The 32-in-32 Series is an annual event here at DobberProspects and has been condensed from two articles to one. The article will bring you: The highlighted team’s draft; insights into its off-season moves; looking at prospect risers, fallers and likely prospects to play NHL games; and of course, the writers’ top-20 prospects. Articles may be brought back when an important team update occurs, so check back because we plan to fill your hockey withdrawal needs all off-season!
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Read past 32 series stories here: https://dobberprospects.com/category/feature/32-in-32-series/
Make sure to check out the Minnesota Wild team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/minnesota-wild/
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The Minnesota Wild, once again, find themselves in the mix, but not quite at the forefront of the conversation in the Central Division. After finally winning another playoff round last year, they fell promptly to the Colorado Avalanche, who got swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in short order.
The Wild are an interesting team heading into 2026-27, as they have a full year of Quinn Hughes, whom they spent the farm to acquire. With Kaprizov’s massive extension kicking in and Matt Boldy locked in, there are not many question marks outside of Quinn’s desire to stay in Minnesota long term. With a great top end of the lineup, Minnesota should find themselves in the mix like they always do. This time, a lot of their success will be dependent on the limited talent they have coming through the pipeline, and the moments their top end players can conjure in the big moments.
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2026 NHL Draft Recap
Round 3, Pick 83: Adam Andersson, Centre
Andersson was taken with the Wild’s first pick of the draft which was not until the 19th pick of the third round. He is a highly responsible centre at a position the Wild desperately need depth at internally. He has NHL-Ready size, standing at 6-4, 218 lbs and will look to work his way up to the top tier in Sweden in 2026-27.
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Round 4, Pick 112: Kayden Lemire, Right Wing
Lemire is another bid bodied forward who has a very projectable frame and an ever-running motor that brings a strong level of compete. More of a grinder than a skilled player, Lemire is someone who is likely destined for a career in an NHL team’s bottom-six, but an important role player nonetheless.
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Round 5, Pick 137: Filip Ruzicka, Goalie
Maybe the most intriguing pick of the class for the Wild, Ruzicka is a hulking 6-8 between the pipes with surprisingly strong lateral movements in the crease. He posted a 0.906 save percentage in the regular season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, but stepped it up in the post season with a gaudy 0.936 save percentage and a 2.47 goals against in a four game series loss.
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Off-Season Moves
Incoming (Years Remaining, AAV)
Blake Coleman – 1 Year, 2.45 Million (50% retained by Calgary)
Maxim Shabanov – 1 Year, 1.6 Million
Mason Shaw – 1 Year, 850k
Justin Kirkland – 1 Year, 850k
Jagger Joshua – 2 Years, 875k
Olli Maatta – 2 Years, 3.5 Million
Calvin Pickard – 1 Year, 1 Million
Outgoing
Mats Zuccarello
Jake Middleton
Marcus Johansson
Oscar Olausson
Vladimir Tarasenko
Samuel Hlavaj
Cameron Butler
Bradley Marek
Ben Jones
Re-Signed (Years Remaining, AAV)
Zachary Bogosian – 1 Year, 1.25 Million
Nick Foligno – 1 Year, 900k
Bobby Brink – 1 Year, 2.75 Million
Daemon Hunt 1 Year, 900k
Carson Lambos – 1 Year, 850k
Roman Schmidt – 1 Year 850k
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In The System
Risers
Charlie Stramel, C
Stramel represents who is likely the top all-around prospect in Minnesota’s system given his size and position. He is a hulking 6-3 centre for an organization who lacks the depth down the middle. This alone should be enough to give him a longer look in training camp, especially for a cap strapped team.
With Michigan State last season, Stramel netted 19 goals and 44 points. His bread and butter is his ability to battle. He does not shy away from the net front and loves to cause havoc, which benefits and hurts him at times.
All of this is to say Stramel will need to round out his offensive game and how he attacks opposing defenders, but that is a nice problem to have for a 22 year old heading into his professional rookie season. Those traits are a lot easier to teach than his well rounded defensive prowess.
Aron Kiviharju, RHD
Kiviharju was widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2024 draft class prior to that draft year. His meteoric fall resulted in him falling as a projected top ten pick to a fourth round selection of the Wild.
His play with TPS in the top tier of Finland in Liiga in 2025-26 was on par with his previous season’s results with a slight uptick in production. Kiviharju possesses tools that are becoming increasingly valuable in the modern NHL. He is excellent when breaking out and is an incredible passer. He has the ability to run a powerplay and remain productive when he is not putting up offensive numbers.
He is slated for another season in Finland, but he is one to keep an eye on, especially as the Quinn Hughes contract situation remains unsettled. With a potential void on the top pair and top unit, the Wild have Kiviharju as an internal option beyond next season, and could get a shot as early as 2027-28, should he continue his upward trend.
Adam Benak
Benak made the trip over to the CHL and was dominant with the Brantford Bulldogs, putting up 1.6 points-per-game on a championship caliber team. He was a fourth round pick a few years ago, but a player who was in the first round on many draft lists.
He will head to Western Michigan in the NCAA for the upcoming season. Keep a close eye on him. If he explodes in the NCAA, his stock may go through the roof. Pounce on him now, while you still can, especially in dynasty leagues.
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Fallers
Riley Heidt, C
Heidt dominated the WHL in his draft year and draft-plus-one with a 117 point performance. His production dipped back to its draft year level in his final year in junior. The downward trend persisted, albeit in his first professional season with the Iowa Wild.
Still, Heidt possesses traits that are admirable among NHL brass and that is his tenacity to win the puck back, even though his play away from the puck is questionable at best.
Heidt will look to trend back up as a dominating offensive player, but without that rocket fuel, that shot might not come in 2026-27.
Rasmus Kumpulainen, C
Kumpalainen is a former second round pick of the Wild after near point-per-game numbers in the OHL. He has since struggled to find his stride in the North American professional game, logging just five points in 48 games with the Iowa WIld, and spent part of last season in the ECHL.
His limited upside is a large reason he has been held back and has not shown many signs of an upward trajectory. 2026-27 will be a big season for him to get back onto the track he was on in his draft-plus-one season with the Oshawa Generals.
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Expected to Start in the NHL
- Charlie Stramel
- Hunter Haight
- David Spacek
Likely to See NHL Action
- Riley Heidt
- Ryder Ritchie
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Top 20 Prospects
This section is intended to paint a picture of the Minnesota Wild prospects whose current trajectory projects them making the most positive fantasy impact at the time that they reach the NHL. Arrival date and NHL certainty have been taken into consideration; however, potential upside is the most important factor in determining this list.
- Charlie Stramel
- Adam Benak
- Ryder Ritchie
- Riley Heidt
- Aron Kiviharju
- Hunter Haight
- Adam Andersson
- Justin Kipkie
- Theodor Hallquisth
- David Spacek
- Carson Lambos
- Filip Ruzicka
- Caeden Bankier
- Kayden Lemire
- Lirim Amidovski
- Carter Klippenstein
- Rasmus Kumpulainen
- Rieger Lorenz
- Jack Peart
- Sebastian Soini
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Make sure to check out the Minnesota Wild team page here: https://dobberprospects.com/team/minnesota-wild/
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Final Comments
The Wild have plenty of questions to answer in this upcoming season. A lot of factors will determine their success, but none more than a full season of Quinn Hughes in their lineup. The progress of some of the prospects discussed here will have a major impact for the longevity of this group, as big changes could be looming with a big season on the horizon.
Sean Crocker