#1
#1 out of 1
sports19h ago
What’s next for Wild after Judd Brackett’s departure, and evaluating his tenure as scouting director
- Judd Brackett left the Wild to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as assistant GM and director of player evaluation, prompting a leadership search for his replacement.
- Guerin said he will conduct a wide search for Brackett’s replacement, considering internal and external candidates with a strong leadership and organizational profile.
- Dan Palango, Brackett’s longtime scout, is not expected to return as part of the staff shakeup.
- Minnesota holds five picks in the 2026 draft and plans to emphasize later rounds to complement the roster window for a Stanley Cup run.
- Sylvain Rodrigue was hired as director of goaltending to work with NHL and AHL goalie coaches and to support development of drafted goaltenders.
- Brackett’s track record includes first-round successes like Jesper Wallstedt (2021) and Zeev Buium (2024), but late-round results have been mixed.
- Guerin stresses that later-round picks are increasingly important as the Wild pursue a Cup window.
- The team aims to balance global talent and internal development to build its future roster under a new scouting leadership.
- Guerin clarified he is not personally attending amateur games regularly, placing trust in the scouting director to run the department autonomously.
Vote 0