Minnesota Wild: Top 10 Prospects Entering the 2018 Season

10. Brennan Menell, D [21] (UDFA)

Stats (Iowa Wild, AHL): 72 gp, 8 g, 17 a, 25 p, 2 PPG (4 A), 1 GWG, 1 ENG, 71 SOG, .35 pts/g.

Very quickly, Brennan Menell proved to be more than an undrafted free agent. After extended years in the Canadian juniors system, Menell made a successful professional transition at the age of 21. He was 10th in scoring, fourth in goal scoring, tied for 11th in assists, and was 25th in points per game amongst rookie defensemen this past season. Very solid numbers, especially coming off a more than point-per-game performance in the WHL.

Very quickly, Brennan Menell proved to be more than an undrafted free agent.

Menell will need to prove to be more than just an offensive-minded defenseman if he’s going to make the Minnesota Wild roster, however. With a clogged blue line (Suter’s deal isn’t up for a while, and the team has a solid young core with Dumba, Jonas Brodin, and Jared Spurgeon, and Olofsson will continue to make his own case), Menell will need to continue to stand out in Iowa. That means mastering the offensive game as well as bettering himself defensively.

While he could have a decent ceiling, and at 21 is right on pace with other successful defensemen, Menell’s long path could continue to elongate. He drops to tenth on this list mainly because with that crowded defensive system, he just doesn’t stand an excellent chance of breaking through. That’s not to say he doesn’t have a chance at the NHL, but it may not be with the Minnesota Wild. He’s still not quite NHL ready, and his ceiling is currently questionable. Yet he could be a solid prospect down the line, which puts him on the list.