NHL scouts often share stories about prospects they championed, only to see them thrive with other teams. For Judd Brackett, this experience shaped his approach and helped the Minnesota Wild develop a top-tier farm system, crucial for their Stanley Cup aspirations.

Before becoming the Wild`s director of amateur scouting, Brackett spent years as a regional scout, traveling long distances to identify potential NHL players. He recalls discovering a promising two-way player with size, skill, skating ability, and scoring touch. However, a crossover scout witnessed the prospect`s worst game, and despite Brackett`s persistence, he was instructed to move on.

Brackett never forgot this player, especially since he later won a Stanley Cup with the team that drafted him in a later round. This experience taught Brackett the importance of valuing every scout`s opinion, a principle he emphasizes in his current role.

“I always make sure to call the area scout, even if a player has a bad game when I watch them,” Brackett explains. “I ask them to reiterate what they see in the player. If it was just an off night, it`s understandable. But if a scout strongly believes in a player and I didn`t see it initially, I need to find the right fit for that player.”

When Bill Guerin became the Wild`s general manager in 2019, the goal was to elevate the franchise. The Wild are consistently reaching the playoffs under Guerin, navigating salary cap constraints by relying on affordable young talent.

This is where Brackett and his scouting team become invaluable. While not in the spotlight, their work has been evident for years. Their first draft pick, Marco Rossi, has become a key top-six center. Brackett`s insights were also crucial in the Kevin Fiala trade, which brought Brock Faber, a cornerstone defenseman, and Liam Ohgren, a promising forward prospect.

With Brackett`s groundwork and expiring contracts, the Wild are poised for significant moves in the upcoming offseason.

“Judd is critical to our operations,” Guerin emphasizes. “His importance and the excellent work he and his staff do, especially with our cap challenges, cannot be overstated. He leads his department, runs the draft, and is an incredibly intelligent and effective leader.”

The Central Division is known for its competitiveness, particularly among the top teams. Many rivals, like the Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets, have built through drafting and developing players. The Colorado Avalanche, while having fewer drafted players currently, won the Stanley Cup with a core of homegrown talent.

The Wild currently have only a few drafted players on their roster, highlighting the importance of Brackett`s department for both immediate and future success.

“I`m not sure exactly how he does it, but he`s effective,” Guerin jokes. “He understands player evaluation, and I trust him completely. Judd is involved in development camp, training camp, free agency, and even trade deadlines. We consult him on players who have been in the league for years, reviewing their draft year information and character assessments. He has all that background.”

Maintaining pace with division rivals is crucial for the Wild, and financial flexibility is on the horizon with the expiration of the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyout penalties.

These buyouts, initiated in 2021 after the players signed long-term contracts in 2012, initially provided cap relief but later became a significant burden. As these penalties decrease, the Wild gain financial breathing room to build their roster.

This financial situation underscores the importance of cost-effective young talent.

This is where Brackett and his 2020 draft class have significantly benefited the Wild:

  • Marco Rossi: Emerged as a top-six center.
  • Marat Khusnutdinov: Played in a bottom-six role before being traded for Justin Brazeau.
  • Daemon Hunt: Involved in a trade to acquire David Jiricek, a highly-regarded defensive prospect.

Guerin emphasizes Brackett`s crucial role in trades like the Jiricek and Fiala deals. Brock Faber, acquired via the Fiala trade, has become a top defenseman, and Liam Ohgren has contributed to the team.

The 2020 draft class quartet of Faber, Khusnutdinov, Ohgren, and Rossi collectively played 227 games this season at a combined cost of $3.6 million.

Another promising prospect, Zeev Buium, recently signed with the Wild. Drafted after Guerin traded up to secure him, Buium is a highly touted defenseman who excelled in college and international play.

Brackett highlights the dynamic nature of trade discussions, requiring readiness to evaluate multiple player options quickly. He and his team must be prepared to provide detailed insights on potential acquisitions at a moment`s notice.

“Trades can happen rapidly,” Brackett notes. “While some take time, frameworks can be established quickly. Ongoing discussions provide more time for in-depth evaluation.”

“Preparation is key. We need to be ready to discuss any player, outlining their strengths and weaknesses, whenever Bill or other management staff inquire.”

Beyond his cautionary tale, Brackett also has a success story that solidified his scouting aspirations: Marty Reasoner. As a high school goalie, Brackett played against Reasoner, who later became a first-round pick and NHL veteran. Reasoner`s exceptional vision and unselfish play impressed Brackett and became a benchmark for player evaluation.

This experience guided Brackett`s scouting career, starting with the Gatineau Olympiques in the QMJHL, where they won a championship. He then moved to the Indiana Ice in the USHL, contributing to two Clark Cups and drafting or signing 34 future NHL players before joining the Vancouver Canucks in 2008.

At Vancouver, Brackett rose through the ranks to become amateur scouting director, playing a key role in drafting core players like Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, and Elias Pettersson before joining the Wild in 2020.

“Bill and I built a relationship based on honesty and unbiased evaluations,” Brackett says. “We strive for objectivity in our decisions and recommendations.”

Brackett`s work is especially vital during the period of significant buyout costs. Looking ahead, with the buyout penalties decreasing and projected cap space increasing, the Wild are well-positioned to strengthen their roster. They have pending free agents and young stars like Rossi requiring new contracts, but a solid core remains under contract.

With strategic signings and continued development of their farm system, the Wild, under Guerin and guided by Brackett`s scouting expertise, are building towards sustained success.

“Having Judd is truly a luxury,” Guerin concludes. “I have complete trust in him. We are confident in acquiring players with genuine potential. Even during the Jiricek trade, Judd immediately supported the move, prioritizing the player over draft picks. That level of confidence and belief in his work is invaluable.”