Jun 22, 2018; Dallas, TX, USA; Filip Johansson poses for a photo with team representatives after being selected as the number twenty-four overall pick to the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL, Minn - This is the first year that the Minnesota Wild will enter the Draft without a first round pick since 2017. Obviously things can happen and the Wild could trade for a first round pick before the draft or during it, but as of four hours before the draft, the Wild don't have a first rounder.

It is the first year since 2017 that they don't. Minnesota traded its first round pick that year to the Arizona Coyotes in a trade for forward Martin Hanzel and Ryan White.

The Coyotes drafted defenseman Pierre-Oliver Joseph with the pick. He has 194 career games in five NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins and a half of a season with the St. Louis Blues.

Minnesota made six picks in the 2017 draft. Ivan Lodnia was the Wild's first pick that year and it was in the third round. Mason Shaw was the next in the fourth round. Bryce Misley was their other fourth round pick. Jacob Golden was taken in the fifth round, Andrei Svetlakov was taken in the sixth round and Nick Swaney was taken in the seventh.

Swaney and Shaw were the only two to ever play for the Wild. Swaney played one NHL game and just signed in the ICEHL. Shaw is a free agent. He spent the 2024-25 season with the Winnipeg Jets AHL team.

The following season was new General Manager Paul Fenton's first draft with the Wild. He drafted defenseman Filip Johansson with the 24th pick in the 2018 Draft. Johansson has played zero NHL games and did not play a single game in the Wild's organization. He plays in Sweden now.

In five drafts as the General Manager for the Wild, Bill Guerin has taken seven first round picks. The Wild have had a first round pick in every year that Guerin has been the General Manager other than this year.

Minnesota traded its first round pick in a deal for Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman David Jiricek in November of the 2024-25 season. Guerin's first round picks include Marco Rossi, Jesper Wallstedt, Carson Lambos, Danila Yurov, Liam Ohgren, Charlie Stramel, and Zeev Buium.

Again, anything can happen. The Wild could make a trade for a first round pick before the draft is over. But as of now, this will be the first time in eight years that they don't have a first round pick.