using him on the penalty kill and higher in the lineup pending injuries, or they could return him to Iowa so that he can play first line minutes again. Either way, he is not far from making an impact at the NHL level. - BO

2 - Jesper Wallstedt G

The 20^th overall selection in the 2021 NHL draft by the Minnesota Wild, Wallstedt fell on draft day from where many in the public eye thought he was supposed to go. It is fairly hard to evaluate young goaltenders as most are wild cards, but Wallstedt has been a special talent for a long time and continues to prove why. In his draft eligible year, he did something that no other draft eligible goalie has ever done, which was play his entire 18-year-old season as the starting goaltender in the SHL. Not only did Wallstedt start, but he performed surprisingly well, finishing the year with 12 wins, a 2.23 GAA and a .908 SV% in 22 games on a poor Luleå team. He may not be the biggest goalie prospect but at 6’3” he is not small. For his age, he never seems to lose his composure even when faced with pressure. He tracks shots extremely well from all angles and has strong rebound control, rarely allowing a second shot on net. Wallstedt built on his draft eligible season by improving his numbers this past season, producing 12 wins, a 1.98 GAA and a .918 SV% over 22 games. He also recently played for Sweden in the August World Juniors, where he dominated the field, putting up a 1.62 GAA and a .940 SV% on route to help Sweden capture bronze. He was also named best goaltender in the entire tournament. Wallstedt signed his entry level contract with the Wild and is expected to transition to North America and start the year in the AHL playing for the Iowa Wild. Time will tell, but Wallstedt seems like a generational goalie and someone who folks will wonder how he ever fell to the 20^th pick in his draft year. - ZS

3 - Danila Yurov RW

One of the biggest surprises of the 2022 draft was Yurov lasting as long as the 24^th pick. Even taking the new Russian factor into consideration, a player who was considered a Top 10 talent and has been a consistent performer all season long, falling that much just doesn’t make sense, although Wild fans and management are happy to take advantage of the situation. Yurov has complete player potential, as he demonstrates potential greatness in every area of his game, giving him clear top six upside. One of the internal jokes between the draft analysts was his usage in the KHL last season, as he barely got any ice time there at all despite his number of games there being solid on paper, yet he was mostly dressed as the 13^th forward there. The good news is that, according to his coaches’ comments and as seen in preseason games, it is expected that he will get a full-time role on the KHL team next season. It should also be mentioned that Yurov is in the final year of his KHL contract, although it is not out of the question that he would sign an extension. The quality of opportunity provided to him will likely play an outsized role in how much longer Yurov stays in Russia. - VF

4 - Brock Faber D

Brock Faber may have been selected in the second round of the 2020 NHL draft, but it’s difficult to imagine that he’d fall that far if the draft was re-done today. Faber, half of the Wild’s return package as part of the Kevin Fiala trade, has been a treat to watch at Minnesota, doing just about everything a coach could want a shutdown defenseman to do. Faber has been a minutes-eating defenseman for the Golden Gophers, operating in any sort of high-leverage situation his team might find themselves in. The safety that’s present in Faber’s game works to his advantage. When play is at its most hectic, Faber has this way of calming things down and stabilizing his team’s defensive effort. Faber is a goalie’s best friend, and he also should be able to handle a role as an anchor for a more aggressive offensive defenseman who has defensive deficiencies. Albeit very rare, there are some defensemen who are never great scorers at lower levels only to unlock a new level of production as professionals. Faber could be one of those defensemen, likely if he’s paired with offense-first defensemen and therefore placed in more advantageous offensive situations. Faber isn’t enough of an individual creator to rubber-stamp as a potential number-one defenseman, but he looks like as safe of a bet to eventually become a leader in a team’s top-four as any prospect can realistically be. - EH

5 - Liam Ohgren LW

Ohgren was selected 19^th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the most recent NHL draft. He had a dominant draft year in the J20 league playing for Djurgårdens. Statistically, Ohgren put up one of the strongest DY numbers in the J20 league, with 33 goals and 58 points in only 30 games. He also spent some time in the SHL for Djurgårdens, producing 2 points in 25 games in a limited role. Internationally is where Ohgren really stood out. In the April U18 tournament, he was named captain and led his team to a gold medal finish. He left a statement on that tournament with 9 points in 6 games, topped off with 2 goals – including the game winner - and an assist in the gold medal game. Ohgren is balanced offensively, having both power and finesse. He generates power and speed with a quick release which often catches goaltenders off guard. Standing at 6’1”, 200 pounds, he uses his size to protect the puck nicely. The next step needed to elevate his game is to work on the first step in his skating stride. If he can elevate the speed he generates on his skating stride, Ohgren will have plenty of success in the NHL. He should play for Djurgårdens this season, mainly with the senior team. Hopefully his role in the men’s league (Allsvenskan, as the team was relegated last season) will increase, giving him a larger opportunity to showcase and develop his offensive talent. - ZS

6 - Calen Addison D

Acquired as part of the package in the Jason Zucker to Pittsburgh trade a few years ago, Addison has been a standout in the Wild system thus far since turning pro. His offensive skill set and powerplay quarterbacking abilities have transitioned seamlessly to the pro level and it appears that he has significant potential as a point producer on the back end at the NHL level. An undersized defender, Addison has actually proven that he can defend well as a professional. He never backs down from a physical challenge and has developed into a pretty good open ice hitter. So, what’s stopping him from taking that next step as a permanent NHL player? Minnesota’s depth on the blueline is a team strength, even more so after trading for Jacob Middleton late last season. The reality is that there just isn’t space for Addison right now, unless they want him sitting in the press box, which would not be the best thing for his development. So, like he did last year, he will serve as the team’s top defensive call-up in case of injury. Maybe that means at some point this year he earns a permanent spot. He did get into 15 games last year. However, there is also a possibility that Minnesota uses Addison as a trade chip at some point, as the team has championship aspirations in 2022-23. - BO

7 - Carson Lambos D

After missing almost all of his abbreviated draft year, it was great to see Lambos healthy and playing again in Winnipeg. A near point per game player on the blueline for the Ice, he helped them to a terrific year: although with a disappointing finish after they lost to Edmonton in the Conference finals. Lambos is an excellent athlete. His four-way movement is sound, and he has great quickness, exploding quickly to evade forechecks and start the breakout. He may not be a natural offensive defender; his hands and shot probably grade out as average at the NHL level, however he does have some potential to be a point producer. Due to his combination of size, mobility, and physicality, Lambos’ NHL future may be tied to his defensive development. When he plays aggressively, he can be a difference maker in the defensive end. However, there are moments where his concentration seems to wane and his decision making suffers. There is room for improvement in his defensive zone reads. His difficulty with pace was one of the reasons why he was scratched for the majority of the recent WJC’s in Edmonton. This coming season Lambos will return to Winnipeg where he should be one of the WHL’s top defenders. With a strong year of development at both ends, he could push for a spot on Minnesota’s blueline the following season and projects as a solid second pairing defender. - BO

8 - Ryan O'Rourke D

The 39th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft, Ryan O’Rourke has continued to look like a solid pick for the Wild. The former 20th overall selection in the 2018 OHL Draft had a great rookie season, finishing with 22 points (8G,14A) in 62 games. During the 2019-2020 season, O’Rourke was named captain of the Greyhounds and had another great season, finishing with 37 points (7G,30A) in 54 games. In the 2020-2021 season, O’Rourke got the opportunity like some others to play in the AHL, which was an exception made because of the OHL being shutdown. He made the adjustment well and didn’t look out of place, finishing the season with seven points (1G,6A) in 33 games. Getting the experience to play in the AHL as a young defenseman is a great opportunity to grow and O’Rourke definitely did just that. In the 2021-2022 season, O’Rourke made the return to the OHL and had another great season, finishing with 46 points (10G,36A) in 51 games, which was 15th in the league for points by a defenseman and 3rd on the team for assists. O’Rourke’s best assets are his competitiveness and physicality. You know when he’s on the ice because he’s always in the battle for the puck, having a relentless motor that allows him to out-battle any opponent. Not only does he have a motor that never quits, but he also uses great physicality whenever the chance is there, making opponents feel his presences. He’s great at closing gaps in transition and suppressing chances by the net by clearing space well with his body. Going into the 2022-2023 season, O’Rourke will make a return to the AHL and look to continue to be a strong defensive defenseman that can move the puck well. - DK

