Wild fans got a good look at Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche last postseason. The electrifying teenager drafted first overall in 2013 racked up 10 points in the first round.
Wild fans saw another star in the making Saturday in Jonathan Drouin, the Tampa Bay Lightning's wunderkind and MacKinnon's former Halifax teammate, a 19-year-old taken third overall in 2013.
Drouin is already linemates with Steven Stamkos, the former 60-goal scorer and first overall pick from 2008. MacKinnon is teammates with guys like Matt Duchene, the third overall pick in 2009, and Gabriel Landeskog, the second overall pick in 2011.
It seems every team has these sure-thing first to fifth overall picks somewhere in their lineup. Wild fans certainly know Chicago does with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. The Penguins do with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury. Both teams have won Stanley Cups in large part because of them.
The best way to restock one's talent base is to absolutely stink. One of the lousiest teams this season will be rewarded with future superstar Connor McDavid in June.
OK, some teams, such as like Edmonton, defy the rule. The Oilers are terrible every year despite lottery pick after lottery pick, but look at last year's Central Division title won by the Avalanche. It's a great example of how elite young talent can transform an organization quickly.
The Wild had to do it the hard way.
The Wild has what's considered by many as one of the deepest pools of young talent, yet this is a franchise that other than Marian Gaborik in 2000 and Benoit Pouliot in 2005 has never had a top-five pick.
Last June, the Wild chose 18th and got Alex Tuch. In 2013, it didn't have a first-round pick. Before that in the Chuck Fletcher era, seventh (Matt Dumba), 10th (Jonas Brodin), ninth (Mikael Granlund) and 16th (Nick Leddy).
And before that, in the final years of the Doug Risebrough era, the Wild's first-round flops in a row consisted of A.J. Thelen, Pouliot, James Sheppard, Colton Gillies and Tyler Cuma.
So while other teams get sure things, the Wild has to rely on great drafting and development just to keep up.
In the Fletcher era, the Wild seems to have hit on several mid- to late-round picks, from second-rounders Gustav Olofsson and Jason Zucker to sixth-rounder Darcy Kuemper to seventh-rounders Erik Haula and Tyler Graovac. Fletcher has also acquired first-round picks Charlie Coyle (28th overall by San Jose in 2010) and Nino Niederreiter (fifth overall in 2010).
Fletcher has spent the past month trying to extend some of these contracts. Brodin signed a six-year, $25 million extension, Coyle a five-year, $16 million extension. (Niederreiter re-signed for $8 million for three years).
Granlund is currently seeking a short-term extension because if he has a chance to be a $6 million player in three or four years, his camp would prefer a bridge deal in the $3.5 million-$4 million neighborhood.
Since the 2004-05 lockout, when the NHL exchanged a salary cap for accelerated free agency (30 years old or 10 years of service to 27 years old or seven years of service), top players coming out of entry-level contracts have gotten inflated salaries.
This is the new world where teams are forced to pay youngsters oodles of money before they're fully proven. That's OK, as long as you're right. Because the Wild doesn't have the MacKinnons, Drouins and Duchenes, the Wild has to do more projecting than most.
But the Wild wholeheartedly believes in Granlund, Brodin, Coyle and others.
"Our scouts have done a good job," Fletcher said, "and what doesn't get said enough, we do a pretty good job developing players. Brad Bombardir deserves a lot of that credit. When you don't get a top pick every year, it's imperative you draft well.
"The teams that do sustain success, so it's gratifying to see our young players continue to develop. We have a long way to go yet, but our future looks promising."
NHL Short Takes
Horton's career seems in jeopardy
Terrible news for Nathan Horton, the former Florida Panthers high draft pick and overall great guy. The Columbus Dispatch reports Horton's career is in jeopardy at age 29 because of a degenerative back disorder.
He has played 36 games for Columbus since signing a seven-year, $37.1 million contract.
"Just knowing that he's in so much pain, that bothers us all," forward Nick Foligno said. "He can't even play with his kids; and that bothers me."
A true backup
Arizona goalie Mike Smith has given up 18 goals in four starts. Backup Devan Dubnyk jokingly offered to talk to reporters in Smith's place after a recent loss.
"I have a lot of experience giving up a lot of goals," Dubnyk said.
Supporting crew
In support of the NHL's annual Hockey Fights Cancer initiative, St. Louis defenseman Alex Pietrangelo had his girlfriend's 5-year-old niece, who has lost her hair while fighting cancer, shave his head.
"To see her laugh and smile when she was doing it — even though she dug the razor in a couple of times — it was good," Pietrangelo said. "I don't want any attention on this. I just did it to support her and make her feel good."
Getting them going
Shockingly, Taylor Hall scored only the fifth penalty shot goal at home in Oilers history Monday against Tampa Bay. Before his attempt, he waved his arms to get the crowd rocking.
"I figured it would give me time to calm down a bit, to relax, and the fans seemed to get into it," Hall said.
Wild's Week Ahead
Monday: at N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m. (FSN)
Tuesday: at Boston, 6 p.m. (NBCSN)
Thursday: vs. San Jose, 7 p.m. (FSN+)
Saturday: vs. Dallas, 7 p.m. (FSN)
Player to watch:
Rick Nash, Rangers
Something's come over the 2002 first overall pick. The sometimes sleepy Rangers power forward leads all players in the Eastern Conference with eight goals.
VOICES
"We're all sick of practicing. We're our own biggest rivalry now."
Wild coach Mike Yeo after the Wild played four games in the season's first 15 days.
