Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher had just four picks to work with heading into the 2016 NHL Draft, choosing to stock up on offense with the first three, before adding a project defenseman late in the seventh round.
Wisconsin center Luke Kunin and future Providence winger Brandon Duhaime give the Wild a pair of forwards to watch in the NCAA, while Fletcher took a flyer on one of the draft's most intriguing late-round picks in Russian scorer Dmitry Sokolov.
Check out all of the Wild's 2016 draft picks below:
Round 1, pick 15 -- C Luke Kunin (6-0, 193) Wisconsin (NCAA)
A goal-scorer from Missouri, Kunin accelerated his high school education before enrolling at the University of Wisconsin for the 2015-16 season. Kunin spent two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program, captaining the U18 team to a gold medal at the 2015 world championships and scoring six goals in seven games. That team also included No. 1 overall pick Auston Matthews and No. 6 overall pick Matthew Tkachuk. The second-youngest player in college hockey last season, Kunin scored 19 goals and 32 points for the Badgers, maintaining a point-per-game pace on a Wisconsin squad that managed just eight wins.
Round 4, pick 106 -- RW Brandon Duhaime (6-0, 198) Tri-City (USHL)
Traded from the Chicago Steel to the Tri-City Storm mid-way through the 2015-16 season, Duhaime would go on to score 32 points in 39 games during the regular season, before helping lead the Storm to a three-game sweep of Dubuque in the Clark Cup Championship. Originally from Florida, Duhaime spent two seasons in the Junior A BCHL, cracking Central Scouting's pre-draft rankings at No. 92 following his run with the Storm. Duhaime is set to attend Providence College in the fall.
Round 7, pick 196 -- RW Dmitry Sokolov (5-11, 229) Sudbury (OHL)
The third overall pick in the 2015 CHL Import Draft, Sokolov was tabbed as a potential top-10 pick last summer, before plummeting down draft boards after scoring 52 points for the OHL's Sudbury Wolves last season. Despite leading all OHL rookies in scoring with 30 goals Sokolov's conditioning and defensive play soured scouts on his NHL potential, making the Russian scorer one of the most intriguing wild cards of the draft.
Round 7, pick 204 -- D Braydyn Chizen (6-8, 191) Kelowna (WHL)
A hulking defenseman who logged just two points and 40 penalty minutes for the Kelowna Rockets last season, Chizen has some work to do in the weight room if he wants to fill out his 6-foot-8 frame. His skating ability and size make him a project that could be worth investing in for the Wild.
