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With the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild selected highly-touted left wing Benoit Pouliot from the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves. Including Pouliot, the Wild brought seven young players into the fold in total as well as adding some immediate help for the team by trading their fourth round pick, 95^th overall, to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for veteran center Todd White.

Benoit Pouliot, LW (1986-9-29)

1^st round, 4^th overall – Sudbury (OHL)

6’3, 180 lbs

Most projected Benoit Pouliot to go in the top three, but the Wild were able to select a player who, although he has to bulk up over the next few years, is capable of filling a large void in the system for a scoring winger.

Pouliot, a former 11th round pick of the Sudbury Wolves, played only four regular season games in the OHL late in the 2003-04 after being cut from the Wolves training camp because he was a frail 6'3 and 160lbs. Apart from the late-season call-up, he spent the season playing Junior A hockey. Playing at home allowed Pouliot to be close to his father who succumbed to cancer last February. Pouliot bulked up over the summer and was 185lbs for the start of camp.

This year, the native of St. Isidore, Ontario was the CHL's rookie of the year, scoring at almost a point per game pace on a team that took a defense-first approach, which undoubtedly attracted the Wild to the 18-year-old.

An effortless skater for a player of his height, he could still use more weight and strength. His offensive production should improve significantly in his second full season in the league considering his array of skills. Although he struggles with consistency, Pouliot thrived in the playoffs, particularly with a dominant turn in a first round victory over Brampton.

Although the Wild have brought three of their last five first-round picks into the system immediately, it’s expected that Pouliot will return to Sudbury under Coach Mike Foligno for 2005-06 since he’s not as NHL-ready as other picks have been.

Matt Kassian, LW (1986-10-28)

Round 2, 57^th overall – Kamloops (WHL)

6’6, 232 lbs

At 6'6 and 225 lbs, 19-year-old Matt Kassian is a man amongst boys at the junior level and the resident tough guy of the Kamloops Blazers isn't afraid to show it. What the hard-hitting forward lacks in the skating department he more than makes up for when the gloves come flying off. Make no mistake about it, Kassian isn't in the league to put up points, with just six in 69 games this season. In the playoffs he stepped up his game and had a goal and two assists in six games for Kamloops. Kassian also had 172 total penalty minutes in the regular season, the most of any Blazer and 17^th most in the league. Kamloops acquired the forward at the WHL's trading deadline from the Vancouver Giants for forward Cam Cunning.

A somewhat surprising pick so early in the draft, the Wild elected to select Kassian near the end of the second round, 57th overall, while International Scouting Services had him ranked 195th overall.

However, the Sherwood Park, Alberta product has NHL size and pro toughness and is considered one of the most physical and meanest players in the WHL, but he will definitely have to improve on his mobility before he moves on to a higher level.

Kristofer Westblom, G (1987-3-26)

Round 3, 65^th overall – Kelowna (WHL)

6’1 155 lbs

Kristofer Westblom had to step in and fill in for Derek Yeomans, Kelowna’s starting goaltender all of last season, when he was injured in the first game of the WHL finals. Seventeen years old at the time, Westblom was under intense pressure for a rookie backup goalie in the Memorial Cup and had to deal with a lot of media attention, but he reacted fairly well, putting in good performances against Ottawa (a double overtime loss) and Rimouski. Westblom never made the big save to turn the game around for the Rockets, but with the exception of maybe a goal in a game against the Knights, he didn’t allow any weak ones.

Westblom is a slightly undersized butterfly goalie who still has room for improvement. The Wild needed to stock the goaltending position and are betting on this Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan native who played Midget ‘AAA’ hockey in 2003-04.

Kyle Bailey, C (1986-10-15)

Round 4, 110^th overall – Portland (WHL)

6’2, 182 lbs

Before joining Portland, Bailey had a successful stint in Midget AAA hockey and was 11th in scoring in the league. He spent his first full season with the Winter Hawks in 2003-04 and his production was inconsistent, but he began to show he could chip in with some offense including on the power play, as well as being a strong penalty killer. His teammates voted him as the team’s rookie of the year in 2003-04.

