Wilderness Walk 6-28-2013: Draft Prep Edition

Hello, Wilderness.

Before getting to the links (mostly about the draft), I just want to bring a few things to your attention. Firstly, there will be a Hockey Wilderness Draft Day Party going on at Tom Reid's Hockey Pub on Sunday, co-hosted with our friends at First Round Bust, who I will sadly not be able to meet in person. So you'll want to make sure that you get there, like I won't be. It should be a good time. Not that I'll know.

Secondly, we wrote a tribute to the Chicago Blackhawks on Puck Daddy. There's that.

And lastly, we've gotten some more good content here at Hockey Wilderness, in case you missed it. Giles looks at some moving parts for the Minnesota Wild during this Draft Weekend/Buyout/FA time. Dan Chan looks at some physical defensemen that the Wild could acquire at the draft, and that is an area of need in the system.

Make sure to check out HW later for some more draft content, including some in the Noon Number.

Wild News

Wild's Fletcher busy making the rounds before NHL draft | StarTribune.com- Fletcher still looking at trading up, chatting up a lot of hockey exec types.

Clock is ticking on Phoenix, other NHL notes; Backstrom, Brunette pay tribute to agent Don Baizley | StarTribune.com- Some NHL notes, as well as a tribute to Baizley, an agent who passed away due to cancer.

Minnesota Wild's Jason Pominville ready to show he's worth hefty price tag - TwinCities.com- A feature on Jason Pominville, who really needs to extend with the Wild at a reasonable cost. Hint hint.

First Round Bust: Guest Post: Pierre-Marc Bouchard says "it may be fun to test the [free agent] market"- Félix commits blogdultery in this piece about Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who is almost certainly departing from the Wild.

Tending the Fields

First Round Bust: #NHLDraft2013: Candidates For #46 - Brett Pesce- Could the Wild select Pesce, who has a good frame and is succeeding at a level more advanced than his age would suggest he could handle?

NHL draft at a glance | StarTribune.com- A brief overview of the draft.

Top-ranked Minnesotans in NHL draft | StarTribune.com- Guys the Wild either will just take to appease the provincial fans, or will foolishly pass over, depending on whether the Wild take them or don't, respectively.

2013 NHL Mock Draft: Stanley Cup Final Edition- Get bummed out because the Wild don't have a first rounder.

2013 NHL draft - Nathan MacKinnon goes No. 1 in final mock draft - ESPN- Continue to be bummed, if you can afford INsider.

Off the Trail

Steve Yzerman explains Lecavalier buyout to season ticket holders: ‘a pivotal move’ | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- A lot of money to give a guy who doesn't play for you anymore. Wow.

Seven destinations for Vincent Lecavalier - The Hockey News- The Minnesota Wild are listed as an option here. This would have a better chance if they had the option of buying out Dany Heatley, and that would be fine, because a center with the size of Lecavalier could be a real benefit to this team.

30 Thoughts: NHL buyouts no sure thing | Hockey | CBC Sports- Why buyouts might be sparse, and 30 other thoughts.

Thoughts on Thoughts: NHL buyouts no sure thing | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com- 10 thoughts in addition to those 30 thoughts.

Report: Penguins offer Letang an eight-year, $54 million deal | ProHockeyTalk- A hefty offer, but he's good.

It looks like the Coyotes are staying in Phoenix…for five years, at least | Backhand Shelf | Blogs | theScore.com- Until next year, right?

Canucks looking to finally trade Luongo at the NHL Draft | ProHockeyTalk- Speaking of things that happen every year...

Alex Tanguay back to Colorado, as Avs deal Jones to Calgary | Puck Daddy - Yahoo! Sports- Our division rivals got an old face back.