Wild add another Finn

SAINT PAUL , Minn. – In his second draft at the helm, Chuck Fletcher has had a year of experience, a year of evaluating the organization, and a year of his own scouts gathering information. Last season, he was presented with a draft list created mainly for Doug Risebrough, and Fletcher accepted it for what it was. The Wild drafted Nick Leddy, yet another defenseman, after trading down to secure more draft picks. With the Wild’s top prospects being defensemen, the addition of Leddy was not a popular one with Wild fans.
  At the trade deadline, Leddy was included with Kim Johnsson in a trade that brought Cam Barker to the Wild. At the ime of the deal,  it was suggested in the Minneapolis Star Tribine that the Wild was not happy with the development of Leddy under the University of Minnesota ’s system, and added to the glut of defensive picks, he was willing to part with Leddy, the furthest from NHL action. Fletcher and the Wild deny having any issues with his development, or with the University.  
This season, the Wild have the ninth pick overall. The last time the Wild picked ninth, the selection was James Sheppard, who has yet to realize the potential of a player selected that high.  Looking at the list of former number nine picks, the track record is not stunning. Dion Phaneuf tops the list of players taken at that spot in the past 20 years. After that, the talent level drops off rather sharply.
 
All of this adds up to the Wild picking in the top ten, needing top flight prospects at nearly every position except defense and outside the group of players that are likely to make an immediate impact.
 
The popular choice here in Minnesota would be Nick Bjugstad, a big center out from Blaine, a suburb of Minneapolis. His size would be welcome, at 6’ 5” he stills has plenty of room to add muscle, and he has the ability to play nearly anywhere on the ice. However, the Wild have some issues to overcome when it comes to Bjugstad.
  The first and foremost issue will be the fact that Bjugstad is committed to the University of Minnesota. As mentioned above, there may be issues of confidence in the program’ s ability to develop NHL stars.  The second issue is Bjugstad ’s performance in the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. Playing as a man among boys, Bjugstad was nearly invisible, and was shut down easily by the opposing squads.    
Bjugstad’s stock was raised with his performance at the NHL Draft Combine, but the issues outweigh that, and the Wild are unlikely to draft him.
 
That leaves some very good, very solid picks still on the board. Jack Campbell, the top rated goaltender in the draft. Derek Forbert, a highly rated, very big defenseman. Or even Emerson Etem, one of the fastest players in the draft.
 
The biggest area of need for the Wild is forwards. The old adage, however, is that you do not draft for need, instead drafting the best available player, regardless of position. The Wild will follow that advice closely, and at the same time, be able to fill a need.  The best available player still on the board, and best suited to the Wild’s system is Mikael Granlund from HIFK Helsinki. Granlund is a center capable of a solid two-way game; his only drawback is his size. At 5’ 10”, 180 lbs, he is not exactly small, but he will not be the largest player on the ice either. The Wild have some history with Finnish centers, and feel very comfortable drafting out of Europe, so Granlund going in the top ten should not be a shock to anyone. The Hockey News compares him to Saku Koivu in terms of his playing style, and his numbers certainly bear out (40 points in 43 games in the SM-liiga, and 7 points in 6 games in the World Junior Championships). It shows the type of production he can put up against his peers. While neither of those are the NHL, Granlund has shown he has the ability. Couple that with some time in the AHL, he will make a fine addition to the future of the Minnesota Wild.
 
Look for Chuck Fletcher to explore draft day trades, including finally settling the future of goalie Josh Harding, and potentially moving down in the draft to secure more picks. Should he be unable to find a suitable trade, the words you are most likely to hear from Chuck Fletcher will be the following.
 
“With the ninth pick in the 2010 NHL draft, the Minnesota Wild select Mikael Granlund, center from HIFK Helsinki.” To learn more about Mikael Granlund click on his name.
 
The author can be reached at bryan.reynolds@prohockeynews.com