Minnesota, personally, didn't have a bad draft even though it didn't look like it. They have a lot of top 20, top 50 players coming out of the draft.
1. Pierre- Marc Bouchard (Yes it was idiotic to get this guy out of the Q but he flat out dominated the league, had little to nothing left to learn. Hasn't played extremely well given what he has in Minnesota and was moved to left wing. But started picking it up when they moved to a youth movement in Minnesota. Should be a good 2nd line LW/C)
2. Josh Harding (Numbers are deciptive and has played extremely well in the WHL, should be interesting to see how good he turns out to be)
3A. Mike Erickson (Has been tearing up the uh, USHL I believe but I don't know how good this guy is simply because of the scouting reports and him being in Iowa of all places. Hope he does good. Has good size for a winger, should be in the AHL)
3B Barry Brust (Could be a solid backup or a fringe starter, will take years to be a good player in the NHL if he ever makes it but played well for Minnesota in the Traverse Hockey Tournament and played well this year on a good team if that means anything).
5. Armands Berzins (Mystery guy, almost made it out of camp in 02-03, good size for a center but is going the hard way of making it in the NHL. I believe Minnesota likes the guy. Didn't put up great numbers in the ECHL, which makes me worried but will be a project.)
6. Matt Foy (Injuries plagued him this season but should end up a good 2nd line winger or even a 3rd line winger, but plays well with Bouchard. This is a huge steal for Minnesota.)
7. Nicklas Eckerblom (Uh...moving on)
8. Christoph Brander (Major overager, what more do you want???)
9A. Mikhail Tyulyapkin (Fun name, no potential but is one of what, 3? 4? defenseman in the Wild system...Hey Tyulyap! Stay in Russia please!)
9B. Mika Hannula (My favorite pick and a Richard Park type! Played well with Wallin and should be a spunky 3rd line/4th line energy player! YAY! Plagued with injuries like Foy this year in the AHL.)
So Minnesota didn't have a bad draft:
Potential Top-6 Players/Number 1 Goalie: 3
Pierre- Marc Bouchard
Matt Foy
Josh Harding
Good picks/Unknown Potential:
Armands Berzins
Mika Hannula
Barry Brust
Mike Erickson
Up in the Air/Could be Busts:
Niklas Eckerblom
Mikhail Tyulyapkin
Christoph Brandner
The good thing for the Wild, Eckerblom, Tyulyapkin, and Brandner all came in the later rounds.
I give this draft a B+ for the Wild