Trade nixed, Wild selects defenseman

OTTAWA - The Wild spent a 2009 third-round pick Friday night to move up one spot in the first round and take Ottawa 67s defenseman Tyler Cuma.

While the Wild was excited to snag Cuma, the team wasn't able to land the big fish it really wanted.

The Wild worked hard at trying to acquire Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen, even stepping up with a late offer of right winger Pierre-Marc Bouchard, according to sources from both teams.

But Florida went another direction, dealing Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes for hard-hitting defenseman Keith Ballard, the Baudette, Minn., native and former Gopher, defenseman Nick Boynton and a draft pick.

"[Jokinen's] a good player, and it's a position [center] everybody's looking for," Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough said. "I don't think it revved up until it got here [to draft week]."

Asked how ingrained the Wild was in Jokinen talks, Risebrough said, "I can't talk about that, but I guess if I'm commenting, I must have known a little something."

According to sources, the Wild offered 2005 first-round pick Benoit Pouliot. The Panthers instead wanted 2006 first-round pick James Sheppard, a player with whom the Wild refused to part.

Finally, according to sources, the Wild offered Bouchard, 24, the slick, playmaker who has scored 179 points the past three seasons.

However, while Panthers scouts liked Bouchard, Panthers management wasn't interested for the same reason Minnesota offered him, sources said.

Bouchard is a restricted free agent and one year from potentially getting a huge payday as an unrestricted free agent. Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester is in the same situation, and the team didn't want to add another predicament.

Risebrough declined to comment if he offered Bouchard. Jokinen said he was just happy the months of trade rumors are "finally over."

Risebrough traded the 24th overall pick and next year's third to the New Jersey Devils for the 23rd. He began talking to Devils GM Lou Lamoriello about 45 minutes before, and it was clear Risebrough planned to move up.

A third-round selection is an expensive pick to spend to move up a single spot just on the chance the Devils might have taken Cuma, but Risebrough said, "I had offers to move to two good picks in the second round. When this guy was there, we said, 'We're going to spend.'"

Added assistant GM Tommy Thompson: "Sometimes the closer you get, the more you're thinking, 'Gee, he is this close, we don't want to risk losing the guy.' ... If [the Devils] drafted Tyler ahead of us, we would be depressed for the rest of the draft. We had to make a rational business decision."

Cuma, 18, is a 6-2, 190-pound two-way defenseman. He's considered a smooth skater, one who moves the puck well, makes a great first pass and shuts down opposing lines.

"I'm relieved," said Cuma, ranked 19th among North Americans by Central Scouting and 18th by the Red Line Report. "I was sitting there for a while, getting a little nervous, butterflies came into me. I'm very happy to come here. It's a great hockey city. I'm going to a great organization. I can't wait to come into camp and show what I got."

Cuma played for Ottawa's Ontario Hockey League team, and he received huge applause from the jam-packed Scotiabank Place on Friday. Cuma said his first priority is to make the team in the fall, but Thompson says that's not "conceivable."

"We want to develop this guy," Thompson said. "All of us were unanimous that this guy down the road has the potential to be a cornerstone player on our hockey club. You can't rush that."

Cuma had 32 points in 59 games last season and was the 67s' only plus player (plus-4). He only had six points after Christmas, but that could be attributed to pneumonia at Christmastime.

"I think I'm more so of a shutdown guy," Cuma said. "I can play two-way, I can jump in the rush and put up some decent numbers. I can play power play, penalty kill, any scenario the coach puts me in.

"But I'm a physical player. I get more involved in the game when I'm physical. Primarily, I like to frustrate other teams top players."

Brian Kilrea, the 67s coach, called Cuma "one of the most dedicated players that I have ever coached."

The 67s don't have a strength coach, so Cuma has come a long way on his own. He also still has a lot to learn; he was a center three years ago.

"Now that he's stronger, he's become faster, and I think he's going to be more confident that he can be an offensive factor, too," Thompson said. "I'd be very optimistic of that."

Keep up with the NHL draft throughout the day at startribune.com/sports.