With the No. 21 overall pick, the Minnesota Wild select ... Mikhail Gulyayev of the Omsk system (KHL, MHL & VHL).
Why pick him? Gulyayev has been described as the most purely gifted defenseman in the draft. The Russian defender put up two goals and 25 points in 22 games with the Omsk system's MHL team. He played 12 games in the VHL where he notched just four assists. He also played 13 KHL games where he notched one assist.
What the scouts say: "He can carry the puck up the ice and be a one-man breakout. He can make good plays in all zones passing the puck. He's a very agile skater, but he's not Cale Makar. He's somewhere between Makar and Samuel Girard. Nobody's seen enough of him this year to say which way he leans."
Who are the other options? Nate Danielson of the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) is a 6-foot-1 center that put up 33 goals and 78 points in 68 games this season. Gavin Brindley, who played for Michigan of the NCAA, may also be available after putting up 12 goals and 38 points in 41 games. Lastly, Riley Heidt could be available at pick No. 21 after the 5-foot-10 center notched 25 goals and 97 points in 68 games for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL.
What else is on the agenda? The Wild could package a few things to move up in the draft if they want to target a specific player. Like Aaron said in his recent article, this draft is stacked enough with loaded prospects that maybe moving up is something Wild general manager Bill Guerin and his staff may consider.
That being said, maybe they take a chance on Gulyayev and watch him possibly turn into a 60-point offensive defender who will quarterback a power play and possibly win a Norris.
That will be up to the Wild if they want to take that risk or not. Although it isn't much of a risk if Gulyayev plays like Girard rather than Makar considering they are both very good defenders that any team would want.