FELDY: We talked NBA Draft last week, Phersy, and by the time our reader(s?) see this, the Wolves will have drafted the next NBA superstar and promptly traded him away. So let's turn our attention to the Wild. They have four of the first 69 picks in this week's NHL Draft, which begins Friday. They desperately need to stockpile young talent, but is the best route to use all of those picks, or should they use some of those picks to trade for that young talent?
PHERSY: I'd love to see the Wild keep all of those picks and start loading up down in Houston. But that seems to be unlikely with this franchise. They also lack star power, but that's not something they'll acquire through the draft. In an ideal world, GM Chuck Fletcher would find a way to keep those picks to restock the cupboard in Houston and then also land a big-name player through free agency or a trade. It's not going to be easy, though.
FELDY: This year's free-agent class appears weak on the top end, and the Wild aren't in a salary cap position to go after a $5 million-per-year guy. Any second-tier or third-tier free agent the team targets will likely be targeted by a dozen other teams, too. That leaves trades as the best option to upgrade a forward group that badly needs upgrading. But, can Fletcher afford to deal away a potential star like Brent Burns, or top prospects Tyler Cuma and/or Marco Scandella?
PHERSY: Cuma, maybe. Burns, no. That is unless he receives a flat-out superstar in return. I'm intrigued by Scandella because of his meteoric rise through the Wild's prospect rankings, so I'd rather see Fletcher keep his rights. I do agree with you, Feldy, regarding the free-agent class. Actually you're probably being a little too kind. This free-agent class is awful and offers none of the up-front superstars this team covets. So I guess the real question is how long will Wild fans wait this thing out? I can't see this team contending next season, barring major moves that the Wild just don't seem capable of pulling off.
FELDY: Wild fans don't really have a choice at this point. Whoever the team drafts at No. 9 overall will be at least two years away from seeing NHL ice. Let's throw out some names, anyway, of guys the Wild could target. Center Ryan Johansen and winger Nino Niederreiter, both from Portland of the WHL, would be welcome additions, but both may be gone by No. 9. Duluth native Derek Forbort, a hulking 6-foot-4 defenseman, is another possibility. Gopher recruit Nick Bjugstad of Blaine could be an option, too, though he might be a reach at No. 9. Any of those names do anything for you, Phersy?
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PHERSY:Nope. I like Mikael Granlund, a big, back-checking center from Finland. He's an effort guy who can beat you one-on-one. But he's also small at 5-foot-10 (though many say he's probably shorter). Still, he's a potential second-line center, and he could fit well in this system. But another guy I'd love to see the Wild take is Alexander Burmistrov from the O. He's a super speedy center who would fit well in coach Todd Richards' high-paced, offensive system. There's a chance both Granlund and Burmistrov will be there at No. 9, but if one is off the board, I'd be fine if the Wild went with either guy, though Burmistrov probably has the higher ceiling.
FELDY: Bottom line: If the Wild are going to get back to the playoffs, they need their own veterans to have better seasons in 2010-11. A potential return by Pierre-Marc Bouchard could boost the team's center depth and if Marty Havlat could produce the points he's being paid to produce, the Wild could play past the second week of April.