9 - Marat Khusnutdinov C

Marat Khusnutdinov was selected #37 by the Minnesota Wild in 2020. He has become a more well-rounded player since being selected in the draft. He has also proven to be a team leader, serving as the captain of Russian national teams. And although his production is still below the norm, he hasn't lost his speed advantage over KHL players and has proven, already, to be an excellent role player. Khusnutdinov can be a dynamic offensive player. He has the ability to draw people to him then find that open guy and slide it to him. His hockey IQ is impressive, and he plays a consistent 200-foot game. He is very shifty, always around the puck, battles for every loose puck and needs very little space to make something happen. Khusnutdinov could stand to be better at protecting the puck at full speed and this would allow him to be more of a focal point offensively. Off to a quick start at the KHL level already this season, he will play out both this season and next season under a new contract. After 2023/24, he will have to make a decision on whether to make the jump to Minnesota in an attempt to make the Wild. Given his well-rounded profile, he projects as a middle six center for Minnesota who could potentially play in all situations. - DB

10 - Rieger Lorenz LW

It’s not incredibly common that a player spending his draft season in Canadian Junior A. gets picked in the first two rounds of the NHL draft, but as taking the NCAA becomes more and more of a viable option for Canadian prospects, more picks from leagues such as the AJHL and BCHL will happen. Winger Rieger Lorenz was the 56th overall pick at the 2022 draft, earning his selection there on the backs of an 85-point regular-season campaign with the AJHL’s Okotoks Oilers. The six-foot-two Lorenz looked overqualified for that level. There was little pressure that defenders could apply to Lorenz that Lorenz couldn’t handle. NHL scorers typically must either create space with their skating or their puck protection skills to be impactful offensive players, and at the AJHL level Lorenz was able to create space using both tools. Lorenz protects the puck well in order to give himself space to operate, and he has the edgework to create room with his skating as well. Lorenz will head to the University of Denver next season, and there he will attempt to answer some questions that could keep him from living up to the promise he shows as a second-round pick. Firstly, Lorenz will need to show that his skating is still good enough to separate against top-end college defenders. Secondly, Lorenz will need to improve his play without the puck. He was so dominant at the AJHL level that he simply didn’t need to be a two-way force, as he could have his way offensively more often than not. In the NCAA, Lorenz will face greater tests. He has a chance to become a second or third-line scoring winger at the NHL level if he spends his time at Denver well. - EH

11 - Adam Beckman

There were some ups and downs for the former WHL standout in his first full pro season. His IQ is a major positive, but his skating still needs upgrades before he becomes a consistent offensive threat at the pro level.

12 - Jack Peart

The former second round pick had a strong freshman year at St. Cloud State last season. Creating offense from the backend is his speciality. Even bigger things are expected of him as a sophomore.

13 - Daemon Hunt

If Hunt could only stay healthy. When he’s played, Hunt has been a standout at both ends with the mobility, skill, and physicality to be an impactful two-way defender. However, as he enters his first pro season, durability is a concern.

14 - Filip Gustavsson

Acquired for veteran Cam Talbot, the former Senators young netminder will likely serve as Marc Andre Fleury’s backup this year. Jury is still out on whether he has what it takes to be a starter down the line.

15 - Hunter Haight

Thanks to a lost season (due to the pandemic), Haight is a player who struggled with on ice identity as an OHL rookie and draft eligible player last season. He has a lot of intriguing tools, but how they come together remains to be seen.

16 - David Spacek

The son of former NHL defender Jaroslav Spacek, David is an intelligent two-way puck mover who plays in the QMJHL with Sherbrooke. Upgrading his athleticism and mobility is priority number one.

17 - Vladislav Firstov

After a disappointing junior season with UConn, Firstov has turned pro and will join Iowa next year. The big winger is plenty skilled, but consistency remains an issue.

18 - Michael Milne

A 2022 draft selection, Milne looks like a surefire NHL player in some capacity thanks to his speed, tenacity, and improving skill. The Winnipeg Ice standout has options on where to play this coming year, but he should turn pro.

19 - Marshall Warren

Warren will return to Boston College for his senior season after improving each of his first three NCAA seasons. Warren is mobile and moves the puck efficiently. What will his role at the NHL level be without truly dominant qualities at either end?

20 - Mitchell Chaffee

The big winger, formerly of UMass, continues to be a standout at the AHL level since signing as an FA. He was second in goal scoring for Iowa last year. Durability has proven to be a concern, however, as he has had trouble staying healthy and sustaining momentum which would lead to him cracking Minnesota full time.

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: MINNESOTA WILD – RANK: #6- TIER II

McKeen's Hockey — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 23:28:43 +0000

Minnesota Wild

#6 Minnesota - The Minnesota system thins out after the top 11, but the Wild place five in our top 100, including four first rounders from the past three drafts.

Marco Rossi of the Ottawa 67's. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Matthew Boldy

Another future star former member of the USNTDP class of 2019, Boldy’s slow first half of his freshman season at Boston College has since been long forgotten on the back of a stellar second half to that year and a sophomore campaign that put all doubts to rest – not only with the school, but in a star turn with Team USA at the WJC. A chameleonic winger, Boldy can play in a multitude of styles, making him able to provide his team with whatever they need in a given game situation. He can kill penalties, he can dominate on the power play, and he can take over shifts at even strength. And while he isn’t a naturally aggressive player, if the opposition wants to play rough, Boldy has the strength to handle it, and he doesn’t back down.

He has also occasionally shown that he can play up the middle, too. He can finish chances or set them up for linemates. He can plant himself in front of the opponent’s net, and still handle the puck as if he had yards of space around him. He turned pro after his collegiate season ended and put up an amazing 18 points in 14 AHL games, making it very hard for the Wild to avoid calling him up to the NHL. There should be nothing holding him back from an NHL job this year, starting in a depth role and working his way up to his rightful place on a first line. - RW

Marco Rossi

Saying that the 2020/21 season did not go according to plan for the young Austrian would be an extreme understatement. In a year where the COVID pandemic disrupted hockey leagues around the globe (including Rossi’s former playing spot, the OHL), Rossi lived firsthand through the repercussions of the deadly virus. Rossi fought for his life after contracting COVID and missed the majority of the season; his hockey career secondary to winning a different kind of battle.

Now, thankfully, on the mend, Rossi has recently returned to the ice in hopes of preparing for a return during the 2021/22 season. The 9th overall selection in the 2020 draft will be brought along extremely cautiously, likely eventually playing for Iowa or even spending the year in the Swiss NL near home. While his timeline has likely been disrupted (once thought to have been possibly the most NHL ready prospect in the 2020 draft), Rossi is still a potentially dominant two-way top six center who can be a long-time impact player for the Wild. His work ethic is legendary and if there is a prospect capable of bouncing back strong, it is Rossi. With his tenacity, IQ, and skill, it is hard to see him not becoming an NHL player in some capacity. - BO

Jesper Wallstedt

Scouts love size between the pipes, and Wallstedt is a big 6-3”. He covers a lot of the net while retaining above average athleticism and quickness. His ability to read the play and position himself accordingly is practically unheard of in a teenage goalie. He is very technically proficient, and he is good at preventing second opportunities. Even when he can’t stop the play with a save, generally steers rebounds away from trouble spots. He is calm and composed, avoiding wasted movements, which his aforementioned reading ability allows him to do. His play maintains its standard high level when the stakes are highest as well, such as when he put up a .936 save percentage as a 16-year-old helping Sweden win a U18 world Championship, and this year and his performances in this year’s WJC, helping Sweden to a Bronze.

More impressive to me than his performances in a small sample sharing the Swedish crease in international events has been his league play. It is fair to say that perhaps the only teenaged goalie in recent memory to challenge Wallstedt’s SHL performance was Jacob Markstrom back in 2008-09, although at that time, Markstrom had already been drafted. If we limit ourselves to draft eligible netminders, Wallstedt stands alone. No prospect is a sure thing, particularly in net, but Wallstedt is as close as we have seen in a long time. The Minnesota Wild will continue to monitor his progress this upcoming season, where he could stay in Sweden or head to North America to play in the AHL (or even the WHL). Due to his proficient technical abilities, he could move quickly through the system. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Calen Addison

Calen Addison is a fleet-footed defender that has some pretty dynamic offensive qualities. He looks destined to quarterback a powerplay unit at the highest level and is able to push the pace of play by using his feet. His pucks skills and passing skills support his role as an offensive contributor. His shot isn’t the most powerful, but he has improved his release and has good quickness enabling it to get past the first shot blocker.

