Minnesota Wild - Prospects

It's difficult to search for positives when a team misses the Stanley Cup Playoffs four years in a row, but the Minnesota Wild were at least able to stock their prospect pool during those frustrating times. Led by GM Chuck Fletcher, the Wild, who ended their postseason drought in April, have collected a group of talented, young players who will be expected to have an impact in the NHL in the near future. Some of Minnesota's young talent already enjoys life in the NHL. Defenseman Jonas Brodin, the Wild's first-round pick (No. 10) at the 2011 NHL Draft, had 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 45 games last season and led NHL rookies by averaging 23:12 of ice time per game. He was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. Forward Charlie Coyle, who was acquired at that same draft in the trade that sent Brent Burns to the San Jose Sharks, made the jump to the NHL from the collegiate and junior levels and had eight goals and six assists in 37 games. The 21-year-old is aiming to be a top-six forward again. Mikael Granlund, the Wild's first-round selection (No. 9) in 2010, also broke into the League and had two goals and six assists in 27 games. Brodin, Coyle and Granlund are expected to have even bigger impacts in Minnesota this season. With a strong training camp, Granlund, 21, could be the No. 2 center. The Wild did not possess a first-round pick at the 2013 NHL Draft after Fletcher traded it to the Buffalo Sabres before the trade deadline in exchange for veteran wing Jason Pominville. However, there are other young players are on the way.

1. Mathew Dumba, D: At 6 feet, 180 pounds, the 19-year-old plays a physical game and can hit with the best of them. A Calgary native, Dumba completed his third season of junior hockey in 2012-13 and had 16 goals, 26 assists and 80 penalty in 62 games for the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League. He spent the end of last season with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League and skated as a "Black Ace" for the Wild during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Dumba was Minnesota's first-round pick (No. 7) at the 2012 NHL Draft.

2. Gustav Olofsson, D: The Wild's first pick in the 2013 draft (No. 46), Olofsson had two goals, 21 assists and 59 penalty minutes in 63 games last season for the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League. Olofsson (6-foot-3, 191 pounds) turns 19 Dec. 1 and is attempting to model his game after Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin. Olofsson will play for Colorado College next season.

3. Zack Phillips, C: A first-round draft choice (No. 28) in 2011, Phillips got his first taste of professional hockey last season in the AHL. In 71 games for Houston, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound center had eight goals and 19 assists. He also had one assist in five Calder Cup Playoff games. With a year of pro hockey under his belt, Phillips, who had 80 points (30 goals) in 60 games for the Saint John Sea Dogs in his final junior season in 2011-12, is ready to make a bigger impact, whether it be in Minnesota or for the Iowa Wild, the club's new AHL affiliate.

4. Johan Gustafsson, G: The 21-year-old completed his second season with Lulea HF of the Elitserien in Sweden, posting a 1.70 goals-against average and .932 save percentage in 33 appearances in 2012-13. Ready to tackle the North American game, Gustafsson (6-foot-2, 202 pounds), a seventh-round pick from 2010 (No. 159), is expected to play with Iowa in the AHL.

5. Mario Lucia, LW: The son of University of Minnesota coach Don Lucia, the 19-year-old recently completed his first season at the collegiate level. In 32 games for Notre Dame, Lucia (6-foot-2, 187 pounds) had 12 goals and 11 assists. A second-round pick (No. 60) in 2011, he will return to Notre Dame this season.

6. Raphael Bussieres, LW: Signed an entry-level contract with the Wild in May after scoring 29 goals and 39 assists with a plus-27 rating in 60 games for the Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, his third season with the club. Minnesota's second-round pick (No. 46) in 2012, Bussieres (6-foot-1, 198 pounds) could return to junior for one more season, but his goal is to play at the professional level.

7. Erik Haula, LW: A seventh-round draft choice (No. 182) in 2009, Haula has moved up Minnesota's prospect chart because of his hard work and production at the University of Minnesota. Over his final two seasons with the Golden Gophers, Haula (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) had 100 points (36 goals) in 80 games. Haula, 22, turned pro at the end of last season; he had a goal and an assist in five playoff games for Houston) and signed an entry-level contract in April. He is expected to start next season with Iowa.

8. Kurtis Gabriel, RW: A power forward (6-foot-4, 214 pounds), Gabriel was selected in the third round (No. 81) of the 2013 draft, but he's already 20, which means he can battle for a roster spot in Iowa next season. Gabriel, who had 13 goals, 15 assists and 100 penalty minutes in 67 games for the Owen Sound Attack (Ontario Hockey League) last season, was a physical presence at Wild development camp this summer and impressed team brass.

9. Darcy Kuemper, G: The 23-year-old impressed during his brief stint in Minnesota last season, when he had a 2.08 GAA and .916 save percentage in six regular-season appearances. The Wild's sixth-round pick (No. 161) in 2009, Kuemper (6-foot-5, 207 pounds) boasted a 1.88 GAA and .934 save percentage in 21 games at Houston. He will battle Josh Harding for the backup job in Minnesota but likely will head to Iowa and share the goaltending duties with Gustafsson.

10. Tyler Cuma, D: Projected to be a top-four NHL defenseman when the Wild selected him in the first round (No. 23) of the 2008 NHL Draft, Cuma has appeared in one NHL game since turning pro in 2010. With Ryan Suter, Jonas Brodin, Keith Ballard, Marco Scandella, Clayton Stoner, Jared Spurgeon, Jonathon Blum, Nate Prosser and Dumba all in the mix on Minnesota's blue line, Cuma (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) is likely headed back to the AHL after signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Wild on July 30. This could be a make-or-break season for the 23-year-old.