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Top 25 Minnesota Wild players 25-years-old or younger; No. 23 Nick Seeler

By Joseph Gunther

Apr 18, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; General view prior to game three of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; General view prior to game three of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nick Seeler took a big chance by transferring from Nebraska-Omaha to the University of Minnesota after two seasons. The move paid off as the Eden Prairie native improved his prospect status and signed following one season for the Gophers.

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Very few NHL prospects maintain their spot on organizational depth charts when transferring from one United States college program to another. Even fewer raise their stock.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Nick Seeler managed to do the latter. He left the University of Nebraska at Omaha after his sophomore season due to personal reasons. Aside from recording just 19 points in two years, he was a relatively unknown player around hockey circles.

He joined the University of Minnesota, sat out a season and became a standout top-pairing defenseman for the Gophers. He was a very steady and physical presence, especially in the defensive zone and at both blue lines. His production did not pick up – matching his career-high with 10 points, but there was enough to like that the Wild signed him after one season in the maroon and gold.

There was concern from the Wild management about his development. They supported him, but had reservations in the back of their mind.

Seeler worked at getting bigger and stronger and improve his skating during his non-game year. He said at the Wild’s development camp in July that it was beneficial to him.

Dobber prospects only began posting observations of him since he signed with the Wild in April. They posted after the development camp that he was a “menace on the ice” and that “he made his presence known throughout scrimmages and has the makings of a rearguard one would be thankful to have on their side with his snarl and proactivity.”

Hockey’s Future has a little different view has a little different talent evaluation of him. While other’s first take note of his physicality and defensive skills, they look at his skating and two-way ability. They question “whether his skill level and style of play will allow him to succeed at the NHL level.” They predict his future as a fifth or sixth defenseman with an average degree of likelihood.

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His future is probably as a third-pairing defenseman. But, his physical nature, attitude, work ethic and adequate puck skills should make him a quality fifth or sixth defenseman in the future. He probably currently slots in as the sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth best left-handed shooting defenseman in the organization.

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