Uncover the Shocking Draft Blunders and Hidden Gems Unveiled for Every NHL Team This Decade
Minnesota Wild
Best: Kirill Kaprizov
It took five years to get “Kirill the Thrill” to the U.S., but since entering the NHL, the 2015 fifth-round steal is third in the league behind Auston Matthews and Leon Draisaitl with 0.579 goals per game. The first legit superstar in Wild history is the face of the franchise. He also may be offered $15 million per year on an extension once he’s eligible July 1.
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Worst: Filip Johansson
The 2018 draft was crummy, but we still haven’t gotten to the bottom of how the Wild drafted this defenseman at No. 24. But on draft night, Craig Button said, “I would say that he doesn’t do any one thing really well,” and Bob McKenzie said not one scout he surveyed had Johansson as a first-rounder. At least Paul Fenton’s replacement, Bill Guerin, got a compensatory 2022 second-round pick for cutting him loose. — Michael Russo
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