He has surprisingly good vision and can execute a lot of difficult passes moving the puck against the flow of play. He is an excellent one timer set up man and is willing to attack with his feet if the shooting lane is taken away. His own zone is still a work in progress where his size can affect his ability to get stops. His stick check is key to managing his own zone. Additionally, rather than battle physically for loose pucks, he aims to win foot races by taking great routes to retrieve. This year at the AHL level he was remarkably productive, bolding well for future offensive success at the NHL level where he has already played his first game. - VG

Carson Lambos

Coming into the season, Lambos was billed as, potentially, the top defender available for the 2021 Draft. However, it was a trying season for the former second overall selection in the WHL bantam draft. Due to the delay of the WHL season, Lambos took his talents to Finland to start the year, playing out of the JYP program. While his production was solid (11 points in 13 games with JYP U20, in addition to two games in Liiga), his decision making left some to be desired as he struggled at times to adapt to the larger ice surface. Then, upon returning home for the start of the WHL season, Lambos was limited to only two games with the Winnipeg Ice after undergoing a heart procedure. This same medical procedure prevented him from playing at the Under 18’s. Needless to say, it was a season to forget.

So why was Lambos still a first round selection? Even if this year was trying, Lambos still possesses the talent and potential to be a top three defender at the NHL level. Firstly, Lambos is a strong skater. At 6’1, 200lbs, Lambos has quick feet, giving him solid four-way mobility. Secondly, Lambos is a reliable player in his own end. He plays with his head on a swivel and does not get overly puck focused or miss his assignments. Other than his health, the major concern is his decision making with the puck and overall vision. Under pressure, he does not always move pucks into good spots, failing to identify passing lanes quick enough. Look for his development to take a positive step forward this season in the WHL with Winnipeg, fully healthy and confident that an NHL organization has his best interests at heart. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Jack Peart

Peart split time in his draft year between his local high school – in this case, Grand Rapids High, being named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey – and Fargo of the USHL. Peart was incredible at the USHL, both in his stint at the beginning of the season, and the end of it, which ended playing against the Chicago Steel for the Clark Cup. Without being a physical specimen or being blessed with a wide array of natural skills, Peart simply does the right thing at the right time, to push his team in the right direction. He is an all-situations defender who reads the game far better than any player whose highest level of experience is 38 total games of USHL action should have any right to. He plays with the poise of a 10-year veteran, shaking the forecheck at the last possible second, ensuring that once he gets the puck up ice for the counterattack, at least one opposing defender is far from the action.

Headed to St. Cloud State, Peart looks like a top three blueliner throughout his prime years. At St. Cloud State, he will hopefully continue to improve some of his physical tools so that they can match his innate feel for the game. Likely more of a long-term project, we at McKeen’s had Peart ranked as a first round caliber player and do feel that he can be a high quality NHL player for the Wild in 3-4 years. - McKeen’s Draft Guide 2021

Marat Khusnutdinov

Khusnutdinov's previous season can be defined as average, however it did not come without adversity. He did well while playing in various Russian leagues, but when he was trusted with a first center duty at the World Juniors, he didn't look to be fully ready for that role and could not really be a go-to leader for Team Russia’s top line wingers. To add to that, a shoulder injury late in the season did not allow Khusnutdinov to end it on a high note.

Khusnutdinov is a high-energy speedster who plays a 200-foot game who will need to continue to get stronger in order to play to his strengths at the North American pro level against men. This season he needs to answer many questions and one of them is about his position going forward, as it looks like coaches might view him as a better fit at wing. It might make sense as he is a rather small (yet athletic) player and playmaking is not exactly his strength. Also, his KHL contract ends after this season, so another question still remaining unanswered is if he is willing to further develop in the KHL or will be joining the Wild system already after that. His projection would be that of a middle six forward who can play in many different situations. - VF

Adam Beckman

After a breakout draft-plus-one season in 2019-20, Beckman got a taste of pro hockey last year, getting into nine games with the AHL’s Iowa Wild and posting three goals and five points before being returned to junior and predictably filling the net in the shortened WHL season. Beckman is a late bloomer who has quickly risen up the Wild’s prospect ranks after being a 4^th round pick in 2019.

His best tool is a dangerous release which can beat goalies from distance. An underrated playmaker, Beckman does well to get into positions to get his shot off but benefits from service and will do best paired with a playmaking center and on the powerplay half-boards. He needs to continue to round out his game and improve his skating, but his instincts are sharp, and he protects the puck well, which could help his game transition to the pro level as he adds muscle onto his frame. Beckman projects to play full-time in the AHL this upcoming season but could get into some NHL games if he continues his meteoric progression. - AS

Ryan O'Rourke

Another OHL player granted the exemption to play in the AHL due to the cancelled OHL season was defender Ryan O’Rourke. Being able to test his defensive abilities against professionals, this was a great scenario for him. There were moments where his age and experience were exposed, but for the most part, he looked like he belonged in the league. O’Rourke is a defensive defenseman who makes smart decisions with and without the puck, understanding when to use his stick or physicality to shut down a play. His gap control and defensive awareness are his best assets, making it very difficult on opponents trying to enter the offensive zone or slot, minimizing chances consistently. He will need to continue to improve offensively and become more consistent to avoid being labelled as a stay-at-home defenseman, but there were moments of him displaying greater offensive abilities by starting breakouts, joining the rush and contributing as a power play quarterback. He has great scoring instincts and a big point shot, which could play at the NHL level.

During the season, O’Rourke was given more time on ice, a role on the power play and even some time killing penalties. He did not get overwhelmed and looked confident and comfortable with the added responsibilities. He projects to be a top four defenseman who can contribute on both special teams and be relied on in defensive situations, bringing a physical presence each shift. After playing more than 20 AHL games, he is eligible to return, but he may end up going back to the OHL to work on improving offensively, to reach his full potential. - DK

Alexander Khovanov

Khovanov was loaned to his home KHL team this season by the Wild and even though the coaches there are known for trusting younger players, it wasn't the case with Khovanov. Despite scoring some fancy shootout goals in the KHL games, he was rather quickly demoted to the VHL where he spent almost the whole season. Apparently, the coaches were not satisfied with Khovanov's attitude and could not work with him. He did make the best of it during the season as he was a very consistent performer in the VHL games.

Overall Khovanov has a truly great amount of puck skills and playmaking. He can score some goals too — there is a reason why he was frequently mentioned as not much less talented than Andrei Svechnikov back in the day. A lot of time has passed since then, so it is about time he starts making his game more mature and intensive, as pro hockey can't be played without adding a more consistent physical approach. Next season he is expected to play in the AHL, and his performance will be very indicative of his NHL potential (even though the talent is undoubtedly there). - VF

Daemon Hunt

Hunt battled through injuries in his draft year, and it caused him to slip to the third round in 2020. Now fully healthy, he proved that Minnesota was correct in selecting him as he bounced back strong to be one of the best defenders in the WHL this past season with Moose Jaw. Hunt looks to be a likely bet to become a high end stay at home type in the NHL, but if his offensive development continues to trend upwards, he could play higher in the lineup.

Vladislav Firstov

A hard-working power forward, Firstov has had two solid seasons with the University of Connecticut to start his college career. He has the skill and strength to dominate down low and in traffic, but the Wild will be looking for him to finally get over the point per game mark as a junior this season.

Connor Dewar

A former standout with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, Dewar had a breakout performance as a second year pro last season, finishing second in scoring for Iowa. A competitive, two-way forward, Dewar has worked hard to improve his skating and projects as a bottom six, high energy player for the Wild.

Marshall Warren

It is still hard to believe that the Wild were able to secure Warren’s rights in the sixth round in 2019. The competitive two-way defender has progressed very well so far in the NCAA with Boston College and will return there for his junior season in 2021/22. Minnesota will be looking for him to become a team leader and one of the better defenders in the conference.

