Bjugstad expected to be first round NHL pick by everyone

Nick Bjugstad of Blaine is expected to be taken in the middle of the first round in the NHL draft.

The Central Scouting Bureau, which will come out with its final ratings on April 7, rates him among the top 10 players in the western half ot the U.S. along with Cretin-Derham Hall defenseman Mark Alt, two North Dakota recruits, forward Brock Nelson of Warroad and defenseman Derek Forbort of the U.S. national development team, and MSU Mankato freshman forward Tyler Pitlick.

Lots of reportscoming out that Pitlick will turn pro and not return to Mavericks next season.

The NHL Combine will be May 24-29 at the Westin Bristol Place in Toronto.

The NHL draft is June 25 and 26 in Los Angeles.

Here is what the four nhl.com experts said about Bjugstad:

No. 12 by Wild ... Good size and good skating from home-state talent

No. 13 by Boston ... Front line help keeps coming from Boston; should develop even more in NCAA

No. 16 by Montreal ... Minnesota's Mr. Hockey has skills to match his NHL bloodlines ... uncle Scott played nine NHL seasons

So who will the Wild take at No. 12?

One mock draft had them taking Bjugstad, another Derek Forbort, a third right wing Emerson Etem of Medicine Hat, and the other center John McFarland of Sudbury.