Minnesota Wild: NHL Mock Draft Tracker
With the NHL Draft coming up in just over two weeks, the Minnesota Wild will look to add a player that can help them make the next step.
Another season with the Minnesota Wild’s goals cut short early in the playoffs, we look ahead to the offseason with the NHL Draft coming up in two weeks. The Wild will look to add a difference maker to help them take that next step.
In the upcoming draft, the Minnesota Wild only own three picks(15, 105, and 195) as they have traded away their selections in rounds 2, 3, 5, and 6. With so few picks, they will have to hit on the few selections they do have to make this draft class count, especially the first round pick.
The Wild could go a number of ways with their first round pick, using it on a forward or a defenseman. We will have to wait and see.
In our NHL Mock Draft Tracker, we take a look at who is being mocked to the Minnesota Wild in the first round.
Bleacher Report: Post Combine NHL Mock Draft:
15. Minnesota Wild: Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston University Terriers (NCAA)-Charlie McAvoy is another in a line of quality two-way defenders available in this year’s draft. Despite playing college hockey at 18—very young for a blueliner—he was able to score 25 points in 37 games with Boston University. A team drafting McAvoy will be getting a mobile player with a range of skills.
NHL.com Mock Draft Adam Kimelman
15. Minnesota Wild – Kieffer Bellows, LW, USA U-18 (USHL)
A 50-goal scorer this season with the NTDP U-18 team, Bellows (6-0, 197) would bring some needed skill and physicality along the wing to the organizational pipeline. He’ll spend next season developing his game at Boston University, but scouts already like his shot and his willingness to use it in all areas of the ice.
Minnesota Wild: Kieffer Bellows, LW, United States National Team Developmental Program (USHL)-Bellows a native from Edina, MN posted 52 points in 58 games and led the Sioux Falls Stampede to the 2015 Clark Cup in the United States Hockey League where they won the 2015 Clark Cup for best team in the USHL thanks to Bellows 9 goals, 3 assists, and 12 points in 12 USHL Playoff games. Now Bellows will play for the United States National Team Developmental Program in 2015-2016 before playing college at Boston University in 2016-2017.
Rotoworld NHL First Round Mock Draft
15. Minnesota Wild- Charles McAvoy- With Ryan Suter getting on in age and question marks on the blueline, the Wild take the skilled, fleet-skating McAvoy on heels of terrific freshman year at Boston University.
15. Minnesota — Kieffer Bellows. Edina native’s hometown roots and scoring ability makes him a good fit here. And it doesn’t hurt that dad was a big scoring star for the North Stars back in the day.
NHL Mock Draft Mike G. Morreale
15. Minnesota Wild – Charles McAvoy, D, Boston University (H-EAST)
The right-shot defenseman (6-0, 199) was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team after he had three goals, 25 points, a plus-10 rating and 39 blocked shots in 37 games as a freshman.
The Draft Analyst NHL Mock Draft
15. C Tyson Jost (Penticton Vees, BCHL): Tremendous puck distributor with finishing abilities who shattered Canada’s scoring mark at the U18’s. Jost was one of the WHL’s top picks in 2013 but spurned the CHL for North Dakota, where he’ll suit up for the defending NCAA champs this fall. The Wild seem set at center, but Jost could be the one who leads them to greener pastures. He can play wing or up the middle, and is used in every situation imaginable. This kind of versatility from a polished youngster is rare, and an argument can be made that if Minnesota wants him, it may have to trade up to nab him.
15. Minnesota Wild: Mike McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)- The relentless, crafty centreman is a speed demon. He is a responsible forward and helps his team’s possession game with his strength in taking face-offs.
As you see here, there is very little variation in who these writers/analysts think that the Minnesota Wild will select with their first round pick. A couple mocks for a Center, and a large portion for two prospects, Charles McAvoy, and Kieffer Bellows.
Bellows is a common fit for the Wild as he is an Edina native and his father played for the North Stars years ago. Some feel as if the Wild need help at the forward position while others think they need a defenseman.
Next: Minnesota Vikings: Observations from Team OTAs
It will be interesting to see who the Wild pick in a couple weeks. Whether it is a forward or defenseman, hopefully it is a prospect who can be a difference-maker on this team in the near future. With a new coach hired, the Wild will look to take another step forward next season after four seasons with playoff appearances but none of them getting past the second round.