Damien Giroux

A similar player to the aforementioned Dewar, Giroux is also a heart and soul, hardworking, two-way forward who makes up for a lack of physical tools with effort and IQ. He had a solid first pro season with Iowa and projects as a quality bottom six forward and penalty killer for the Wild.

2021 NHL DRAFT: CENTRAL DIVISION REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 21:33:40 +0000

2021 NHL Draft Review

Time to review the draft, in depth. As I have done in previous seasons, this review will cover the league one division at a time. For each team, we will offer a quick summary of their draft class, a deeper look at their first pick/first rounder(s), and then a look at what we think to be the best value pick of their draft class, and a final look at their worst value pick. Once the divisions have all been covered, a final article will go over some other miscellaneous trends of the draft that was (odds & ends), and the annual McKeens shadow draft class. Let’s dig in.

Central Division

Dylan Guenther. Photo by Andy Devlin

Arizona Coyotes

1 (9) Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)

2 (37) Josh Doan, RW, Chicago (USHL)

2 (43) Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)

2 (60) Janis Jerome Moser, D, EHC Biel-Bienne (NL)

4 (107) Emil Martinsen Lilleberg, D, Sparta Sarpsborg (Norway)

4 (122) Rasmus Korhonen, G, Assat U20 (U20 SM-sarja)

5 (139) Manix Landry, C, Gatineau (QMJHL)

6 (171) Cal Thomas, D, Maple Grove HS (USHS-MN)

7 (223) Sam Lipkin, LW, Chicago (USHL)

New General Manager Bill Armstrong’s first draft for the Coyotes (he was GM at the 2020 draft, but per the terms of his contract, was not allowed to participate in the draft) was a curious one. Looking at not being involved on Day One, he pulled off a morning of the draft blockbuster, sending Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Conor Garland to Vancouver for a package including three overpriced veterans each on their final year under contract, and three draft picks, including a top ten pick in this draft, a second rounder next year, and a seventh rounders in 2023. This trade followed a similar deal made a few days prior, where Arizona picked up the dying contract of Andrew Ladd from the Islanders for a second-round selection, and picks in future drafts. The last trade on the draft floor (so to speak) saw the Coyotes leverage their extra picks in later years by sending a 2022 seventh rounder to Montreal for a late seventh rounder this year.

What made the Arizona draft curious though, were not the trades, but many the players they selected. The first pick was a chalk selection, as Dylan Guenther was a top ten talent for anyone, in any draft class. After taking that WHL star, the Coyotes focused almost exclusively on Europeans and college-bound players, with one exception in the fifth round. Furthermore, almost without exception, the players they selected after Guenther were drafted higher than expected, often by a long distance. That one QMJHL player was also the only pick they made of a player standing under 6-0” tall. The final note here goes to their first of three second rounders, Josh Doan, son of Coyotes’ legend Shane Doan, who was invited to announce the pick. A second-year eligible player, the younger Doan may be seen as a nepotism pick by some, but those people will not be familiar with the player. One of the most improved players in the USHL this year, Doan at pick 37 is maybe a touch high, but that is within range of where he belonged, if on the high end of that range. He is advanced enough to be paying dividends to the Coyotes sooner than later.

First round pick – Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), 9^th overall

One of the biggest, purely offensive weapons in the draft class, there was no guarantee that Guenther would be available at pick nine, as he grades out as plus almost across the board. He has a big shot, is a talented puck handler, skates very well, and reads the game very well without shirking duties in his own end. He has the size, and the strength should come, although he is not naturally physically aggressive. That said, he is not shy and will play in the greasy areas and take punishment to make something good happen for his team. After a few years of drafting players for their maturity and two-way sensibilities, Guenther is a nice change of pace as a projected top line scoring winger.

Best value pick(s) –Manix Landry, C, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL), 139^th overall

As mentioned above, Landry was the only player selected by Arizona this year who stands under 6-0” tall. Not by much, by 5-11” isn’t 6-0”. Already the Gatineau captain in his draft year, he doesn’t have top six projection, and none of his physical tools really sticks out, but he has always been able to maximize what he has with the hockey IQ expected of the son of an NHLer (Father Eric played briefly with Montreal and Calgary and for many years in Europe afterwards). The younger Landry also plays gritty enough and with enough energy and positive intangible qualities to be a bottom six option in a few years. Not an exciting pick, but very good value for the fifth round.

Worst value pick – Ilya Fedotov, LW, Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL), 43^rd overall

There were other options for this slot, but they were later rounders. Seventh rounder Sam Lipkin didn’t look like an NHL draft pick in my many viewings of him with Chicago. Sixth rounder Cal Thomas was maybe the third best NHL prospect on his high school team and the second-best defender after the undrafted Henry Nelson. Fourth rounder Emil Martinsen Lilleberg was playing in Norway and was in his third year of eligibility, but in fairness, Swedish teams had already taken notice and he will be in the SHL next year. So Fedotov gets the nod here as the Russian winger was taken in the middle of the second round and we don’t know that he does anything at a level high enough to profile to a top six or middle six slot. His production also doesn’t suggest a player who produces above his tools. He is a lanky young man who skates well and has some decent playmaking ability but is overly mistake prone and reactive. Arizona scouts clearly disagree but we think they could have nabbed him far later if they would have waited.

Allan_Nolan (2) photo by Keith Hershmiller

Chicago Blackhawks

1 (32) Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

2 (62) Colton Dach, C, Saskatoon (WHL)

3 (91) Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray (AJHL)

4 (105) Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga (OHL)

4 (108) Victor Stjernborg, C, Vaxjo HC (SHL)

6 (172) Ilya Safonov, C, Ak Bars Kazan (KHL)

7 (204) Connor Kelley, D, Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA/NCHC)

7 (216) Jalen Luypen, C, Edmonton (WHL)

Like a number of other teams this year, Chicago went big at the draft. By which, I mean that they went almost exclusively for big players. Their first four selections measure in at 6-2”, 6-4”, 6-7”, 6-4”. Among the back half are two more big guys, and two at 5-10”, but even one of that latter duo weights over 200 pounds. Considering the lack of scouting opportunities this year, size doesn’t need too many looks to assess. Other notable points about the Blackhawks’ draft class include the even split between centers and blueliners, as the team did not select any goalies or wingers, and that fact that fully half of their draft class came from Western Canada, none of whom appeared in more than 28 games last year. Finally, as you may have heard, the team used their second-round pick on Saskatoon center Colton Dach, younger brother on current Blackhawks’ rising center Kirby Dach, a pick made the day after they traded for Seth Jones, teaming him up with brother Caleb, the return from another offseason trade.

I do have to wonder how, if at all, Chicago’s draft class would have differed were they not able to come to an agree with Columbus on the eve of the draft to acquire Seth Jones and the last pick of round one, in exchange for Adam Boqvist and pick 12 (a few other picks went in each direction in this trade). What direction would Chicago have headed with pick 12? Would they have taken the most powerful player available at that time, found another way to trade to do so, or even taken one of the two top goalies? We can’t know for sure, but we do know that the draft had started to overweight size and strength by the time Chicago selected Nolan Allan to end day one and can only assume that their strategy changed after the domino effect put into motion by Ottawa’s selection of Tyler Boucher at #10 overall.

First round pick – Nolan Allan, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL), 32^nd overall

Once upon a time a top three pick in the WHL Bantam Draft, Allan has since developed into a poised and reliable own zone defender. He makes the first pass to kickstart the transition. He can be relied upon to defend against the opposition’s best at the junior level. He played a similar role, including PK time, for Team Canada at the recent WU18s, helping his nation to a Gold. The offensive promise that he showed in AAA hockey in Saskatchewan has not yet shown up in the WHL. While not completely useless in the offensive zone, he is a fifth wheel of sorts. If Chicago is current about Allan, he is a number four in the mold of Nicklas Hjalmarsson. If not, he will be more of a number six along the lines of a different former Blackhawk, Slater Koekkoek.

