The Wild started the second day of the NHL draft on Saturday by adding the reigning Mr. Hockey.
Grand Rapids defenseman Jack Peart was selected 54th overall in the second round, becoming the 15th Minnesota native the team has taken in the draft.
"It's always been a dream of mine to play for the Minnesota Wild, for sure," Peart said. "That's the NHL team I watched growing up. Just for me to get drafted by them and have a chance to play for them has been really special."
Peart led Grand Rapids in points, registering 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points in 18 games last season, and was recognized as the top Minnesota high school player. He also skated in 24 games with Fargo in the USHL, chipping in a goal and 14 assists before scoring twice and finishing with seven points in nine playoff games during Fargo's run to the Clark Cup Final where it lost to Chicago.
The 18-year-old is committed to St. Cloud State.
At No.86 in the third round, the Wild selected center Caedan Bankier.
Last season with Kamloops in the Western Hockey League, Bankier recorded 11 goals and 12 assists in 22 games.
In the fourth round, at No.118, the Wild took defenseman Kyle Masters, who had 10 assists in 20 games with Red Deer in the WHL. The Wild acquired another fourth-round pick from Montreal in exchange for a fifth-rounder at 150 and a seventh-rounder at 214, and the team used to the pick to draft center Josh Pillar.
