Welcome to The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild's top 15 prospects list. The list will be split into three posts where Dylan Loucks and Aaron Heckmann will give their thoughts and analysis on each prospect. The lists were created by a points-based system. Each player is assessed a point from both Aaron and Dylan, which resulted in the final rankings. An example of this is how Dylan had Jack Peart ranked at No. 11 and Aaron had Peart ranked at No. 9. So, in the final ranking, Peart landed at No. 10. This post will be on prospects 7-11.
No. 11 — Daemon Hunt, LHD
Daemon Hunt has fit nicely on the Iowa Wild’s blue line and although there’s room for growth in his game, Hunt has transitioned to the AHL relatively with ease despite playing against tougher competition than he saw in the WHL. The 21-year-old played significant minutes throughout the season and became a steady presence on the backend thanks to his skating, his biggest strength, and mobility.
Hunt recorded 11 points in 59 games in Iowa after scoring 17 goals and 39 points with the Moose Jaw Warriors in 2021-22, but that decline in production doesn’t accurately reflect his play. He made an impact that didn’t always correlate to the scoresheet. Hunt’s development into a more balanced player, coupled with his strong offensive instincts, good shot, and physicality, makes him a sleeper in the Wild’s system.
No. 10 – Jack Peart, LHD
Jack Peart has put together two solid seasons with the St. Cloud State Huskies – notching 41 points in 71 games in the process – after the Wild drafted him in the second round out of Grand Rapids High School in the 2021 NHL Draft. He also played well in his two World Junior Championships appearances for Team USA in the past two years.
The 20-year-old’s biggest strengths are his hockey intelligence and his defensive pressure with his stick, which helps him effectively disrupt plays. His two-way game and his smooth-skating ability allows him to make an impact on both sides of the puck, whether it be breaking the puck out, joining the rush, or quarterbacking the point. He isn’t the flashiest player but he does all the small things that might not always be seen on the surface level. Having him as the Wild’s fourth defensive prospect isn’t a knock on his potential, rather it’s a byproduct of the organization’s recent increased depth at the position.
No. 9 – David Spacek, RHD
David Spacek, the Wild’s 2022 fifth-round pick, is probably higher on our list than he would have been without his impressive World Juniors performance at the beginning of the calendar year. The 20-year-old defenseman, who finished as a +7, scored three goals and eight points in seven games for Team Czechia, which tied him for the third most points by a defenseman.
It didn’t necessarily come as a surprise because Spacek notched 107 points in 115 games with the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix over the past two years. But his success on a major stage like that has got to be promising for the Wild, especially since he’s a late draft pick. He clearly has a knack for scoring in big games with 21 playoff points to his name in 35 games in Phoenix. The biggest takeaway aside from his two-way game is his offensive potential with his strong and quick shot.
No. 8 – Adam Beckmann, LW
Part of Adam Beckman’s rise in the Wild’s pipeline is because he scored 24 goals this past season with the Iowa Wild in his second full pro season. Despite playing 15 fewer games, Beckman over doubled his goal output from the 2021-22 campaign, where he scored 11 times. His shot-per-game rate significantly increased from 2.98 to 3.58 last season. And the Wild awarded him for his production as Beckman played nine games in Minnesota during three different call-ups.
The 22-year-old displayed growth this past season, and he didn’t look out of place in Minnesota. It helps that he has an edge to his game. So, he’s getting closer and closer to being ready. His robust shot and shoot-first mentality are his strengths, although there are some occasions where he would be better off being patient. To his credit, there’s been growth to his game on the defensive side of the puck, making him more than just a scorer.
No. 7 – Carson Lambos, LHD
Carson Lambos is behind just Brock Faber in the Wild’s talented crop of defensive prospects for a reason. The 20-year-old captain of the Winnipeg Ice totaled 22 goals and 95 points over his last two seasons and appears to be steadily progressing since the organization drafted him in the first round two summers ago.
Lambos is a well-rounded two-way defenseman with no obvious weaknesses, which is further evidence of why he’s such a promising future piece. While he’s a good defender with size, he’s known for his offensive game, which goes beyond his point totals. Not only is he mobile and moves the puck well, but he can be deceptive, which pairs well with his skating and shot. If he continues on his current trajectory, the Wild have another solid future option for their backend.
Make sure to stick around for part three and find out who grabs the top spot as the Wild's top prospect!
All Data Via EliteProspects, Hockey DB and Hockey-Reference; photos via USA Today