Best value pick – Ethan Del Mastro, D, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL, 105^th overall

Think Nolan Allan, but two inches taller and 15 pounds heavier. Del Mastro is similarly a big, stay at home defender who was highly touted as a Bantam player, showed minimal offensive ability as a junior, although he has had far less time to prove himself at that level due to the OHL cancellation last year. He even played a similar role as Allan for Team Canada at the U18 championships, albeit Del Mastro was rustier with the puck. Del Mastro’s upside and downside are similar to those of Allan but getting the former in the fourth round makes it tremendous value.

Worst value pick – Taige Harding, D, Fort McMurray Oil Barons, AJHL, 91^st overall

A giant (6-7”, 236) in his second year of draft eligibility, Harding added a bit of offense from the blueline this year, going from six points in 46 games in his first draft year, to 13 in 16 games this year. The son of an old Hartford Whalers draft pick, the younger Harding learned to use his size to better establish positioning and succeeded as a 19-year-old in the AJHL. The problem with the pick, beyond the player not really having a clear NHL skillset, is that he likely could have been drafted far later than the third round, indicating that the Blackhawks overvalued him to a large degree.

Södertäljes Oskar Olausson under ishockeymatchen i Hockeyallsvenskan mellan Södertälje och AIK den 29 januari 2021 i Södertälje.
Foto: Kenta Jönsson / BILDBYRÅN

Colorado Avalanche

1 (20) Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL)

2 (47) Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL)

3 (92) Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque (USHL)

7 (220) Taylor Makar, C/LW, Brooks (AJHL)

Not much to say here. Three forwards with good size and one blueliner deciding lacking in size. Of the four picks, the last three will be moving on to college hockey next season, while the first-round pick, the one drafted out of Europe, will be coming to North America to play in the OHL. It is fair to point out that the Avalanche have generally stayed clear of the CHL over the last few drafts, and Olausson is likely to be the only player in the system playing Canadian Major-Junior next season.

If a trend can be spotted out of four picks, it is a complete disregard for drafting young, first-time eligibles. Second rounder Behrens is the only 2003 born player among the quartet. Olausson is a late-birthday 2002 player, while the other two picks are not only re-drafts, but multiple re-drafts. Buyalsky was in his fourth year of eligibility and Makar was in his third year.

First round pick – Oskar Olausson, RW, HV 71 (SHL), 28^th overall

Like all junior aged players in Sweden, Olausson was forced to join the SHL once the junior leagues were cancelled around mid-season due to the pandemic. That said, Olausson was in the process of forcing his way up to the SHL anyway, with 27 points in 16 games before a stint with the Swedish WJC team and a brief period in the second tier HockeyAllsvenskan. He brings a big frame, plus skating and stickhandling and a lack of ego enabling to take on a bottom six role as needed, with the willingness to do the unheralded dirty work in his own zone. He could develop into a decent middle six player with special teams utililty.

Best value pick – Sean Behrens, D, USNTDP (USHL), 47^th overall

While lacking in the size that seemed to be all the rage at the draft this year, Behrens plays a fearless style of hockey, and you rarely notice his dimensional disadvantage on the ice. His skill set is moderate, but he always wrings every ounce of it from his body, pushing the pace and setting his team up for success in all zones. Headed to the University of Denver, the Avalanche will be keeping a close eye on Behrens, whose overall game is not too dissimilar to that of former Pioneer stalwart Ian Mitchell. I believe that he will be able to fit into an Avalanche blueline that already features the likes of Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Samuel Girard, acting as the more stable presence while the others play more dynamically.

Worst value pick – Andrei Buyalsky, C, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL), 92^nd overall

To be clear, I don’t think that Buyalsky was a bad pick at all, but the other option was a late seventh rounder, and Taylor Makar’s selection was suspiciously close to the announcement that his older brother Cale had signed a long-term contract extension with the club. Was the drafting of Taylor a quiet stipulation of his agreement to terms? Maybe. Either way, Taylor is a big winger who has demonstrated good playmaking at the AJHL level, even if he is already 20 years old, and there is scarcely such thing as a risk in the seventh round. As for Buyalsky, he is even older than Makar, turning 21 a few weeks after the draft. A speedster from Kazakhstan, he came to North America last December to play in the USHL and immediately added an exciting element to Dubuque’s attack. He is painfully thin but has decent skill to go along with his wheels. The only real element of risk in his pick is his age, which indicates less room for growth. In a draft class with more than four players, Buyalsky would be very unlikely to be featured in this spot.

Wyatt Johnston of the Windsor Spitfires. Photo by Terry Wilson / OHL Images.

Dallas Stars

1 (23) Wyatt Johnson, RW, Windsor (OHL)

2 (47) Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops (WHL)

2 (48) Artyom Grushnikov, D, Hamilton (OHL)

3 (73) Ayrton Martino, LW, Omaha (USHL)

3 (79) Justin Ertel, LW, Western Capitals (MJAHL)

4 (111) Conner Roulette, LW, Seattle (WHL)

5 (138) Jack Bar, D, Chicago (USHL)

5 (143) Jacob Holmes, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

6 (175) Francesco Arcuri, C, Steel Wings Linz (AplsHL)/Kingston (OHL)

7 (207) Albert Sjoberg, LW, Sodertalje SK J20 (J20 Nationell)

The previous few Dallas drafts prior to 2020 were marked by an abundance of lower upside, “safer” picks. They had physical gifts, but skill was lacking (Miro Heiskanen was an exception). Even 2019, with Thomas Harley, an offensive defender, as their first rounder, saw the team draft for safety with their other picks. While that approach sometimes leads to a late rounder blooming into a bottom of the lineup player, more often than not it leads to a player who doesn’t even garner an Entry-Level Contract. The 2020 draft saw Dallas go in another direction, selecting three forwards with skills to dream on. Sure, they might bust, but those low upside guys also have bust as their respective floors. Anyway, when Dallas named two-way center Wyatt Johnston as their 2021 first rounder, I immediately thought of Ty Dellandrea, a player with a similar profile at the time he was drafted. More smarts than skills, and by a mile. A solid pick for the second round, but not so much on Day One.

More on Johnston soon, but Dallas did a 180 on Day Two, stocking the system with high upside prospect after high upside prospect, giving them, all things considered, one of the draft classes I am most optimistic about in the league. Overwhelmingly North American, only one of their ten players selected don’t have some pre-existing ties to a North American league. They stayed away from goalies, a position of relative strength in the system. And even shied away from defensemen, with only three of the ten players known to patrol the blueline. Unlike many other teams, they were not too concerned with size, and Dallas was the landing spot for a few smaller players who fell further than their respective talent levels would have dictated. The 2021 draft class has the strength to be organization defining for a generation.

First round pick – Wyatt Johnston, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL), 23^rd overall

A tremendous forechecker, Johnston, despite his pedigree as a sixth overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection two years ago, has not shown much offensive punch. Due to the cancellation of the OHL last year, his only game action in the last 12 months was a bottom six role for Team Canada at the WU18s. He was a valuable member of that Gold Medal winning team, but even there he didn’t show as a probable first round pick. He will do the little things right, paying attention to detail, and playing hard in all three zones. His stick work is good enough for a bottom six role, and he has a grinder’s mentality, but will need to improve his skating to reach that ceiling.

Best value pick – Logan Stankoven, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 47^th overall

While Johnston was a role playing for Team Canada, Stankoven was the team’s third highest scoring draft eligible forward. He is a fantastic stick handler, playing courageous at both ends. He recognizes opportunities in an instant and has the skills to capitalize on them. His ability to put the puck in the net is up there with anyone drafted this summer. He is also a gifted skater, with great edges and four-way mobility. So why was he still available in the middle of the second round? Because he is 5-8”. The NHL, as a group, is still deciphering the lessons of Alex DeBrincat and Cole Caufield. Stankoven will join that duo and continue to change minds about the need for size in the NHL.

Without giving profiles of them here, Dallas had quite a few high value picks this year, and I should at least mention Ayrton Martino, Jack Bar, Francesco Arcuri, Conner Roulette, and Albert Sjoberg as steals where they were selected.

