I'm sorry Mr. Vickers, I am not in the best of moods, a lot of things have happened at once and I'm a bit tired and cranky. So I'll try to argue your stance on the Wild. I don't argue the fact that the Wild deserve to be down that low, they have gaps here and there, but your arguments are a bit weak when a Wild fan reads them.
First off: defense, defense, defense! If you notice the Wild's pattern on drafting defense is take them in a low round. The only two that have been picked before the fourth round are Heid and Schultz. But it's not a big issue the Wild are going to look into. Right now they are probably going to lose Bombardir to free agency and maybe one other, maybe not, depends. The Wild have also depended on waiver pick ups (Zyuzin and Henry) and free agents. If you are so high on Heid, why didn't you list him as a top prospect? Personally I wouldn't but he isn't a sureshot to make it into the NHL. He's not having the best of time down in Houston, he just started picking it up.
The argument about this is this. The Wild like using depth defensemen and project players. Henry and Zyuzin are the two best examples of project players. Both have worked out okay for the Wild, Zyuzin is one of the better defensemen this year for the Wild even. Secondly they use depth defensemen. Kuba, Zyuzin. Mitchell, Schultz, Henry, and whenever he feels like playing either Marshall, Brown or Bombardir log in some ice time. They are fine. We have a decent goalie and our players, whenever they feel like it, forecheck and help out on defense. Until either Lemaire leaves or one of our guys goes down, defense isn't a huge priority for the Wild. They will probably start drafting guys in the lower rounds, like the 3rd, 4th to pick up some depth again. Bolduc and Misharin are long shots but they will help on depth for the moment. Reitz and Michalek played a hellovalot better last year with some good solid veterans working with them, they took a step backwards. Don't look at this year, I know that this should be there year but Reitz is immature and Michalek is still young, well both are still young. By next year or the year after, if they don't make it, you can write them off but Michalek will give the Wild a much needed puck moving defensemen, if he can keep up his level and Reitz will give them a small but good, hard hitting defensemen they could use if Brown or Bombardir leaves, which is fine. It'll take a while for them to get adjusted and move up, defensemen take long. Yes they should draft one but for the moment more pressing needs.
Which brings us to the next point. Scoring. The Wild are the leagues worst at scoring or close to it, especially with Gaborik and Dupuis having an off year. Bouchard is taking a very long time, which is fine and Burns will too. Koivu isn't going to put the puck in the net, but only O'Sullivan will. This is where it hurts the Wild. They won't be able to piece together really two good lines if their prospects don't work out right. They need to draft another sniper. O'Sullivan will also move to the wings. Foy is a toss up, having a bad year with injuries and sickness down in Houston, so he's a mystery player. Hannula is someone you might look at especially paired with Wallin, which brings up another good player.
Wallin. I'll be labeled a homer but everywhere I read this guy has Sedin written all over him. A bit lanky, tall, good skater, and can both score and set up plays but nothing extraordinary, Wallin has the potential to be a Zholtok type of player that the Wild like and probably need. A versatile and well used winger/center they can insert in their lineup. I consider Wallin to be the top prospect. After O'Sullivan and Koivu to make the team, Wallin is the next guy, yes even over Foy. He's been with the team long enough and has shown good ability down in the minors (again write off this season, YUCK) that he should be considered close to a top prospect.
Another one and a dark horse for the Wild is both Kyle Kettles and Barry Brust as top prospects. Kettles has steadily moved up from the ECHL to the AHL and has done well in btoh situations along with the CHL. Brust is doing well for the CHL and has quietly made a name for himself at the Prospect Tournament. Well they shouldn't be considered top prospect but a tier under. With Harding, Kettles, and Brust the Wild have a great tandem of three good goalies (Brust has average to okay numbers in the minors) and your right they are deep between the pipes.
As I said though I see why you put the Wild as low as they did but I can argue they should be over the Flames and/or the Canucks too.