Details on the Wild's draft picks, with comments by Brent Flahr, Wild senior vice president of hockey operations.
Details on the Wild's draft picks, with comments by Brent Flahr, Wild senior vice president of hockey operations.
First round, 24th overall
Position: Defense
Height/weight: 6-1, 176
Hometown: Vasteras, Sweden
2017-18 team: Leksand (Swedish Junior League)
Statistics: four goals, nine points in 29 games
Comment: "He's a two-way defender that has very good mobility and gaps up exceptionally well. He's very good on retrievals. He reads the play."
Third round, 63rd overall
Position: Center
Height/weight: 6-3, 201
Hometown: Toronto
2017-18 team: Toronto Jr. Canadiens (Ontario Junior Hockey League)
Statistics: 21 goals, 58 points in 48 games
Comment: "Big body, smart player and is going to Boston College. He's a guy we thought highly of. We hope he has a big future."
Third round, 86th overall
Position: Center
Height/weight: 5-10, 198
Hometown: Saratov, Russia
2017-18 team: Moncton (QMJHL)
Statistics: nine goals, 28 points in 29 games
Comment: "He was sick for half the year, but he's a kid coming into the season we ranked highly. … He can really pass the puck. He's got good vision. I think he's going to need a big summer to catch up physically."
Third round, 92nd overall
Position: Center
Height/weight: 5-10, 177
Hometown: Gilbert Plains, Manitoba
2017-18 team: Everett (WHL)
Statistics: 38 goals, 68 points in 68 games
Comment: "His biggest asset is his engine. He has a high compete level, and our [scouts] right from the start of the season identified [Dewar] as a guy we should make sure we keep a close eye on. Right through the season he continued to get better."
Fifth round, 148th overall
Position: Defense
Height/weight: 6-2, 170
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
2017-18 team: Djurgarden (Swedish Junior League)
Statistics: 16 goals, 36 points in 43 games
Comment: "He's your typical Swedish late bloomer for us. He's gotta get stronger, put on some weight. But as the season went on this year for Djurgarden, he played very well."
Fifth round, 155th overall
Position: Center
Height/weight: 5-9, 177
Hometown: Sudbury, Ontario
2017-18 team: Saginaw (OHL)
Statistics: 19 goals, 43 points in 68 games
Comment: "He's a really smart player. He's undersized but another guy with a good engine. … He's very strong on the puck for a smaller body. As a young player, he played top line, played in all situations with his junior team. His next couple years as he fills out and gets stronger, he'll be a very good junior and a guy that can hopefully beat the odds and play in the NHL down the road."
Sixth round, 179th overall
Position: Right wing
Height/weight: 6-4, 197
Hometown: Terrebonne, Quebec
2017-18 team: Gatineau (QMJHL)
Statistics: 28 goals, 60 points in 60 games
Comment: "Another guy that's a bit of a late bloomer, but he had a big year this year. He's a big body. He's going to have to work on his quickness, but he's a big body who likes to be around the net and he can score some goals as well."
Seventh round, 210th overall
Position: Center/wing
Height/weight: 6-0, 175
Hometown: Fridley
2017-18 team: Des Moines and Tri-City (USHL)
Statistics: Eight goals, 18 points in 23 games
Comment: "If he wasn't injured this year, he would have had a much better showing for himself and obviously would have been drafted higher, we think."
Kirill Kaprizov should become the Wild’s franchise scoring leader shortly after the team returns to action on Feb. 26.
