Despite two stud defensemen still shockingly on the board, the Wild appeared to draft from need -- contrary to what they said for weeks.
Finnish stud center Mikael Granlund, the rookie of the year of the Finnish Elite League, was selected with the ninth overall pick. He's a smart, creative playmaker who's compared to Saku Koivu. He's got one more year left on his contract with Helsinki, but he is consider close to NHL-ready.
More later.