In 2004-05 his role expanded with the Hawks and Bailey is shaping into a good defensive center who doesn’t hesitate to drop the gloves or play with a feisty edge. Bailey has a chance to develop enough to step into a checking line center and penalty-killing role one day as a pro.

Morten Madsen, C/W (1987-1-16)

Round 4, 122nd overall – Frolunda Jr. (SWE JR.)

6’2, 185 lbs

Madsen, the only Dane to be drafted in 2005, played 2004-05 with Frolunda of the Swedish junior league where he displayed a knack for creating offense, scoring seven goals and adding 14 assists in 32 games. He also excelled in representing Denmark in international play in Division 1 play at the World Juniors where he had two goals and two assists in five games. Madsen also played for Denmark’s Under-18 team for the second time in April and added another four points for a total of five goals and seven assists in Under-18 play.

Madsen is regarded a strong skater and smart player who anticipates well.  He will likely continue play in Sweden for the time being.

Anthony Aiello, D (1986-5-19)

Round 5, 129^th overall – Thayer (USHSE)

6’1, 187 lbs

Having not opted into the 2004 NHL draft, Aiello was taken by the Wild 129th overall this year. The Braintree, Massachusetts native enjoyed an excellent season at Thayer Academy in 2004-05 that culminated with his selection to the All-New England Division I East First Team. He posted 34 points (7 goals, 27 assists) in 25 appearances for the Tigers this past season.

Aiello is an immensely talented offensive-minded defenseman noted for his fluid skating, great instincts and outstanding play at both ends of the ice. Heavily recruited by Hockey East schools, Aiello will join fellow USHSE draft eligible players Benn Ferriero and Kyle Kucharski at Boston College this fall.

Riley Emmerson, D (1986-2-7)

Round 7, 199^th overall – Tri-City (WHL)

6’8, 230 lbs

With their final pick the Wild elected to take the largest selected player in the 2005 draft, Riley Emmerson. Emmerson appeared in 35 games in 2004-05 on both the blueline and up front for the Tri-City Americans, accruing 61 penalty minutes but no points.

This was the second Amerks player the Wild has taken in as many drafts after selecting defenseman Clayton Stoner in the fourth round last year. Emmerson was taken first and foremost for his monstrous size, and the Wild hope that his skills can come along enough that this late round gamble can one day pay off.

Analysis

The Wild stuck with the Western Hockey League in 2005 with four of their seven picks coming from that league.  The OHL, U.S. college, and Europe accounted for one pick each.

Heading into the draft, the Wild’s system was most in need of wingers and goalies. Pouliot was arguably the best winger available at the time and when he grows into his 6’3 frame he should be a formidable pro who can put the puck in the net from the left wing. Their second pick was also for a left winger, but Kassian is more about physical play and intimidation rather than scoring. In the fourth round the Wild took yet another forward who can play wing or center in Denmark native Madsen. Madsen has offensive upside and should continue to develop well playing in Sweden.

To address the need of goaltending, the Wild took the Kelowna Rockets’ backup goaltender who was thrust into the Memorial Cup spotlight knowing that only injury could relieve him from the net. Even with Josh Harding, Anton Khudobin and now Westblom, the Wild will probably need to use another fairly high pick in 2006 to secure a goaltender, but the situation is by no means dire for them in this area.

The 110^th overall pick was used to take defensive center Bailey who should add a bit of depth to their minor ranks in the future.

The final two picks for the Wild were defensemen. They selected two-way college defenseman Aiello who didn’t improve his offensive production in 2004-05 with Thayer, but who will be making the switch to Boston College in 2005-06. Finally, Emmerson was the biggest man on the draft board and the Wild decided to draft that size and see what develops.

The Wild have been above average at the draft in their short history, time will tell if their good results will continue.

Jason Ahrens, Jeff Dahlia, Guy Flaming, DJ Powers, and Aaron Vickers contributed to this article.

Copyright 2005 Hockey’s Future. Do not reprint or otherwise duplicate without written permission of the editorial staff.