Happy draft season! Earlier this month, Judd Brackett, the Wild’s former director of amateur scouting, left Minnesota to become the assistant general manager for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Brackett had been directing amateur scouting for the Wild for the past five seasons.
Brackett’s tenure had its hits and its misses, but I’d argue the Wild made good use of the assets Brackett acquired in the draft, especially in the first round. In my opinion, these are the five most important draft picks of the Judd Brackett era.
Marco Rossi (F) 2020 Round 1, Pick 9
Marco Rossi was Brackett’s first pick as the head of amateur scouting. Rossi became a regular for the Wild during the 2023-2024 season, notching 21 goals and 40 points in 82 games. He followed that up with 24 goals and 60 points in 82 games in 2024-2025. Constantly dogged with questions about his size and his ability to play center, Rossi had enough trade value to be a big part of the Quinn Hughes deal last season.
Jesper Wallstedt (G) 2021 Round 1, Pick 20
Brackett and the Wild traded up in 2021 to get their goaltender of the future, Jesper Wallstedt. The path hasn’t always been smooth over the past five seasons, but Wallstedt certainly looked like a number-one goaltender last season. Wallstedt made 35 starts in the regular season, posting a .916% save percentage. He was also good in the playoffs, starting 10 of the 11 games for the Wild. He appears poised to be the future in net for the Minnesota Wild.
Liam Öhgren (F) 2022 Round 1, Pick 19
Liam Öhgren has all the tools to become a good middle-six winger in the NHL. He’s been a solid producer in the AHL since coming over to North America in the 2023-2024 season, but he struggled to get consistent opportunities with the Wild. Öhgren had 5 goals and 7 points with Minnesota in 46 games across parts of three seasons. Öhgren’s value may have fallen a bit after being selected 19th overall in 2022, but he still had enough value to be an integral part of the Quinn Hughes deal. Öhgren scored 8 goals and 18 points in 51 games for Vancouver after the trade.
Danila Yurov (F) 2022 Round 1, Pick 24
Danila Yurov was the Wild’s second first-round pick in 2022, but he didn’t play his first season in North America until last year. At just 22 years old, Yurov tallied 12 goals and 27 points in 73 games last season, but questions remain about his offense and his ability to play center. How Danila Yurov’s career plays out will have a big impact on how Minnesota Wild fans look back on Judd Brackett’s tenure.
Zeev Buium (D) 2024 Round 1, Pick 12
Zeev Buium’s Minnesota Wild career was brief, but he’s an important selection because he was the centerpiece of the deal that brought Quinn Hughes to Minnesota. Buium dropped to 12th overall, somewhat surprisingly, on draft night in 2024, and the Wild moved up one spot to nab him. After playing one more year of college hockey at Devner, Buium scored 3 goals and 14 points in 31 games for the Wild before being sent to Vancouver. Buium scored 3 goals and 12 points in 45 games for the Canucks after the trade.
Honorable Mention:
Charlie Stramel (F) 2023 Round 1, Pick 21
Charlie Stramel has certainly had a tumultuous path after being drafted 21st overall in 2023. Stramel began his college career at Wisconsin, where he scored just 8 goals and 23 points in 38 games across his first two seasons with the Badgers. Stramel transferred to Michigan State after his sophomore season and found more success, tallying 28 goals and 71 points in 74 games for the Spartans. Stramel’s future with the Wild remains up in the air; his name has repeatedly come up as a trade asset.
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