NHL draft: Five players the Wild might choose
October 5, 2020 at 12:08AM
The Wild will have its highest draft pick since taking defenseman Matt Dumba with the No. 7 overall pick in 2012. Here are five possibilities for the Wild's No. 9 pick:
Yaroslav Askarov, goalie
NEVA ST. PETERSBURG (RUSSIA-2)
Goalies rarely get drafted early in the first round, but Askarov is a standout among his peers. He's athletic and mobile and boasts quite a pedigree, earning plenty of international accolades while impressively climbing the ranks in his native Russia. Two years away from jumping to the NHL, though.
Alexander Holtz, right wing
DJURGARDEN (SWEDEN)
A versatile forward who can play both wings, Holtz is known for his shoot-first mentality, but he isn't short on playmaking skills. Last season, he led under-18 players in points in Sweden's top league.
Anton Lundell, center
HIFK (FINLAND)
The Wild counted on a responsible, two-way center for years in former captain Mikko Koivu, and that's the kind of well-rounded skill set Lundell possesses. He isn't careless with the puck and has a strong hockey IQ that makes him valuable all over the ice.
Jack Quinn, right wing
OTTAWA (ONTARIO HOCKEY LEAGUE)
His 52 goals in 62 games were the second-most in the OHL last season, production that has Quinn hyped as arguably the best scorer in the draft. That doesn't mean that he's negligent when it comes to defending; Quinn has worked in all on-ice situations including the penalty kill.
Jake Sanderson, defenseman
USA HOCKEY NATIONAL TEAM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM UNDER-18
Sanderson, who is a freshman at North Dakota, is an efficient skater known for his work ethic and tenacious defending. His dad, Geoff, played more than 1,100 games in the NHL.
SARAH McLELLAN
about the writer
The Wild head toward a big game against Dallas with one of the NHL’s best records but also with health concerns after Joel Eriksson Ek and Mats Zuccarello exited injured.
