Minnesota Wild: Which centers could be available in first round of NHL Draft?

The Minnesota Wild have drafted a center in the first round three times since 2015. Will Wild general lmanager Bill Guerin, right, continue that trend this year. The Wild have two picks in the first round. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Wild have drafted a center in the first round three times since 2015. Will Wild general lmanager Bill Guerin, right, continue that trend this year. The Wild have two picks in the first round. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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wyatt johnston, nhl draft
Wyatt Johnston #55 of the Windsor Spitfires celebrates his goal against the Kingston Frontenacs at the WFCU Centre in a March 2020 game (Photo by Dennis Pajot/Getty Images)

The 18-year-old doesn’t have much of a highlight reel from this past season. He is a member of the Windsor Spitfires, part of the Ontario Hockey League that did not have a season this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Johnston did have two goals and five points in five games for Team Canada in the Under-18 World Champioship tournament.

He had 12 goals and 30 points in his rookie season with the Spitfires in 2019-20 and NHL Central Scouting has him ranked No. 16 among North American skaters.

EliteProspects wrote of Johnston:

"Johnston runs the right routes in the offensive zone, supporting teammates by occupying pockets of space and by arriving in scoring spots and the net at the right time to bang in rebounds. He slides passes through defensive layers, holds onto the puck to wait for lanes to open, or creatively aim shots on the goalie’s pads to have them pinball into the open slot for trailing attackers."

The Wild also might have the opportunity grab Colton Dach of Saskatoon in the first round, or Samu Salminen or Xavier Bourgault and Francesco Pinelli, could be options in play as well when Minnesota makes its selection.