Worst value pick – Justin Ertel, LW, Summerside Western Capitals (MJAHL), 79^th overall

While I had some mild concerns about Artyom Grushnikov and Jacob Holmes, neither of whom played at all last season, they had decent pre-draft year pedigrees, and both were expected to be drafted and were drafted near those expectations. Ertel is a different case. He was planning to play for St. Andrew’s the prestigious Ontario prep school, as a stepping stone to NCAA hockey at Cornell, but hockey was cancelled all over Ontario, not just in the OHL, so Ertel went to the Maritimes to play in the relatively obscure MJAHL. He showed enough skill and hockey smarts to gain notice of draft-worthiness, but there is little reason to think that he wouldn’t have still been available two rounds later than the Stars made the move for him. With a draft class of this strength, it won’t hurt Dallas, but it was a bit of a head-scratcher.

210121 Luleås målvakt Jesper Wallstedt under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Luleå och Växjö den 21 januari 2021 i Luleå.
Foto: Simon Eliasson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 159 / SE0026

Minnesota Wild

1 (20) Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL)

1 (26) Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg (WHL)

2 (54) Jack Peart, D, Fargo (USHL)

3 (86) Caedan Bankier, C, Kamloops (WHL)

4 (118) Kyle Masters, D, Red Deer (WHL)

4 (127) Josh Pillar, C, Kamloops (WHL)

6 (182) Nate Benoit, D, Mount St. Charles HS (USHS-RI)

At the cost of a late third round pick, Minnesota traded up two spots in the first round, and snagged the goalie most pundits and scouts – including ourselves – rated as the top goaltender in the draft. We have historically been shy about ranking goalies as first rounders in the past, Wallstedt was an obvious first rounder, who is technically refined, experienced at high levels, and checks all of the boxes for a future NHL starter. More on him soon. The Wild had a second first rounder, and snagged a top defensive prospect in Carson Lambos, a player who might have been off the board much earlier if not for a medical concern that cropped up late in the season.

If the Minnesota draft was just those two first rounders, it would be cause for great optimism for the Wild and their fans. But they continued to pick up good upside, focusing on the blueline, where they used three of their remaining five picks, including one – second rounder Peart – who we had rated as having first round value. The other notable element of the Minnesota draft class was their clear lean towards the WHL, from where four of their seven picks emerged. Even if only Wallstedt lives up to his advanced billing, this draft will be monumental for the Wild. In that case, all other NHL contributions from the remainder of the draft class will be bonuses. And we think there will be more.

First first round pick – Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL), 20^th overall

We were not alone in ranking Wallstedt as the best goalie in the 2021 draft. In fact, the Detroit Red Wings may have been the only team that preferred Sebastian Cossa (probably not, but they were in the minority). Furthermore, we believe that Wallstedt is more advanced at this stage than either Yaroslav Askarov or Spencer Knight were in the past two years. His ability to read the play is especially impressive, helping him stay prepared for whatever the opposition is cooking up. His other tools all also grade out as above average and better. He has a year remaining on his SHL contract and should be competing for time in the Minnesota crease by 2022-23.

Second first round pick – Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg ICE (WHL)

A smooth, fast skater with a well-rounded tool kit through the rest of his game, Lambos already had a very impressive WHL rookie campaign under his belt before the pandemic threatened his follow-up. During the enforced layoff, he had the chance to keep playing in Finland, for the JYP organization, and he excelled in their junior ranks, making a seamless adjustment from the North American game. Lambos expected to return to the WHL at the end of his Finnish experience, but two games after he got back to Winnipeg, an undisclosed medical issue emerged that forced him off the ice again. His medicals are reportedly fine now, giving Minnesota a second first rounder drafted substantially later than was expected before the year began.

Best value pick – Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force (USHL), 54^th overall

To be honest, Minnesota’s best value picks were their two first rounders, but getting Jack Peart at #54 was a third coup for Bill Guerin and the Wild. After crushing in the Minnesota high school ranks at Grand Rapids HS, Peart went back to Fargo of the USHL where he showed zero issue adjusting to the vastly improved level of play. By the postseason, he was the Force’s number one defender, helping lead the team to the Clark Cup finals. Peart is not physically imposing, but his reads and decision making are both incredibly impressive, convincing us to give him a first round ranking in our draft guide. Peart is also the third Minnesota Mr. Hockey to have been drafted by the Wild

Worst value pick – Caiden Bankier, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 86^th overall

As much as we loved Minnesota’s first three picks, the remainder of their selections left us unmoved. None of the four was especially egregious, but third rounder Bankier was their first reach, so he gets the dreaded ‘Worst Value Pick’ spot here. He has good size and decent creativity with the puck, but nothing about his game suggests top size potential, and his style hasn’t fit bottom six characteristics either. In other words, he looks like a tweener. That’s totally fine in the fifth round or later but is gearing for disappointment as a third rounder.

Fyodor Svechkov. Photo by Dan Hickling/Hickling Images

Nashville Predators

1 (19) Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL)

1 (27) Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

3 (72) Anton Olsson, D, Malmo (SHL)

4 (115) Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago (USHL)

4 (124) Jack Matier, D, Ottawa (OHL)

6 (179) Simon Knak, RW, HC Davos (NL)

As the first round was proceeding, the Predators decided that they would rather have two first round picks than have one first and two seconds, and I can’t say that I disagree. The Carolina Hurricanes felt differently, and a trade was born, allowing Nashville to finish Day One with two new talented forwards to add to their prospect pool. To make up for the forward lean on Day One, they went heavily on defense on Day Two, using the first three of their remaining four picks on blueliners.

Curiously, the Predators returned to Carolina on Day Two for another trade up scenario, moving up 11 spots in Round Three by sacrificing their fifth-round pick. With two moves of this nature, it seems fairly clear that Nashville had specific prospects targeted and preferred to miss out on an extra lower probability player in order to secure the player they really wanted. In the end, they have added six new talents to their pool, all of whom have reasonable claims to a future in the NHL. A final, minor note, Nashville didn’t seem to get caught up in the size rush this year, with only one of their six picks measuring in with above-average size, in fourth round blueline Jack Matier.

First first round pick – Fyodor Svechkov, C, Lada Togliatti (VHL), 19^th overall

A well-rounded offensive force who plays with an exciting combination of pace and touch, Svechkov had a very strong regular season split between Russian juniors (MHL) and the nation’s second tier senior league (VHL). But he really shot into wider prominence with a thrilling performance at the WU18s, where his ability to move the puck in the offensive zone was mesmerizing. Nashville has never been shy about drafting Russian players at the top of their draft classes, and Svechkov is next in line. He could be ready for the NHL once his Russian league contract expires after the 2022-23 season.

Second first round pick – Zachary L’Heureux, LW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The former third overall pick in the QMJHL Entry Draft, L’Heureux solidified his status as one of the top draft talents out of the Q with a well-rounded game that emphasizes a wicked shot and a prominent aggressive nature. That latter aspect turned off a few teams and prognosticators, as it led to a pair of suspensions for the winger last year, forcing him to miss time as his team competed for postseason standings. Notably, neither suspension occurred due to a normal, run-of-play type incident, but due to behavior that was, or at least should have been avoidable. Assuming that maturity could stem those types of behaviors in the future, he profiles as a force in a middle six role.

Best value pick – Ryan Ufko, D, Chicago Steel (USHL), 115^th overall & Jack Matier, D, Ottawa 67s (OHL), 124^th overall

These two are of a pair, both defenders being selected in the fourth round by Nashville, when both could easily have been off the board a full round or more earlier than when the Predators finally announced their names around half an hour apart. Although both blueliners are right-handed shots, the rest of their respective profiles couldn’t be more different. Ufko is small, but vicious, with a pronounced aggressive streak and a huge point shot. His skating needs a little work, but he is headed to a defensive factory at UMass and big things should be in his immediate future. Matier is huge, but skates well. He missed the year due to the OHL cancellation, but looked sharp at the WU18s, showing enough puck movement skills that he can profile to at least be viable in a third pairing role if paired with a more dynamic player. Either or both of Ufko and Matier could play a role in the NHL, which is more than can be said for many fourth rounders.

Worst value pick – Anton Olsson, D, Malmo Redhawks (SHL), 72^nd overall

We were probably lower on Olsson as a draft prospect than most other venues, but on its face, a third-round pick for the Swedish defender is not bad value. The only reason he ends up here is that Nashville traded up to get him, so his cost is both the #72 pick, as well as pick #147. Olsson can look good at times, but his feel for the game offensively can also be sorely lacking, leading to questions about his upside. If Olson in the third round is a team’s worst value pick, that team had a pretty good draft.

