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Minnesota Wild: Five predictions for the Wild in the New Year

By Luke Ryan

ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 31: Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild and Charlie Coyle #3 of the Minnesota Wild congratulate Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild on his 1st period goal during a game with the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xcel Energy Center on December 31, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 31: Nino Niederreiter #22 of the Minnesota Wild and Charlie Coyle #3 of the Minnesota Wild congratulate Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild on his 1st period goal during a game with the Pittsburgh Penguins at Xcel Energy Center on December 31, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Paul Fenton of the Minnesota Wild attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: Paul Fenton of the Minnesota Wild attends the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Wild will have a top ten pick at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft

The highest the Minnesota Wild have ever drafted was third overall. That was in their first ever year when they were an expansion team and was used to bring Marian Gaborik to St. Paul.

Beyond that, top ten picks have been relatively scarce; 8 in 19 years with only one of those other than Gaborik being a top 5 choice.

By virtue of trading away draft picks in the hopes of success in the play-offs, the Minnesota Wild haven’t so much as sacrificed their future, but they’ve slowed the rate of change on their roster.

This year, their regular season form is seemingly non-existent and it all seems to point to not even scraping into the play-offs in a wild card berth. Instead, they might be able to draft reasonably high up the board. Let’s take that as a win even if it’s born of losing.

Looking back at their draft selections in the past five years; Joel Eriksson Ek, Jordan Greenway and Luke Kunin are really the only names that stand out. Even then, we’re not exactly talking top-line talent. Alex Tuch, of course, also stands out but the Minnesota Wild allowed him to depart for the Vegas Golden Knights in what has proven a somewhat flawed decision.

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There are still high hopes for the contingent of Russians that have been acquired over the past three drafts too, of course. That is provided that the General Manager has convinced them to eventually head to America.

The hope has to be that the Minnesota Wild finish in a position that gives them a shot at the Draft Lottery. Bringing in a player like Jack Hughes could instantly give them a focal piece to build the future around.

I’m not suggesting for a moment that they should tank like we’ve seen in previous seasons when the prize on offer was Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews, I’m merely pointing to the facts.

Right now, the Minnesota Wild sit 21st in the league, which would see them picking eleventh if there was no movement based on the Draft Lottery results.

Based on that standing, they have a 3% chance of stealing the first overall pick from Ottawa (actually, Colorado!), 3.3% odds of the second pick and a 3.6% shot at the third overall.

By no means are they high odds, but either Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kaako being the reward for the Minnesota Wild would be amazing luck and exactly the sort of luck that you can build upon going forward.

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Whatever happens and whether any or all of these predictions come true, there’s no doubt they’ll be heartbreak and glory in supporting the Minnesota Wild this next year! That is assured.

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