MINNEAPOLIS – As hard as it is predicting which prospect will be picked by which team in the top five selections in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, it becomes significantly harder at number ten selection where the Minnesota Wild owns the pick and will be focusing on prospects that will generate offense for the team. Offense has always been lacking in Minnesota. Ever since sniper Marian Gaborik left the team, the Wild have had no goal scorers on their team. Mikko Koivu, Andrew Brunette, and Martin Havlat are all very solid players but none that can be considered top goal scorers. In addition, Andrew Brunette and Antti Miettinen, both who star on the team’s first line alongside Mikko Koivu, are still unsigned and have a good chance of becoming free agents in the coming month. This season, the Wild were 26th in goals per game and 30th in shots per game. The Wild have only outshot their opponents 13 times this season, three of them for wins. Teams tend to not draft based on their needs on their pro roster, however due to the Wild’s lack of offense not just at the pro level, but throughout the entire organization that might change this time around. Their only prospect that has any hopes of doing so is last year’s first round pick Mikael Granlund. Names like Joel Armia, Ryan Strome and Sven Baertschi have been thrown around as possible selections by the Wild at number 10 but the popular choice by many mocks drafts have been Swedish center Mika Zibanejad. Zibanejad has skyrocketed up the rankings and the seasons end was ranked the best European forward available in the draft. The 6’2” 191lbs center has an impressive package of skill, grit and character. Zibanejad has impressive two-way ability and can protect the puck very well. In addition, he skates strong and plays with an edge. He has an impressive shot and knows how to get into the open spaces. He has even been compared to longtime Toronto Maple Leaf, Mats Sundin. Zibanejad will be hot commodity on draft day. His English language skills are great and teams will love his versatility, being able to play either center or wing. The Ottawa Senators have publicly expressed interested in him by inviting him over for a few practices. The Senators have the sixth overall pick and will also be looking to add offense. But whoever falls to 10th, it is safe to say that the Wild will be spending extra time making sure they make their pick the right one. After finding no rewards from their first round picks from 2004 to 2009, Minnesota’s prospect pool has become dried out of talent. “The Minnesota Wild is proud to select, from the Djurgarden, Sweden, forward Mika Zibanejad.” To learn more about Mika Zibanejad click here Contact the writer at daniel.chan@prohockeynews.com
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