The Minnesota Wild didn't have a first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, but Friday night still marked another milestone in the franchise-altering trade that brought Quinn Hughes to Minnesota.

With the 24th overall pick — the selection acquired from the Wild in last December's blockbuster deal — the Vancouver Canucks selected Czech winger Adam Novotný.

The 6-foot-1 winger is coming off an impressive season with the OHL's Peterborough Petes, where he recorded 34 goals and 31 assists for 65 points in 58 games.

He also represented Czechia at the 2026 World Junior Championship, tallying three assists in seven games after appearing in the tournament the year before as well.

Novotný was widely viewed as one of the better value selections in the draft. The Hockey News' Ryan Kennedy ranked him 13th overall in his final rankings, while draft analyst Tony Ferrari had him 14th, making him one of the highest-ranked players still available when Vancouver stepped to the podium at No. 24.

From Minnesota's perspective, however, there likely won't be many second thoughts.

Giving up a first-round pick is never easy, especially when it turns into a talented prospect like Novotný. But that was the cost of acquiring arguably the best defenseman in the NHL.

"I didn't mind not having a first-round pick this year because we have Quinn Hughes, and sometimes that's just what you have to do," Wild General Manager Bill Guerin said yesterday. "A lot of down time, and we like where we are."

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