Zachary Bolduc. Photo courtesy of the QMJHL.

St. Louis Blues

1 (17) Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)

3 (71) Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)

5 (145) Tyson Galloway, D, Calgary (WHL)

7 (198) Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)

One of the smallest draft classes this year, the Blues will benefit from also snapping up perhaps the best value pick in the entire draft. Not much else to state about their draft, as there was no other clear trend in their selections. The four players are all from different geographical locations and range from undersized (Vorobyov) to supersized (Galloway). If their top two picks pan out, this draft class will be deemed a success. If not, it will be a failure. With smaller draft classes, there is no room for error.

First round pick – Zachary Bolduc, C, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL), 17^th overall

A playmaking, two-way center, Bolduc’s production in his draft year was a mild disappointment, with point-per-game rates very similar to what he put up in the previous season, albeit with a vastly different shape. Whereas he scored almost three goals for every assist in 2019-20, last year the ratio was practically flipped, with nearly two assists for every goal scored. At times, his play seemed passive, which could impact his effectiveness, but a touch of added confidence should help him grow in all three zones, into a solid middle six center projection.

Best value pick – Simon Robertsson, RW, Skelleftea AIK (SHL), 71^st overall

Granted, we had Robertsson ranked too high for the draft. We focused too much on his discrete tools – which are all individually very impressive – and less on his overall game and how those tools all work together. The son of former NHL defender Bert Robertsson, young Simon split his draft year between the Swedish junior ranks, which he dominated before the league was cancelled half-way through, and the SHL, where his ice time and impact were both severely limited. He wore a letter for Sweden at the U18s, and performed fine, if not exceptionally. Robertsson has easy top six upside if he can put it all together, and bottom six value if he doesn’t. Getting that in the middle of the third round is a heist, and the Blues knew it, trading up with San Jose to get this pick, at the cost of a later third rounder and a sixth-round pick.

Worst value pick – Ivan Vorobyov, RW, Mamonty Yugry (MHL), 198^th overall

A seventh-round pick would rarely be chosen for this dishonor, but the Blues didn’t give us much to choose from. Their first three picks ranged from solid to exceptional vis-à-vis draft value. Vorobyov is a second time eligible winger who still hasn’t filled out a severely underdeveloped frame. He put up good numbers in the MHL last year (6^th leading scorer among the U19 set, with more stress on playmaking than finishing. Four games over the last two years in the VHL, Russia’s second men’s league constitute his sole experiences above junior hockey, and he has never been selected to represent Russia internationally, even for exhibition games. He is no more a gamble than any player picked in the seventh round, but for St. Louis, he is the biggest gamble of their 2021 draft class.

Chaz Lucius. Photo courtesy of USA Hockey/Rena Laverty

Winnipeg Jets

1 (18) Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL)

2 (50) Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL)

3 (82) Dmitri Kuzmin, D, Dinamo Molodechno (Belarus)

5 (146) Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL)

I can simply repeat much of what was written in this section about the St. Louis draft class. Winnipeg drafted only four players, and at least three of them already look like great value selections. Also like the Blues, the Jets selected three forwards and one defender. If four is enough of a sample size to detect any trends (it usually isn’t), we can at least note that three of Winnipeg’s four picks were out of Russia/former Soviet Union states, although one of those players is expected to move to North America as soon as next season, with third rounder, defender Dmitri Kuzmin signing his Entry Level Contract. His most likely next destination is in the OHL, where Flint controls his CHL player rights.

The above paragraph notwithstanding, Winnipeg hasn’t drafted seven or more players in a single year since 2017, and they had not even drafted six players in a season since 2018. It is exceedingly difficult to maintain a competitive organization when your team has only four or five picks every year while other teams are selecting seven or more. It will be interesting to see if GM Kevin Cheveldayoff continues to trade picks for present help or finally starts to hold onto those assets.

First round pick – Chaz Lucius, C, USNTDP (USHL), 18^th overall

Although his draft year was impacted at both beginning and end by injury, Lucius showed more than enough when he was healthy enough to take the ice that the first half projections placed on him previously were accurate. He was expected to go even higher in fact, but his foot speed was seemingly impacted by his pre-season knee surgery and that may have caused him to slide a few spots to Winnipeg. Skating aside, Lucius is a special offensive talent. His sense of timing and positioning lead to the bulk of his goals – helped along by a quick shot, of course – but he can also contribute as a playmaker thanks to his great ability to read the defense and exploit the smallest of gaps. He could explode with a fully healthy freshman season at Minnesota.

Best value pick – Nikita Chibrikov, RW, SKA-Neva St. Petersburg (VHL), 50^th overall

Like St. Louis, Winnipeg managed to grab a player on Day Two who we had ranked as a first round talent. In this case, Chibrikov is small, but very feisty, and in possession of an exceptional offensive skill set. A creative player with high-energy, his development can go in a number of ways, and his ultimate projection will follow accordingly. Greater offensive consistency is all that stands in his way for a top six outcome, but the energy, reads, and overall mobility would also fit in a bottom six, disruptor role. A full year playing against men in Russia will go a ways towards unveiling his continued path.

Worst value pick – Dmitri Rashevsky, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg (VHL), 146^th overall

This is once more not truly a low value pick. Rashevsky led the top Russian league, the MHL, in goals scored in 2019-20, his second year of draft eligibility, but went undrafted. Now 20 years old, and still exceptionally thin, he made his senior hockey debut last year and was pretty solid, especially in his time in the second tier VHL, where he put up 22 points in 30 games split between two teams. Rashevsky is not currently under contract in Russia, although there has yet to be any indication that Winnipeg wants to lock him in place just yet. If there is a low value element to this pick, it is the question of what is different about Rashevsky now than in the previous two years where he wasn’t selected? Even if there is no difference, perhaps the true answer is that he simply should have been drafted last year.

2021 NHL DRAFT: MINNESOTA WILD REVIEW

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 20:58:20 +0000

210121 Luleås målvakt Jesper Wallstedt under ishockeymatchen i SHL mellan Luleå och Växjö den 21 januari 2021 i Luleå.
Foto: Simon Eliasson / BILDBYRÅN / COP 159 / SE0026

Minnesota Wild

1 (20) Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL)

1 (26) Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg (WHL)

2 (54) Jack Peart, D, Fargo (USHL)

3 (86) Caedan Bankier, C, Kamloops (WHL)

4 (118) Kyle Masters, D, Red Deer (WHL)

4 (127) Josh Pillar, C, Kamloops (WHL)

6 (182) Nate Benoit, D, Mount St. Charles HS (USHS-RI)

First first round pick – Jesper Wallstedt, G, Lulea HF (SHL), 20^th overall

Second first round pick – Carson Lambos, D, JYP U20 (U20 SM-sarja)/Winnipeg ICE (WHL)

Best value pick – Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force (USHL), 54^th overall

Worst value pick – Caiden Bankier, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL), 86^th overall

USHL/USHS: Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force/Grand Rapids HS, 2021 NHL Draft Eligible

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:32:15 +0000

The seventh overall pick of the 2019 USHL Futures Draft, the Fargo Force must have hoped that Jack Peart would have spent more time playing for them and not splitting his time between the USHL and his local Grand Rapids High School. The back and forth seems not to have impacted his development though, as Peart is starting to look like a possible 2021 first rounder. Nor has it impacted the Force, who as of this writing, are tied at one win apiece in the Clark Cup Finals against the Chicago Steel, and Peart has been one of their best performers in the postseason run, with seven points through seven games, leading all USHL defensemen in playoff scoring.

The St. Cloud State commit lacks size but has pretty much everything else you are looking for in a #2/3 NHL defender. In fact, even the lack of size shouldn’t be an issue, as he is strong for his size, and plays gritty. He is a strong, smooth skater, if not on par with the likes of Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar and the like. What is most impressive about Peart is that, despite going back and forth this year between Fargo and Grand Rapids HS, he plays composed and calm, not allowing himself to be forced into an error, or falling behind the pace of the game. He can shut down opposing rushes, minimize the risk of scoring chances against when the puck is in his own end, and aid in creating scoring chances for his own team once possession has been established.

