Minnesota Wild: Draft Night Preview and Info

Ready for the draft? Here’s the information you’ll need to tune in tonight and tomorrow to see who the Minnesota Wild select and if they decide to make more moves other than just selecting draft picks.

Its’ finally here. The NHL Entry Draft is kicking off from First Niagara Center in Buffalo tonight and all indications are that it’s going to be a big night for some clubs. The Minnesota Wild are certainly one of those clubs speculated to make a few moves during this draft. All that talk aside tonight it will be all about the first round. So as you plan your weekend around the draft like I will be, here a few things to help to maximize you draft experience.

Tonight the starting at 6:30 p.m. EST the first round will air on NBCSN. The first round will be the only round picked tonight with the Wild picking 15th overall. The smart money seems to be on Edina stand out and son of former North Star great Brian Bellows, Kieffer Belllows being selected by the Wild in the first round. He’s shown excellent scoring potential playing for the US National Development Team and has a ton of potential to maturate as he plays his college hockey at BU for the next couple of years. Other options for the Wild could be Wisconsin Center Luke Kunin and Mississauga Center Michael McLeod, but my money is on Bellows’ name to be called for the Wild.

Tomorrow the remaining rounds 2 thru 7 will be airing on NHL Network starting at 10 a.m. EST. This will be the day that could see the Wild execute some trades if they plan on doing so during the draft. Pick wise the Wild will be selecting once in the fourth round and twice in the seventh. These picks are still very important to the Wild as they are not picking in every round on Saturday, and more importantly the word is that Chuck Fletcher is most likely not going to trade to get anymore picks.

The fourth round pick could be an important one as there will still be plenty of talent that could blossom into NHL difference makers. My fingers are crossed for a defenseman to re-stock and Griffin Luce from the US National Development Team is my choice. He’s a hard nose defender with size that will get some serious development time at the University of Michigan under the great Red Berenson.

As for the seventh round it’s anyone’s guess who the Wild will select. The storyline will be that the Wild will pick twice and have an opportunity to round out some of the depth chart needs the organization has. The players selected in the seventh round may or may not make it to the NHL, but you’re always going to get max effort from a player at this level of the draft because they know they’ve got something to prove.

Next: Cap Strapped Penguins Offer Great Trade Possibilities

So get ready and grab a beverage of your choice this evening because it’s going to be a good one. I for one will just be excited to see who gets the nod at number fifteen for the Wild. Regardless though it’s just good to know the Wild will be adding a piece or maybe even two this evening depending, and that’s something we’ll all be interested in.

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