Scouting Symphony - Minnesota Wild Mock Draft 2.0

 

We're here once again.

I love doing these, as you can perhaps tell. You see, I really feel like professional sports is like the ultimate reality show - raw, genuine, and totally real. Seeing the almost Julio-Claudian rise and fall of teams, coaches, executives, and of course - players - over the course of several years is part of that equation. It's not just about how many games your team wins in a given year, or how many goals Kirill Kaprizov can score. It's about a lot more. It's about how the decisions your team makes fits in within the larger narrative. Kirill Kaprizov means so much to us because of what came before - he's a total outlier. Someone unique, a brazen mark of heat within the icy evenness of the Wild's legacy. 

Which brings me to this practice of investigating the draft, investigating the next generation of hockey heroes. We really don't know what's in store for these kids yet - whether we'll think of them as stars, villains, saviors, or disappointments. This is just the first step, a brief window into what might come. It's fascinating, when you really think about it, how one guy can really shape your perception of a team. 

Anyway. Enough of the rambling. Let's talk about who I think the Wild should target in the draft this year - again. 

22nd overall: Luca Del Bel Belluz - C - Mississauga Steelheads / OHL

Here's the thing - with Kevin Fiala's uncertain future in Minnesota, a cap crunch, and Kirill Kaprizov on a mid-range contract, I really think it would behoove the Minnesota Wild to think about who the offense is going to run through in five years. This dude is an offensive machine - his puck handling capabilities can only be described as silky, moving to the middle of the ice and getting defenders twisted up. He's got a quick shot and, what's more, makes the right decision with it. He's not a liability in the defensive zone, either. 

He's got the agility and the stick-moving skills, but something teams are going to want to see improve would be his mechanics and his skating. He's also going to want to get stronger on the puck if he wants to hit his ceiling hit in the NHL.

41st overall: Rieger Lorenz - LW - Okotoks Oilers / AJHL

Look, if you take a gander at the Minnesota Wild's prospect pool at present, there's not a ton of guarantees at top-six offensive NHL talent, besides Marco Rossi. Guys like Pavel Novak and Adam Beckman certainly could develop into what we need, but there's a chance we're left wanting when all is said and done. I feel a lot more confident in the defensive players right now, which is why I'm trying to peel as much offensive talent out of this draft as I can - and Rieger Lorenz might be the most underrated player in this class.

This guy can do just about anything. He's a fast playmaker with a deceptive shot, and is basically carrying the Oilers this season. I believe Okotoks frequently has him on the wing, but from a skillset perspective I don't see how he couldn't have a chance at playing center, either. He's big, but that alone doesn't define his game. His intelligence and vision allow him to make all the right passes in the offensive zone. Knows how to finish. Committed to the University of Denver, so there's gonna be a lot more eyes on him soon.

57th overall (maybe): Christian Kyrou - RHD - Erie Otters / OHL

Okay, so technically this pick belongs to the Chicago Blackhawks, a product of the trade that brought Marc-Andre Fleury to Minnesota. However, this spot returns to us should Fleury help us get past the second round of the playoffs - something that I think has to be considered within the realm of possibility. So I thought I'd mock picks in both the first and second rounds, just to give you an idea of what kind of talent we might be able to bring in at that stage.

The Wild's prospect pool (and roster, at present) teems with left handed defenseman. Some damn good ones, too. But I think the Wild could stand to accumulate some more righties on the blue line, and Kyrou is an interesting one. Jordan Kyrou's younger brother, Christian here has enjoyed a monster season being productive on a pretty whelming Erie squad. 

86th overall: Miko Matikka - RW - Jokerit U20 / SM-sarja

Miko is a big 'n strong power forward type that has a healthy helping of offensive pop in his stick. Sensing a trend, here? With this draft, I'm really trying to secure some dynamic offensive talent. Being Wild fans, we know that that's not always easy to come by, and having dudes in the pool who could feasibly step up and start scoring is going to be invaluable to any team that wants to win a ring (that's us.) Committed to the University of Denver.

118th overall: Ian Blomquist - G - Vasteras IK / HockeyAllsvenskan

I reiterated my famous philosophy of regularly restocking the goalie cupboards in my last mock, and it seems even more prudent now. Cam Talbot and Marc-Andre Fleury are both in the proverbial twilight of their careers, and neither look likely to be with the squad long term. Kaapo Kahkonen was sent to San Jose. Hunter Jones has hardly been inspiring. 

I do think that Jesper Wallstedt is the future. Definitely. But again - goalies are strange. Wild fans probably don't need to be reminded that organizational goalie depth can be shallower than it looks. Once we had three NHL-level goalies in the organization, in Josh Harding, Niklas Backstrom, and Darcy Kuemper. Two years later, Devan Dubnyk had to come and save our skins. Life comes at you fast, eh?

Blomquist is really quite good, and I think he has mid-range NHL potential. Having him in the organization as a contingency is only going to help us. 

150th overall: Colton Smith - LW - London Knights / OHL

Colton Smith is an interesting player. Holes in the lineup to begin the OHL's season forced Colton into a top six role for the first several games of the season, where he produced quite a bit and paced London in goalscoring. He's since been moved to the fourth line with a little bit of powerplay time. 

Smith's a big kid with some skill in his hands, so I think he's worth a look here. With the right linemates, I think that you're liable to squeeze some offense out of him. Something's there. Son of the head coach of the Ottawa Senators, DJ Smith.

182nd overall: Brayden Schmitt - RHD - Blainville-Boisbriand Armada / QMJHL

Schmitt here can move. He's not the quickest skater, but he still plays with agility and guile and can get himself into positions to make the right decision, the right pass - which he does frequently. Smart kid that gets himself into the mix in the offensive zone. Definitely what you'd call an offensive defenseman, and although it's fun to watch him shoot, he hasn't really been able to make it work for him in the Q yet. That might be something he leaves behind as he continues his career.