Top 10 Prospects: #6 Erik Haula

Erik Haula

Forward

Born: March 23, 1991

Height: 5'11" Weight: 192

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: University of Minnesota (WCHA)/Houston (AHL)

Acquired: 7th round pick (182nd overall) in the 2009 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: NR

Erik Haula needs no introduction to this state. 

Top 10 Prospects: #7 Raphael Bussieres

Raphael Bussieres

Forward

Born: November 5th, 1993

Height: 6'1" Weight: 194 lbs

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

Acquired: 2nd round pick (46th overall) in 2012 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: NR

With all the bigger name prospects the Wild have had the past few years, one name that has slipped under the radar is Raphael Bussieres. 

Top 10 Prospects: #8 Zack Phillips

Zack Phillips

Forward

Born: October 28, 1992

Height: 6'1" Weight: 196

Shoots: Right

2012-13 Team: Houston (AHL)

Acquired: 1st Round Pick (28th Overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: 8

After tearing up the QMJHL, Zack Phillips finally made the jump to professional hockey with Houston last year. But it was not the best season for Phillips as he struggled heavily in his first season in the AHL, only putting up 27 points with the Aeros.

Top 10 Prospects: #9 Mario Lucia

Mario Lucia

Forward

Born: 08-25-1993

Height: 6'2" Weight: 183 lbs
Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: Notre Dame (CCHA)

Acquired: 2nd Round (60th overall) selection in 2011 Draft
Previous Rank: 10

Wild fans may not know much about the #10 ranked prospect Gustav Olofsson, but they know plenty about Mario Lucia. 

Top 10 Prospects: #10 Gustav Olofsson

Gustav Olofsson

Defenseman

Born: December 1st, 1994

Height: 6'2" Weight: 190 lbs

Shoots: Left

2012-13 Team: Green Bay (USHL)

Acquired: 2nd Round (46th Overall) Pick in 2013 NHL Draft

Previous Rank: NR

When the Wild drafted Gustav Olofsson with the team's first pick in this summer's draft, the entire fanbase let out a collective "WHO?!". Olofsson came onto the scene last year playing for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL as a defenseman. Before that he had been playing in Colorado for some U16 and U18 teams, after coming over from Sweden with his family.

Top 10 Prospects: Honorable Mentions

Today we kick off our countdown of the 10 best prospects the Wild have. But since the Wild have several "prospects" who could get serious NHL ice time this season, it was decided that a couple could no longer be a part of this list. 

Jonas Brodin and Charlie Coyle are locks for the NHL roster this season, and therefore, have been removed from consideration. Other than that, everyone else is fair game here because they are not for sure going to be on the NHL team this season.

With all that said, we kick off the Top 10 list with those who just missed the cut as honorable mentions:

Remembering Pavol Demitra

On a more serious note, today is the two year anniversary of the tragic plane crash of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team. One of the players on Lokomotiv was former Wild player Pavol Demitra. Demitra, 36, was set to begin his second season with the team after his NHL career ended with the Vancouver Canucks early in the 2009-10 season.

The Countdown Hits 27

There are 27 days left until the regular season opener between the Los Angeles Kings and the Minnesota Wild. So for your enjoyment, here is a rare highlight from the Wild's #27, Mike Rupp

The speed demon Mike Rupp blows past Shea Weber for a breakaway

Oh, by the way, Mike Rupp's health is a bit of a concern now. 

Happy Friday!

Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell

Vanek Watch: The Pilot

Well here we are. It has finally come to this. Thomas Vanek gets his own watch with this site, like Zach Parise and Ryan Suter did last summer.

For those who don't understand why it has come to this, here is the story: Thomas Vanek (that guy who played for the Gophers in 2003, then was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and has played there ever since), is an impending unrestricted free agent next summer. The Wild have been rumored for a while to be a serious player for Vanek, since they will have adequate cap room (Dany Heatley's contract coming off the books is a huge contributor to this). So basically everyone wants to see Vanek, and all other former Gophers, return to the North Star state.

Last night, Josh Rimer stirred the Vanek to Minnesota pot with this tweet:

Hearing IF the Buffalo Sabres move Thomas Vanek, he wants to play for the Minnesota Wild. Vanek lives & trains in Minneapolis in the summer.
— Josh Rimer (@JoshRimerHockey) September 4, 2013

Rimer definitely uses the caps lock in the correct place here. The key word is "IF". So please remember that before you start celebrating Vanek's impending return to Minnesota.

The ransom to fetch Vanek at any point in the 2013-14 season would be greater than the return the Wild gave up for Jason Pominville last winter. The Wild would have to deal AT LEAST two of their top prospects and draft picks (one would be the team's 2014 first round pick and I'm guessing the Sabres would want another first too). Sorry folks, but that price is too steep. The Wild need to sit this one out.

Even if the Wild dont go after Vanek in the season, he will still be there when free agency opens on July 1st. Its becoming more and more clear that Vanek wants out of Buffalo, but wants to politely leave the bad situation that the team has become (meaning: he is not demanding a trade but he is not going to want a contract extension either). So should the Wild land Vanek on the open market, the only thing that is taking a hit is Craig Leipold's wallet (again) and not the farm system.

Gear up Wild fans, its going to be a long 10 months, but stay tuned for lots of coverage on Vanek Watch.


Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell

Wild Unveil New Road Jerseys

Today at the Minnesota State Fair (I really dislike the phrase "The Great Minnesota Get Together") and on the team's website, the Minnesota Wild finally unveiled their new road jerseys for the 2013-14 season. The jerseys came after a week of teaser photos from the website and Twitter account.

The jersey was leaked for a brief period of time on the team's website last night, but it did not get past icethetics, who managed to get a post in about it.

Here is Zach Parise and Josh Harding modeling the new uniforms:

Overall, this is another great jersey from the Wild. I love the green on the shoulder, the bold red numbers, and the bars on the bottom give it an old school feel. The only complaint here is why go with the shoulder patches? The team's other two jerseys do not have shoulder patches, so one would of assumed that they would of been done away with with this jersey.

Expect this to be another hot selling jersey from the Wild. Whenever they release a new jersey, it has always been met with overwhelming demand.

Thoughts on the new jersey, Team of 18,001?

Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell