Wild's 2012 draft pick watch (a weekly update: How low can they go?)

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 16, 2012 11:43 AM CST

Last week Friday, Feb 10, in the discussion about Staubitz hitting waivers (the only thing that guy seems to be able to hit) I made a joke that the Wild had a better shot at ending up with a top 5 draft pick than making the playoffs this year. You can go back and find the reply in that post... I wrote out a whole chart for the non-playoff positions teams, their current points, recent record, etc. At the time, the Wild were sitting in the 12th pick spot.

Well, I've decided to do a little weekly draft slot update, as it seems that he Wild might just make a run at my off the cuff prediction. Basically, how low (in the number of the final draft pick) can they go? For the record, I am still predicting a #8 pick for the Wild.

After the jump, check out the current standings (1st pick through the current Wild position, with points, recent record, change, and upcoming games).

We have: Team : Games Played : total points : Last 10 Record : Next 3 games (bold = against team on this chart)

1. Columbus (- no change): 57gp : 40 pts (+4 since last): "Last 10" 4-6-0 : Next 3 Chi - NyR - SJ

2. Edmonton (-) : 56gp : 50 pts (+3) : 5-3-2 : Colo - Van - Cgy

3. Carolina (-) : 57gp : 53pts (+3) : 5-1-4 : SJ - NYI - Was

4. Buffalo (+2) : 56gp : 54pts (+2) : 5-4-1 : Phil - MON - Pitt

5. Tampa Bay (+2) : 56gp : 54pts (+2) : 5-3-2 : SJ - Was - ANH

6. Montreal (+2) : 58gp : 56pts (+3) : 5-4-1 : BUFF - NJ - Dal

7. New York Isl (-2) : 56gp : 56pts (+4) : 5-3-2 : St.L - CAR - Ott

8. Anaheim (-4) : 57gp : 57pts (+7) : 6-2-2 : NJ - Flor - TAMPA

9. Winnipeg (+1) : 58gp : 58pts (0) : 4-6-0 : WILD - Bos - Colo

10. WILD (+2) : 56pg: 58pts (0) : 3-6-1 : WIN - St.L - Bos

Teams that have "fallen" past the Wild: Calgary, Colorado

Look at Carolina. They have points in 9 of their last 10 games. Anaheim, as everyone has noticed, is currently on an absolute tear. The Wild are currently 4 pts out of the 5 spot and 5 points and a game out of a top 3 pick.

The opinions posted here are not those of Hockey Wilderness

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nice

Interesting to see. Filip Forsberg seems like a possibilty and would be a good fit!

Also, Galchenyuk. Was supposed to be top 3, but injured. Could be a steal!

Or do we go D man?

by Kingpin45 on Feb 16, 2012 12:11 PM CST reply actions

The Wild need talent across the board, so the correct answer is...

they just need to pick a guy who will make his mark in the NHL. A high upside, offensive D man would probably be a good pick. A goal scorer would be a popular one.

I’m just in the process of getting familiar with the guys that will be available in this year’s draft so I’m not in a position right now to offer analysis on that.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 16, 2012 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

D heavy draft this year, so if we have the chance for the few top offensive prospects, then I say take it.

by Kingpin45 on Feb 17, 2012 9:54 AM CST up reply actions

The amount of games left

scares me.

I think being 8 is generous.

Out of the next 26 games, I could see us still losing 20-23 of those games.

It will be the greatest collapse of all time. I could see us even getting jumped by Edmonton at this point. 2nd pick is my guess.

Follow @JayKlinkhammer

PEK > NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND 2012

by y2jayjk on Feb 16, 2012 12:33 PM CST reply actions

There is still enough time for a lot to change in the bottom 14.

The Wild still play a majority of their remaining games at home, and it seems that the Setoguchi-Koivu-Heatley line is beginning to click a bit more. Some time soon, probably around trade deadline, some teams will start “shutting it down” a bit. The Wild always seem to pick up a hand full of points over the last few games to kick them a few spots worse for drafting.

We’ll see.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 17, 2012 7:33 AM CST up reply actions

When you discussed this in last week's post, I thought there was no shot of the Wild with a pick that high.

If they keep scoring only one goal per game though, I don’t see them winning more than maybe 5-6 more games this year. Honestly, the teams I see passing the Wild are Buffalo, Tampa, NYI, and of course Anaheim. It would not surpise me if Colorado tanked beneath us though. So I guess that means I’m predicting us to pick 7th in the draft. My opinion about all drafts, take the best player available in the first round regardless of position. That’s probably Morgan Reilly right now. I’m also not opposed to trading down for more picks, I like Sebastian Collberg personally but he is not projected to go until midway throught the first round. We just need to trust Fletch when it comes to the draft.

by cgp711 on Feb 16, 2012 1:35 PM CST reply actions

Yeah, when I posted last Friday

the Wild were in 12th and were just starting a long stretch where they play the majority of their games at home. A week later, after last night, and the Wild find themselves in th 9th spot already. Still, the bottom teams are pretty tightly clumped, and if the Wild pick up 5 points over their last 3 or 4 games, like they always seem to do, they could find themselves move from a 6th pick right back to a 9th pick. We’ll see.

The only thing that I don’t really want to see from the Wild is a couple mini-stretches of good play, just enough to see them finish a spot or two out of the playoffs. If they aren’t going to pull an Anaheim, and I don’t think they have that in them, I hope they trade Zidlicky, Zanon, and maybe Brodziak or perhaps Cullen would waive his no-trade for a shot somewhere. I want to see the Wild bring up any of the AHL kids that they think they might need next year and give them a stretch of games to play.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 17, 2012 7:40 AM CST up reply actions

Re AHL kids:

I think we’ve had most of them with us this year . . .

by cgp711 on Feb 17, 2012 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

Yes,

for periods of time to cover needs. Is Almond an NHLer? Lets give him 10 games and see.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 17, 2012 4:19 PM CST up reply actions

A top 5 pick

With Chuck Fletcher drafting is making me drool…

by TC Mooch on Feb 17, 2012 7:15 AM CST reply actions

One of the problems that the Wild have always had

is that they have always been just good enough to miss out on the very top of the draft board. Of course, missing so badly on Pouliot didn’t help, especially with some of the other players in that draft. So, if the Wild are going to miss the playoffs, which it seems pretty evident that they are, and if they plan to start going younger, again it seems so, they it would be nice to add to the pool of talent with as high a draft pick as possible.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 17, 2012 7:43 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed.

If we can get a real high draft pick and aquire more picks via trade, I’ll be okay. A couple of 2nd and 3rd rounders and maybe Fletcher can swing a 1st for Zidlicky. It could be a real good draft, especially if we do get another first and get a top-end puck moving defenseman to pair with Brodin and get a talented goal scoring forward all in the 1st round.

Proud Sioux Falls Stampede Season Ticket Holder and #1 Nate Prosser Fan! Go Wild!

by wild4life on Feb 17, 2012 3:41 PM CST up reply actions

You're undervaluing Zidlicky

Hal Gill just went for a pair of prospects and a 2nd round pick.
Last year, Kaberle went for a prospect, a 1st round pick, and a 2nd round pick.

Zidlicky, to the right team, is worth a prospect and a 1st.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Feb 17, 2012 3:48 PM CST up reply actions

Indeed...

to the right team in the right situation, Zidlicky could get a very nice return. It will be interesting to see if and how Zids and his agent interfere with the process.

by Krotz the Wall on Feb 17, 2012 4:20 PM CST up reply actions

Very true.

Colborne was sent as the prospect for Kaberle, he’s no thrown in!

by Kingpin45 on Feb 17, 2012 5:11 PM CST up reply actions

Moore traded for 2nd rounder to the Sharks(Wilds pick)

Brodziak, Cullen>> Moore

One of them could bring a nice return!

by Kingpin45 on Feb 17, 2012 5:30 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe

But, seeing as teams now know of Zidlicky’s troubles in Minnesota, this might incite GMs to lower his value.

Gill is a known playoff performer/PK wizard and Kaberle was doing good in Toronto when he brought that return. The pessimist in me says other GMs have leverage due to Zidlicky’s woes.

I'm that ''ignorant dumbass'' who writes with the ''whiny idiot homer'' over at Hockey Wilderness.

Twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Feb 18, 2012 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

That may be true

But fans tend to have short sighted views. A GM is going to take a look at an entire body of work before making a decision.
Let’s be real here…Zidlicky isn’t the first player ever to be frustrated with his surroundings. Hell, he’s not even the first player this year. The Coyotes traded Kyle Turris for David Rundblad (1st-round pick) and a 2nd-round pick, and that kid has no history in the NHL to bank on. Zids actually has a very productive career to fall back on.
I don’t see a prospect and a 1st as asking that much, especially to a team like Washington. Their powerplay on the road is operating at a measly 11% on the road, and at 18% overall. With the return of Mike Green in doubt, the Caps might be looking for a puck-moving, PP quarterback defensman.
The Caps also have an extra 1st-round pick from the Varlomov deal, so they could feasibly trade their 1st and a prospect and still draft in a nice position with Colorado’s pick.

You know you're a Wild fan if Spam Whoopie Gerald-buns comes up in conversation
Mikael Granlund = Suomi Savior

by JDesthubert on Feb 18, 2012 10:59 AM CST up reply actions