Minnesota Wild Draft Picks: What you need to know.

With the NHL Draft taking place in St. Paul the host team, Minnesota Wild did make a splash by trading Brent Burns to San Jose for Devon Setoguchi.

What has gotten lost in the shuffle is the players the Wild have drafted. Here is a breakdown of the Wild players drafted so far. 

Jonas Brodin: 

Brodin was taken 10th overall in the 1st round. He a defenseman with Farjestad of the Swedish Elite League. Last year he played in 42 games and had four assists. 

Brodin was ranked 3rd among European players according to Central Scouting rankings and says he tries to model his game after Nicklas Lidstrom. If he's half as good as Lidstrom the Wild will have an excellent player to add to a deep core of defenseman in the system.

Zach Phillips: 

Phillips was drafted 28th with the pick acquired from San Jose. He has played two seasons with the st. John's Sea Dogs of the QMJHL scoring 16 goals his 1st season & 38 in his 2nd.

He describes himself as a play-making center with good hockey sense who likes to move around the puck & make his teammates better.

Phillips says he's an average skater but that is something he'll have time to work on. The Wild have good depth at center so there is no need to rush him to the NHL. 

Mario Lucia: 

The Wild traded their 3rd & 4th round pick to Vancouver to move into the 2nd round and take Mario Lucia.

Lucia is the son of University of Minnesota coach Don Lucia. He had 25 goals & 22 assists in 24 games last year for Wayzata High School.

Lucia describes himself as a finesse forward with good hockey sense, willing to do whatever it takes for his team to win. Undecided as where he will play next season, Lucia has been linked to Omaha of the USHL & Notre Dame of the CCHA.

Nick Seeler: 

Seeler is a defenseman from Eden Prairie that was selected in the 5th round by Minnesota. In 22 games last year he had 7 goals & 27 assists.

Seeler describes himself as an offensive defenseman with a hard shot from the blueline. He moves the puck well, He's physical & plays with a nasty disposition. It's everything you could want from a defenseman. 

Stephen Michalek: 

Michalek is a goalie from Loomis-Chaffee High School in Connecticut. He played in 23 games last season with a GAA of 3.95 & a save percentage of .918.

According to Central Scouting's Al Jensen, "He plays big and is very good laterally. When he's in his butterfly, he looks big, he's smooth and controlled. He's very composed and he battles and fights through traffic to track the puck well."

Michalek is going to play at Harvard in the fall. 

Tyler Graovac: 

Graovac is a center with the Ottawa 67's of the OHL. In 66 games last year he scored 10 goals & 11 assists. He is described by scouts as a good two way player that will be tough to move off the puck once he grows out.

My best guess would be that Groavac stays with Ottawa for another season but he are some highlights of what he brings to the table.

That's the rundown of the Class of 2011 for the Minnesota Wild. This draft will be known more for the trade of Brent Burns but in a few years the possibility is there where people will remember this draft where the Wild were able to get three impact players in Brodin, Phillips & Lucia.

As hockey fans we can only hope.