After a disappointingly brief 2018 playoff appearance where Winnipeg handled them in five games, the Minnesota Wild find themselves at a crossroads. Where at one-point they seemed like a playoff lock year-in, year-out, the face an uber-competitive division with the Jets, Nashville and Chicago being established teams, and St. Louis and Colorado on the rise.
This is also a bit of a transition year for the Wild, with new General Manager Paul Fenton taking the position from Chuck Fletcher. He faces a roster that has a mix of high-price veterans and young players on minimums. It may be too early to know if some of those young players will pan out, but Luke Kunin and Joel Erikkson Ek haven’t produced in limited opportunities. At a certain point, players have to produce even in limited minutes. 
While the blue line is young (aside from Ryan Suter and Nate Prosser, everyone is under 30), the forward depth — from a skill standpoint — may be lacking. This pick is a chance to solve that.
Ryan McLeod was the third leading scorer — and top scoring center — on Mississauga, where he finished behind two players picked in the 2017 Draft. His skating and playmaking skills are considered his biggest assets. He has size at 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, but isn’t always as physical as he could be with that size. Considering NHL Central Scouting had him as the 16th best skater in North America, his drop to 24 could hinge on that.
Despite the young forwards the Wild have taken — and played — recently, McLeod’s potential is too good to pass up on at this point in the first round.
“With the 24th pick in the NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild select Ryan McLeod from Mississauga.”
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