How the Wild should approach the NHL Draft The Wild have some pretty good prospects in their system already and with pick No. 13 in the upcoming NHL Draft, the Wild could add another. Or they could add a few. This seems to be a very good draft class with a lot of good defensemen and some good forwards whose draft stocks have been rising. But the high end talent seems to be in the top ten of the draft. The Wild have pick No. 13. They have a second round pick (45th overall) and do not have a third round pick. They traded that pick to acquire Marcus Johansson. If the 12 players the Wild have identified as possible players to pick at 13 have been drafted maybe the Wild decide to trade back in the draft and pick up another pick or player along with it. Trading goaltender Filip Gustavsson at the draft could also be an option. Or maybe they trade pick 13 and move up a spot or two to draft a player that they don't think will be available at 13. They have done this before. In 2022 the Wild had pick No. 22 in the draft but decided to trade that pick and the 90th overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers for the 20th overall pick. They drafted Jesper Wallstedt with that pick. In 2020 they traded the 101st overall pick and Luke Kunin to Nashville for Nick Bonino, the 70th overall pick, and the 37th overall pick which they used to draft Marat Khusnutdinov. That same draft they flipped the 70th overall pick and added a fifth round pick to Detroit for the 65th overall pick which they used to draft Daemon Hunt. Point is, the Wild are aggressive at the Draft. If there is a certain player they want that they think won't be available when they are picking, they will trade up. You can still get a solid prospect with the 13th overall pick but maybe the Wild want someone in the top ten or want to add a few extra picks in the draft. I would have to think all options are on the table for the Wild. Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild/] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more. WILD NEWS
