For five years, the Minnesota Wild have trusted their director of amateur scouting, Judd Brackett, to stockpile young talent. However, anyone who follows the team closely has to wonder if general manager Bill Guerin believes in any of Brackett’s picks.
The Wild will flip prospects who Brackett and his team have spent years scouting like spare parts. They’ve already moved on from Marat Khusnutdinov and Daemon Hunt. Marco Rossi is likely on the way out, and others are either struggling in the AHL or buried in the system.
It feels less like a GM trusting his scouting department and more like Guerin using Brackett’s draft board as trade bait. Are these two on the same page? If the Wild don’t trust their prospects once they reach the NHL, would Brackett eventually leave the organization?
The pattern is becoming hard to ignore: Brackett drafts them and then Guerin trades them, often for minimal value in return. How long can this last?
Let’s look back at Brackett’s draft selections.
2020 Draft
1. Marco Rossi (C) – 9th Overall
Current Team: Minnesota Wild (NHL)
2. Marat Khusnutdinov (C) – 37th Overall
Current Team: Boston Bruins (NHL)
3. Ryan O’Rourke (D) – 39th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
4. Daemon Hunt (D) – 65th Overall
Current Team: Cleveland Monsters (AHL)
5. Pavel Novak (RW) – 146th Overall
Current Team: HC Motor České Budějovice (Czechia)
Only Rossi remains with the Wild from the 2020 draft class. Minnesota packaged Khusnutdinov for Justin Brazeau. O’Rourke hasn’t progressed toward becoming an NHL player and isn’t even on Minnesota’s call-up list.
The Wild dealt Hunt for David Jiricek, who spent much of the season in the AHL, but could crack the Wild’s roster this fall. They released Novak, who overcame cancer, last year. Best wishes to him!
Ultimately, Rossi is the only player of value they got in 2020.
2021 Draft
1. Jesper Wallstedt (G) – 20th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
2. Carson Lambos (D) – 26th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
3. Jack Peart (D) – 54th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
4. Caedan Bankier (C) – 86th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
5. Josh Pillar (RW) – 127th Overall
Current Team: Univ. of Saskatchewan (USports)
6. Nate Benoit (D) – 182nd Overall
Current Team: Long Island University (NCAA)
Only Wallstedt, Lambos, and Bankier remain from the 2021 draft. Wallstedt is still adjusting to North America, but could back up Filip Gustavsson this fall. Lambos’ opportunities are diminishing; he’s barely been on the call-up list. Bankier projects as a bottom-six NHL forward.
The Wild moved Pillar in a three-way trade for Ryan O’Reilly and has no pro future. Benoit is unlikely to sign. He’s still at the college level and doesn’t look to have a pro future unless he wants to play in Europe. This draft also looks like a failure unless Wallstedt breaks out.
2022 Draft
1. Liam Öhgren (LW) – 19th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
2. Danila Yurov (C/RW) – 24th Overall
Current Team: Minnesota Wild (NHL)
3. Hunter Haight (C) – 47th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
4. Rieger Lorenz (C) – 56th Overall
Current Team: Denver University (NCAA)
5. Michael Milne (LW) – 89th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
6. Ryan Healey (D) – 121st Overall
Current Team: Harvard University (NCAA)
7. David Spacek (D) – 153rd Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
8. Servac Petrovsky (C) – 185th Overall
Current Team: Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia)
2022 is likely Brackett’s best class. Yurov could crack the Wild’s middle-six this fall after signing his Entry-Level Contract (ELC). Öhgren may make the team or spend more time in Iowa, but patience remains crucial.
He could become Minnesota’s version of Dylan Holloway. Haight scored 20 goals in Iowa, which is worth noting. Lorenz hopes to lead Denver to another Frozen Four appearance, but the Pioneers will miss Buium’s presence.
Milne has regressed. While he hit a career-high 15 goals, he hasn’t shown to be a consistent call-up when injuries happen. Healey regressed statistically. Spacek is playing well enough in the AHL that the Wild may flip him for something, and they didn’t sign Petrovsky.
2023 Draft
1. Charlie Stramel (C) – 21st Overall
Current Team: Michigan State (NCAA)
2. Rasmus Kumpulainen (C) – 53rd Overall
Current Team: Pelicans (Liiga)
3. Riley Heidt (C) – 64th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
4. Aaron Pionk (D) – 149th Overall
Current Team: Univ. of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
5. Kalem Parker (D) – 181st Overall
Current Team: Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
6. Jimmy Clark (C) – 213th Overall
Current Team: Univ. of Minnesota (NCAA)
Stramel showed signs of life at Michigan State after two rough years at the University of Wisconsin. He scored 20 points in 67 games for the Badgers. He improved to 27 points in 37 games for the Spartans. He’ll likely sign his ELC deal next year. Kumpulainen is testing himself in Europe, but projects as a bottom-six player.
Heidt is turning pro in Iowa after dominating juniors. His size, lack of two-way play, consistency, and skating caused him to slip in the draft. Can he overcome those flaws?
Pionk’s brother is Neal Pionk, the Winnipeg Jets’ star defenseman. He’s unlikely to match that pedigree but could grow into a bottom-pairing defenseman.
Parker returns to juniors as his ceiling is uncertain. Clark had a breakout college year and might become a Connor Dewar-type depth piece. This draft class could become successful if Stramel and Heidt show legitimate upside.
2024 Draft
1. Zeev Buium (D) – 12th Overall
Current Team: Minnesota Wild (NHL)
2. Ryder Ritchie (RW) – 45th Overall
Current Team: Boston University (NCAA)
3. Aron Kiviharju (D) – 122nd Overall
Current Team: HIFK (Liiga)
4. Sebastian Soini (D) – 140th Overall
Current Team: Ilves (Liiga)
5. Chase Wutzke (G) – 142nd Overall
Current Team: Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
6. Stevie Leskovar (D) – 174th Overall
Current Team: Iowa Wild (AHL)
The 2024 draft also looks strong. Buium will likely quarterback Minnesota’s top power play. He flashed promise in the playoffs against the Vegas Golden Knights and might be Brackett’s crown jewel if he continues progressing. Ritchie could be a steal as he’s ready to tackle NCAA hockey after tearing up juniors.
Kiviharju still believes he’s the draft’s biggest steal. Once hyped as a first-rounder, injuries plummeted his stock. If healthy, he could surprise. Soini stays overseas, but brings size and shutdown ability. Maybe a depth call-up someday?
Wutzke is a long shot because the Wild signed Riley Mercer, who plays his position. Wutzke may become an AHL starter or move elsewhere for playing time. Leskovar brings physicality and size and could be a future call-up option.
Potential core players
Rossi, Buium, Wallstedt, Yurov, and Öhgren
Supporting pieces
Heidt, Haight, Ritchie, Kiviharju, and Stramel
Guerin hired Brackett early in his tenure, and something has to give eventually. Either Brackett isn’t drafting the right players, or Guerin has no patience and belief in developing them. The Wild can’t afford this disconnect forever. If Guerin keeps flipping Brackett’s picks before they mature, why keep Brackett?
If the Wild sign Kirill Kaprizov and retain most of their core, they will need young talent on team-friendly deals. Eventually, they must retain their prospects, and Brackett and Guerin must be on the same page regarding how to draft and develop players who will make an impact in St. Paul.