Minnesota Wild Draft Picks Tracker: Grades and Analysis

The Minnesota Wild entered the 2026 NHL Draft without a first-round pick, but still managed to find value later on, drafting Adam Andersson, a 6-foot-4 Swedish center.

Andersson had a productive international season and brings size and speed to the team.

What happened at the 2026 NHL Draft?

The Wild traded up in the third round to grab Andersson, and also picked Kayden Lemire and goalie Filip Ruzicka.

The team's director of European scouting, Ricard Persson, said they were aggressive in pursuing the players they wanted.

Who are the new prospects?

Adam Andersson is a big center with a good skill level, great hands, and offensive creativity in small areas.

He competes well and gets to the inside areas to generate chances, showing a willingness to use his size.

Kayden Lemire is a big winger with a high skill level, making impressive small-area plays and creating offense at the net.

Filip Ruzicka is a promising goalie prospect, massive at 6-foot-8, making difficult saves in the high-percentage area.

How do the new prospects fit into the team?

The Wild's draft class is the smallest in team history, with only three picks, but the team is happy with the players they got.

Ricard Persson said Andersson is a workhorse, very hard and heavy to play against, and fits the team's style.

The Wild are currently standing 3rd in the Western Conference, with a 46-24 record, and on a W1 streak, after winning 3-2 vs Anaheim Ducks on 2026-04-15.

Andersson, Lemire, and Ruzicka will have a chance to make an impact on the team, with Andersson having a legit chance to make it to the NHL.

The Wild's new prospects will be closely watched as they develop and compete for a spot on the team.