The team that drafts Peart will have to assume that he spends two seasons on campus, but I believe that he could be ready to turn pro after that, a term not dissimilar to that of CHL players. Peart’s great play this year – which included being awarded the Mr. Hockey award in Minnesota, has more and more voices suggesting that this is a first round pick. Add my own voice to that chorus.

Jack Peart	2021 NHL Draft Eligible


Position: D, Shoots L	H/W: 5-11", 181 lbs

Stats to date (GP-G-A-PTS-PIMS)	Fargo Force, USHL (24-1-14-15-14)

	Grand Rapids HS, USHS-MN (18-11-24-35-4)

Skating – While not a high-end, breathtaking skater, Peart skates to a solid top end speed, with a smooth stride that aids in his mobility. Beyond the smoothness, his first few steps really stand out, helping him start with an advantage, as opponents are forced to their heels from the get-go. I am also impressed with his stamina, as his skating stride does not deteriorate late in games or shifts. Carrying the puck out of his own zone allows him to look like an NHL’er in training as he skates with purpose and clean technique. As Peart’s frame is already well-developed, and he is already quite technically sound, this grade is less about projection than many other draft eligible, and more about what he already shows. His mobility also allows him to activate deep in the offensive zone on occasion, knowing he can get back when needed without putting his squad at a disadvantage. Grade: 55

Shot – Peart’s shot is not always a weapon, or doesn’t necessarily look that way, but he has a real knack for getting the puck to the net from the blueline. He isn’t one to have his shot bounce off a shin-pad on its way down. Repeatedly, I have seen him wind up with a sea of legs between himself and the net and the goalie is forced to make the save. On the other hand, we have a wrist shot that has impressive velocity, but is prone to miss wide to the outside (shooting from the left point, the shot goes wide to the right side). His puck moving acumen allows for an NHL power play projection, even without looking like a future contestant in the Hardest Shot competition. Grade: 50

Skills – Peart’s skill game begins with his composure, which is well beyond his years. He has very soft hands, enabling him to receive passes with ease and immediately turn the puck around and on to the next guy. Similarly, those hands allow him to pick off stray passes and turn them and begin handling the puck while carrying it forward without hesitation. His decision making with the puck is generally on point. What he lacks in flash, Peart brings in terms of precision, although he can very easily weave with the puck through a few opponents in the neutral zone if a better pass option isn’t available. In summary, he can do a lot to drive the play from the back end and spot the holes in the opposing defense to attack and exploit. Grade: 55

Smarts – An all-situations defender, spending half of his draft year suiting up for his high school team did not blunt his USHL impact in the least. Peart reads the ice exceptionally for his age group, making the ideal player to begin the transition. He sees the forecheck as well as his passing or skating options and the multitude of options does not force him to rush, nor does he wait too long, which would likewise close the window on some options.

Defensively, he is able to dictate the play of opposing forwards, forcing them into lanes they would rather not take. His defensive stick is active and effective. His processing ability can lead to plays like the following, which occurred in the first game of the Clark Cup Finals: defending in his own end, he recognized an opponent was readying to pass the puck horizontally from the blueline to a forward down low, crossing the slot. Peart saw this developing and jumped into the passing lane, picking off the puck and racing past the two opponents on the blueline and through neutral ice. As he crossed the opposing blueline, with only one defender to beat, he left a drop pass for a teammate who followed him up ice, recognizing that there were no opponents between himself and the lead trailer. Peart continued to skate to the net as his teammate fired a shot towards the goalie, beating Peart to the crease by perhaps one stride. Peart recognized the goalie was playing aggressively, out from his crease and grabbed the rebound on the initial shot, skated a touch wide and past the netminder and easily snuck the puck in. The whole sequence couldn’t have taken more than 5-6 seconds, but in it, he showed how a few reads could change the course of the game.

Of all of the areas of Peart’s game to appreciate, his ability to read the play and do the right thing is most impressive. This has allowed him to jump back and forth between high school and the USHL and to excel in the latter throughout a very impressive postseason (the Clark Cup final is tied 1-1 as I write this) and will allow him to make a seamless transition from the USHL to college next year. Grade: 60

https://www.mckeenshockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/jack_peart_-_1st_period_24_34_-_24_56.mp4

Physicality – Clearly not very big, yet Peart holds his own in physical battles. He plays a strong game defending his own net front. He doesn’t just lean in for space, but his aggression is palpable, with sufficient lower body strength and balance to get the job done. If he can’t move the opposing forward away from the crease, he will at minimum tie him up so as to make him ineffective. The size issue is unlikely to be mitigated at higher levels but he should always be an example of the positive side of the old adage, “it isn’t the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” Peart brings the fight. Grade: 55

Overall Future Projection (OFP): 56

A note on the 20-80 scale used above. We look at five attributes (skating, shooting, puck skills, hockey IQ and physicality) for skaters and six for goalies (athleticism/quickness, compete/temperament, vision/play reading, technique/style, rebound control and puck handling). Each individual attribute is graded along the 20-80 scales, which includes half-grades. The idea is that a projection of 50 in a given attribute meant that our observer believed that the player could get to roughly NHL average at that attribute at maturity.

Jack Peart – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2026 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #24 Minnesota Wild – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Prospect System Ranking – 24th (Last Year - 14th) GM: Bill Guerin Hired: August 2019 COACH: John Hynes Hired: November 2023

1. Charlie Stramel, C, Michigan State University (NCAA)

2. Riley Heidt, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

3. David Spacek, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

4. Ryder Ritchie, RW, Boston University (NCAA)

5. Adam Benak, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

6. Aron Kiviharju, D, HIFK (Liiga)

7. Hunter Haight, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

8. Carson Lambos, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

9. Justin Kipkie, D, Arizona State University (NCAA)

10. Theo Hallquisth, D, Örebro HK (SHL)

11. Caedan Bankier, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

12. Jack Peart, D, Iowa Wild (AHL)

13. Rasmus Kumpulainen, C, Iowa Wild (AHL)

14. Rieger Lorenz, LW, University of Denver (NCAA)

15. Carter Klippenstein, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #11

1. David Reinbacher - D

2. Lane Hutson - D

3. Joshua Roy - RW

4. Sean Farrell - C

5. Owen Beck - C

6. Logan Mailloux - D

7. Filip Mesar - C

8. Riley Kidney - C

9. Adam Engstrom - D

10. Jakub Dobes - G

11. Jacob Fowler - G

12. Oliver Kapanen - C

13. Emil Heineman - LW

14. Mattias Norlinder - D

15. Jan Mysak - C

16. Cayden Primeau - G

17. Jayden Struble - D

18. William Trudeau - D

19. Xavier Simoneau - C

20. Vinzenz Rohrer - C

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MINNESOTA WILD – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #8

Top 20 Minnesota Wild Prospects

1. Jesper Wallstedt - C

2. Marco Rossi - C

3. Danila Yurov - RW

4. Liam Ohgren - LW

5. Brock Faber - D

6. Marat Khusnutdinov - C

7. Carson Lambos - D

8. Adam Beckman - LW

9. Riley Heidt - C

10. Charlie Stramel - C

11. Caeden Bankier - C

12. Rasmus Kumpulainen - C

13. Ryan O’Rourke - D

14. Samuel Walker - C

15. Jack Peart - D

16. Hunter Haight - C

17. Daemon Hunt - D

18. Vladislav Firstov - LW

19. Mikey Milne - LW

20. David Spacek - D

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #4 Minnesota Wild

2023 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP – TEAM PREVIEW – UNITED STATES

United States National Team Overview

10 Players to Watch

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MINNESOTA WILD – Top 20 Prospects

2021-22 TOP 15 PROSPECTS: MINNESOTA WILD – RANK: #6- TIER II

2021 NHL DRAFT: CENTRAL DIVISION REVIEW

2021 NHL Draft Review

Central Division

2021 NHL DRAFT: MINNESOTA WILD REVIEW

USHL/USHS: Jack Peart, D, Fargo Force/Grand Rapids HS, 2021 NHL Draft Eligible

Prospect System Ranking – 24th (Last Year - 14th)
GM: Bill Guerin Hired: August 2019
COACH: John Hynes Hired: November 2023