June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Matthew Dumba poses for a photo after being selected 7th overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not even March yet—the season isn’t even half way over—and the writers at NHL.com already have the first mocks of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The rankings are based off of the NHL standings as of games completed on Friday night, the 22^nd.

According to Mike G. Morreale, Minnesota, at 16^th overall, picks Valeri Nichushkin. At 6’4” and 196-pounds, the Chelyabinsk, Russia native would be an intriguing prospect in Minnesota’s youth movement that already includes such names as Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker, Jonas Brodin, Johan Larsson, Mathew Dumba and many, many more. Nichushkin put on a clinic during this past January’s World Junior Hockey Championships for Team Russia while playing on home soil. While he potted just one goal, in addition to an assist, in six games, his dominating physical presence was quite impressive.

The kid’s play is very reminiscent of Evgeni Malkin, and he was one of the few players that could give Team USA’s top young defensemen Seth Jones—projected to go first overall—and 2012 9^th overall pick Jacob Trouba real issues every time he took to the ice. Could Minnesota, at 16^th overall, get a crack at Nichushkin? Possibly—the “Russian Factor” has presented many an opportunity for teams to snatch up elite players later in the first and second rounds. However, Minnesota doesn’t really have a history of drafting Russian-born players. But, with Minnesota particularly looking for size in the draft, if the big Russian left winger is available at that point, I don’t see the Wild draft table passing him up.

Adam Kimelman has Minnesota drafting a different Russian with the 16^th overall selection—Valentin Zykov. A 6’0” 207-pound right winger from St. Petersburg, Russia, Zykov currently skates for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar of the QMJHL, where he is currently scoring at above a point-per-game pace. What makes things even more interesting, and, perhaps makes this selection all the more logical, is that he plays on the same team as Minnesota’s 2012 second round pick, Raphael Bussieres. Minnesota keeps an eye on their prospects throughout the season, and you can bet that the Russian right winger has also garnered the attention of the Wild brass as they have watched Bussieres grow and mature in his game.

There are three reasons Minnesota should take a serious look at this kid. One, Minnesota’s prospect pool is quite shallow at right wing, and Zykov would be a welcome addition to the team. Two, he’s a right-handed shot, and Minnesota doesn’t have very many of those in their system as evidenced by their all lefty top power play unit. Three, the dreaded Russian Factor isn’t as worrisome with him, considering he made the commitment to play North American major junior hockey. That reason alone may make him the safer pick than Nichushkin, who has spent the season playing junior and professional hockey in Russia.

Steven Hoffner has the Wild taking Adam Erne of the Quebec Remparts with the 16^th overall pick. After notching 18 points in 45 games with the Indiana Ice of the USHL in 2010-11, the 6’1” 196-pound versatile winger took his talented skill set with him to Quebec for the 2011-12 season. As of this writing, in 120 games, he has notched 118 points, including 51 goals, and is a career plus-12 rating. That’s a .98 point-per-game rating—not too shabby for a guy who jumped immediately from the USHL as a rookie. The kid is fast, has a nose for the net and plays an explosive style.

All three mock drafts were interesting to see, and I was surprised with two of the selections—Zykov and Erne. Any one of those three young men would be great additions to Minnesota’s prospect pool, and it is definitely going to be a very exciting, and deep, draft in June. Who will don Forest Green on June 30^th, as Minnesota’s first round selection? It’s hard to say. However, the way this draft is shaping up, it’ll certainly be another quality pick by Minnesota Wild Assistant GM Brent Flahr and the draft team.

June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Matthew Dumba shows off his team jersey after being selected by the Minnesota Wild in the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Could Waterloo’s Ian McCoshen be the next great defenseman drafted by the Wild? Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota has been great at drafting top end players in all rounds of the draft. The club has drafted an especially great group of young forwards the past few years, a few of which have already dipped their toes in the NHL waters. While the Wild do need to replenish the forward prospect cupboard as its contents graduate, it’s the defensive prospect pool that is looking quite shallow at the moment. With top defensive prospect Jonas Brodin likely in St. Paul to stay, that leaves 2012 7^th overall pick Mathew Dumba as the top young gun waiting in the wings. After him is injury prone blue-liner Tyler Cuma and depth defensemen Chay Genoway, Steven Kampfer and Brian Connelly. Not exactly a prospect pool filled with top-four NHL material.

Last year, the draft was full of high-end blue line talent, and the Wild capitalized on it, drafting Dumba fourth of five Western Hockey League defensemen taken in the top eight picks of the draft. This year, there’s a good variety in the list of draft eligible prospects, and it’s looking to be one of the deepest drafts ever—possibly as deep or deeper than the epic draft of 2003. However, there is an interesting amount of big, elite defensemen available in this draft, including Seth Jones, Rasmus Ristolainen, Darnell Nurse and Nikita Zadorov among others in the top end of the draft rankings. The aforementioned Ian McCoshen has also been among this list, slipping in and out of the projected first round depending on who’s making the list.

This season, yours truly has been able to get a good glimpse at McCoshen on a few occasions—he certainly doesn’t disappoint. The kid is a big defenseman at 6’2” 207-pounds and uses his body well to separate opposing skaters from the puck. McCoshen uses his big wingspan to poke the puck off the stick of attacking forwards, and it also comes in handy whenever he needs to retrieve an inaccurate pass in either zone. Another one of his assets is how he can quarterback a team’s top power play unit. He is especially good at cycling the puck down to his forwards from the left point and also has a great point shot. Both McCoshen’s slap and wrist shots are quite heavy and he always finds a way to create scoring chances while playing a defensively responsible game. His wrist shot is especially accurate and can catch a goalie napping quite easily.

While the kid plays some great offense, it’s his defense that especially stands out. He’s a big, smooth and highly mobile defender that can munch a lot of minutes and can play in all situations. He makes a great first pass out of the defensive zone and excels in clearing up traffic in front of the net. McCoshen isn’t a player that’s destined to be a career bottom-pairing NHLer—everything about him, and his style, screams top-four defenseman. A Boston College commit, a few years developing while playing college puck will go a long way in preparing him for the pace and competitiveness of the NHL game.

The only question is if he’ll be available when the Wild make their draft selection. If Minnesota continues on the course they’re currently on, Ristolainen, Nurse or Zadarov would be the better pick. However, if the Wild turn things around in time to make the playoffs, McCoshen would be a great, safe pick late in the first round. Even if Minnesota doesn’t make it into the playoffs, they could still probably pick up McCoshen early in the second round. The young defenseman would certainly be a great addition to a defensive corps that also includes Ryan Suter, Brodin and Dumba.

One thing is for sure; whoever snatches up Ian McCoshen in June is getting an A-level prospect that will likely have a long and prosperous NHL career. If I’m a Minnesota Wild fan, I’m keeping my eye on this kid, and you should, too.