Inside the Minnesota Wild’s Draft Mastermind: How Judd Brackett Built a Contender Without Stepping on the Ice

The Architect Behind Minnesota’s Rise

Judd Brackett isn’t a household name, but his fingerprints are all over the Minnesota Wild’s resurgence. As the team’s director of amateur scouting, Brackett has become the franchise’s secret weapon in navigating the NHL’s salary cap crunch while building one of hockey’s deepest prospect pipelines.

From Missed Opportunities to Draft-Day Dominance

Brackett’s philosophy stems from a lesson learned early in his career. As a regional scout, he once championed a prospect who later became a Stanley Cup winner after his team passed due to a single bad game. This experience shaped Brackett’s approach: trusting scouts, valuing persistence, and prioritizing player character.

Key Draft Wins Under Brackett:

Marco Rossi (2020 1st Round): Evolved into a top-six center with 55+ points in 2024-25
Brock Faber (Via Fiala Trade): Calder Trophy finalist and top-pairing defenseman
Zeev Buium (2024 1st Round): Hobey Baker finalist signed days before playoffs

Salary Cap Chess: Turning Constraints Into Advantages

With $14.7M in dead cap space from the Parise/Suter buyouts, Brackett’s ability to find NHL-ready talent on entry-level deals proved critical:

Player	Role	2024-25 Cap Hit	GP
Faber	Top D	$925k	82
Rossi	2C	$894k	78
Ohgren	Top-9 W	$863k	24

GM Bill Guerin’s Trust Factor:

"Judd’s department has allowed us to compete while carrying dead money. When we traded for David Jiricek, he said, ‘Sacrifice our pick – get him.’ That confidence is why we’re here."

The Central Division Arms Race

Minnesota’s blueprint mirrors division rivals’ success:

Dallas/Colorado: Built Cup winners through drafts (Heiskanen, Makar)
Winnipeg: Developed stars like Connor/Perfetti
Wild’s Edge: 11 drafted prospects set to debut by 2026

Playoff X-Factor: The Brackett Effect

With cap relief ($21.8M projected) arriving this summer, Brackett’s work enables Minnesota to:

Re-sign breakout center Marco Rossi
Pursue elite free agents
Promote NCAA champion Zeev Buium

Scouting Department’s 2024 Report Card:

A+ for identifying two-way defenders
Top 5 in NHL pipeline rankings (The Athletic)
7 prospects at 2025 World Juniors

The Road Ahead

As Brackett prepares for his fifth draft with Minnesota, his focus remains on sustaining success: "Every scout’s voice matters. If we miss on a pick, it’s because we didn’t listen – not because we didn’t work." With 12 picks in the 2025 draft and cap flexibility returning, the Wild are poised to become the Central’s new powerhouse.