Pick #21 Charlie Stramel, Center, University of Wisconsin
Brackett calls the 6-foot-3 Stramel a physical wonder noting that he finished in the top five in five different categories at the annual scouting combine in Buffalo held before the draft. "Charlie, to be honest with you, he's a freak," Brackett said. "He's truly an athlete. With Charlie there's a little less projection with the physical development." Good on faceoffs and possessing a strong 200-foot game, Brackett is hoping to improve on what he felt was a disappointing first season in Wisconsin.
Pick #53 Rasmus Kumpulainen, Center, Mestis Hockey League, Finland
The Wild were determined to fill an organizational need at center and had targeted the 6-foot-2, 192-lb Kumpulainen early on who was playing in the Finnish second league. Kumpulainen is also skilled in the faceoff dot and is still filling into his frame. "With Rasmus, strength and skating (are) still things that need to come," Brackett said. "At that size, coordination and just growing into your body is still part of the process." There is good offensive up-side with Kumpulainen Brackett added. "Rasmus has an excellent ability to protect the puck, he's got vision out there, he's a play driver," he said.
Pick #64 Riley Heidt, Center, Prince George Cougars, Western Hockey League
With the last pick of the second round the Wild tabbed small, skilled center Riley Heidt who finished tied for fourth in the Western Hockey League with 97 points. He is considered a puck distributor as opposed to a sniper. Wild GM Bill Guerin said Brackett was ecstatic that Heidt was available at that stage of the draft. "Excellent vision," Brackett said. "Poise with the puck. Really patient. Can deliver a pass right on the tape. This guy's a playmaker. He gets guys the puck so if you've got a finisher on the line he's going to find them." Brackett noted Heidt's consistency and commitment to his development in spite of playing in Prince George where travel is onerous and taxing on young players. "It speaks to his mindset and his ability to be consistent day in and day out," Brackett said. At 5-foot-11 and 178 lbs. it will be interesting to see if Heidt remains a center as he gets closer to being an NHL player although he's expected to continue to play center at the major junior level.
Pick #149 Aaron Pionk, Defense, Waterloo, USHL
Pionk is the youngest of four hockey playing brothers and was born in Germantown, Minnesota. Older brother Neal is a defenseman with the Winnipeg Jets. The boys' dad, Scott, played at the collegiate level and has coached for many years at the USHL, prep and junior levels. Pionk has only been playing defense for a season and a half. "But you wouldn't know it watching him play," Brackett said. He just completed his first season in the USHL playing for the Waterloo Black Hawks after playing two seasons for Minnesota in the NAHL. "The skating's there," Brackett said. He's also a solid puck-mover, power play quarterback and has a good shot. When he's in the offensive zone you can tell he's been a forward, Brackett said. "He's someone we're excited about."
Pick #181 Kalem Parker, Defense, Victoria Royals, Western Hockey League
Parker, who hails from Clavet, Saskatchewan, just finished his second full season in Victoria and is a leader on a team that is struggling to be competitive in the WHL. "He plays a lot of minutes in all situations there," Brackett said.
Pick #213 Jimmy Clark, Left Wing, Green Bay Gamblers, USHL
Clark is a skilled winger from Edina, Minnesota who just completed his first full season in Green Bay. "I go back, I watched him score a hattrick in Edina as a freshman in the state tournament," Brackett said. "He has always had that scoring ability at a young age." Since joining the Gamblers, Clark has evolved into a strong two-way player, Brackett said. He plays with good energy and has a strong work ethic. He's expected to spend another season in Green Bay and then join the University of Minnesota hockey program. "He's homegrown and someone that we've been watching for quite some time now," Brackett said.
