The Minnesota Wild entered the NHL Draft with just four picks but still selected significant pieces for the future. Here’s a brief rundown of each player as well as some highlight videos from the recent draftees.
Luke Kunin – No. 15 overall, Center
- Kunin completed his freshman season at the University of Wisconsin this spring where he scored 18 goals which was the third most among NCAA freshman.
- In a TV interview last night, Kunin plans to play one more year at Wisconsin before turning pro.
- Here’s a highlight video from Kunin’s freshman season at the University of Wisconsin.
Brandon Duhaime – No. 106 overall, Left Wing
- Duhaime spent last season in the USHL with the Chicago Steel and Tri-City Storm winning the league championship with Tri City.
- He’s committed to play college hockey at Providence University. Check out this slick deke he put on a defender last year.
Dimitry Sokolov – No. 196th overall, Center/Wing
- Sokolov played in the OHL last year but dealt with injuries yet still scored 30 goals.
- Assistant General Manager of the Wild, Brent Flahr said he entered this year as a top 15 pick. If Sokolov can get healthy again, the Wild may have found themselves the best bargain in the draft.
DT: It'll be interesting to see where Dimitry Sokolov ends up in Draft. He started the year as a 1st rounder & finished it 129th by NHL CSB!
— North American Independent Central Scouting (NACS) (@MarkSeidel) April 21, 2016
Braydyn Chizen – No. 204 Defenseman
- Chizen played in the WHL at Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada. He played for the same teams that has produced such NHL defensemen as: Duncan Keith, Shea Weber and Tyler Myers.
- He checks in at 6-foot-6-inches and is known for his size on the blue line. He doesn’t light up a score sheet but he can knock some heads around. The Wild’s brass call Chizen a project.
- Here’s a video of Chizen dropping the gloves.
