The Minnesota Wild are losing two more members of their amateur scouting department.

Just weeks after former Wild Director of Scouting Judd Brackett left Minnesota to become the Toronto Maple Leafs' assistant general manager, Toronto announced Wednesday that it has hired Dan Palango as Director of Amateur Scouting and JP Perpich as Director of U.S. Amateur Scouting.

The moves reunite Brackett with two scouts he brought to Minnesota after joining the Wild in 2020.

Palango spent more than a decade with the Vancouver Canucks from 2009-20 before following Brackett to the Wild. During his six seasons in Minnesota, Palango played a key role in the organization's amateur scouting efforts and now earns a promotion to Director of Amateur Scouting with the Maple Leafs.

Perpich's path to the NHL was unconventional.

Before joining the Wild in 2021, Perpich practiced law and later worked in commercial real estate in Minnesota while simultaneously scouting for the WHL's Red Deer Rebels. Brackett hired him to Minnesota's scouting staff in 2021, and he will now serve as Toronto's Director of U.S. Amateur Scouting.

The hires continue Brackett's influence on Toronto's front office as he begins reshaping the Maple Leafs' amateur scouting department.

While losing experienced scouts is never ideal, it also speaks to the reputation Brackett built in Minnesota. The Wild's draft classes during his tenure have consistently been regarded among the NHL's best, producing prospects such as Liam Öhgren, Danila Yurov, Marco Rossi, Jesper Wallstedt, Zeev Buium, Ryder Ritchie, Aron Kiviharju, and others who have helped establish one of hockey's deepest prospect pools.

Now, two trusted members of that scouting group will have an opportunity to take on larger leadership roles in Toronto.

The departures leave Minnesota with vacancies in its amateur scouting department, giving General Manager Bill Guerin and the Wild an opportunity to reshape portions of the staff following Brackett's exit.

Although fans often focus on players and coaches, the work done behind the scenes by amateur scouts can have a lasting impact on an organization's future. With Brackett, Palango, and Perpich now together in Toronto, the Maple Leafs are betting that the scouting philosophy that helped replenish Minnesota's prospect pipeline can do the same for their organization.