Details on the Wild's draft picks, with comments by amateur scout Darren Yopyk.
First round, 12th overall
Position: left wing
Height/weight: 6-2, 196
Hometown: Millis, Mass.
2018-19 team: USA Under-18 (United States National Team Development Program)
Statistics: 33 goals, 81 points in 64 games
Comment: "He's a player that has a high ceiling. He's got a lot of skill. He's got good hockey sense. He's got some size, all things that we were looking for as a staff."
Second round, 42nd overall
Position: left wing
Height/weight: 6-1, 181
Hometown: Yaroslavl, Russia
2018-19 team: Waterloo (United States Hockey League)
Statistics: 26 goals, 58 points in 62 games
Comment: "He played the wing a lot, but we do believe he can be a center down the road as well. We think he's a distributor of the puck. We think he sees the ice very well. [He] passes well — forehand and backhand — and we think he has a lot of upside."
Second round, 59th overall
Position: goalie
Height/weight: 6-4, 202
Hometown: Brantford, Ontario
2018-19 team: Peterborough (Ontario Hockey League)
Statistics: .902 save percentage, 3.31 goals-against average and three shutouts
Comment: "Good athletic ability [and] he's got good size, all the things you want to work with in a goalie."
Third round, 75th overall
Position: left wing
Height/weight: 6-1, 168
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
2018-19 team: Spokane (Western Hockey League)
Statistics: 32 goals, 62 points in 68 games
Comment: "Good hockey sense, good hands, skill, sees the ice pretty well [and] can finish."
Fifth round, 149th overall
Position: center
Height/weight: 6-2, 182
Hometown: Nizhnekamsk, Russia
2018-19 team: London (OHL)
Statistics: 12 goals, 30 points in 59 games
Comment: "High-skilled, can make plays [and] shoot the puck really well."
Sixth round, 166th overall
Position: defense
Height/weight: 5-11, 170
Hometown: Laurel Hollow, N.Y.
2018-19 team: USA Under-18 (USNTDP)
Statistics: eight goals, 34 points in 58 games
Comment: "He's a competitive guy. Plays with high energy, good skill [and] good mobility."
Sixth round, 172nd overall
Position: center
Height/weight: 6-0, 157
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
2018-19 team: Lawrenceville (U.S. High School, Preparatory)
Statistics: 30 goals, 59 points in 31 games
Comment: "He sees the ice pretty well. He's probably a pass-first guy more than a shoot-first guy. He has talent."
Seventh round, 197th overall
Position: goalie
Height/weight: 6-0, 180
Hometown: Espoo, Finland
2018-19 team: University of Massachusetts Amherst (NCAA)
Statistics: .934 save percentage and 1.60 goals-against average
Comment: "He's a competitive guy with good athleticism and quickness. He's calm in the crease."
Sarah McLellan
The return of NHL players to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014 will make the hockey better and the competition tougher.
