The Minnesota Wild could find a quality prospect with their second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The Minnesota Wild could find a quality prospect with their second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
The Wild have historically drafted really well in the second round, especially in the last couple of years. Last year they drafted Rasmus Kumpulainen and Riley Heidt in the second round.
They drafted Heidt with the pick they acquired for Jordan Greenway, who was a second-round pick in 2015. A year before they drafted Hunter Haight and Rieger Lorenz.
Kumpulainen signs ELC with Minnesota.
Heidt breaks Prince George Playoff record.
Lorenz wins NCAA Championship with Denver.
Marat Khusnutdinov, who played in 16 games for the Wild last year, was a second-round pick in 2020. The year after, the Wild drafted Jack Peart who had a goal and an assist in nine AHL games last year for the Iowa Wild.
The Wild have drafted well in the second round before and this year there are a few very good prospects in which they could draft. Here are a few names to look for.
Cole Hutson, LHD, USNTDP (USHL)
Cole Hutson should not be available at pick 45 in the second-round but it sure is possible. His brother Lane was the 62nd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens and many teams are probably wishing they didn't pass up on him.
Sure he's small and there were a ton of concerns around him that he wouldn't be strong enough to endure the NHL but so far that doesn't seem to be a problem. Lane had two assists in two NHL games with the Canadiens last year after completing two extremely productive seasons at Boston University.
Imagine by Hockey Prospecting.
Cole is the most productive defenseman in NTDP history. He is projected to replace his brother on BU next year as their power play specialist. Cole is taller than Lane and has a much more of a physical element to his game.
The 5-foot-10 defenseman had 25 goals, 94 assists, and 119 points in 112 career games for the NTDP. Pretty crazy he is projected to slide to the second round.
Maxim Masse, RW, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
Another projected late first-rounder or early second-round pick, Maxim Masse would be a solid pick by the Wild if he were to still be there at pick 45. Masse scored 36 goals and led Chicoutimi in scoring with 75 points in 67 games this season.
He was Chicoutimi's third overall pick in the 2022 QMJHL Draft and was the first forward taken in that draft. He can shoot the puck and has proved he is a threat to score at every level he's played at.
Masse scored 29 goals in his first year in the QMJHL. He followed that up by scoring 36 this season and got invited to play for team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He scored five goals in six games for Canada.
The 6-foot-3 forward could turn into a top-nine scorer at the NHL level which is something the Wild would sure welcome on their team.
Matvei Gridin, RW, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
It would be more likely that Matvei Gridin would be available at pick 45 than the previous two but don't sleep on him. Despite that I could also see him being a first round pick. You can't ignore a guy who scored almost 40 goals in the USHL in his draft year.
In fact he should be a first round pick.
Gridin is a Russian born forward who played in the USHL last year with the Muskegon Lumberjacks.He led the team in goals and points with 38 goals and 83 points in just 60 games.
The 6-foot-1 forward shoots left but plays on his offside. This helped him score 46 goals in 100 USHL games in his career. He was set to join the University of Michigan next year to be a top producing forward for a very good College team but it seems like he will instead go to the CHL.
He seems like a guy who is responsible enough to play in your middle six and produce regularly. If Gridin is available at pick 45 the Wild should think about selecting him for sure.
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