For a franchise that has been starving for young talent since its inception in 2000, I have good news for Minnesota Wild fans. The cupboard is suddenly overflowing. In what has quickly become be one of the NHL’s top prospect pools over the past couple of seasons, the Wild have a little bit of everything. There is skill, there is grit, there is character, there is confidence, there is swagger.
Most noticeably, three of their 2021 draftees are having sensational starts to their 2021-22 WHL seasons. Those players are Josh Pillar, Caeden Bankier, and Carson Lambos. Let’s get into those three below, shall we?Josh Pillar, Forward
Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
4th round, 127th overall
In 12 games for the Blazers this season, Pillar has been held off the scoresheet just twice. He has 7 goals and 13 assists in those games and leads the team in points. Playing with a skilled linemate and an elite name in Logan Stankoven, Pillar’s own offensive skillset is really showing to start the season. This play in particular was extremely cheeky.
Caedan Bankier, Forward
Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
3rd round, 86th overall
Carson Lambos, Defenseman
Winnipeg Ice (WHL)
1st round, 26th overall
I just want to start off by saying how happy I am to see Lambos back healthy and playing hockey. It’s been a whirlwind past year for him and his family so seeing him back doing what he loves most is beyond inspiring.
Lambos is off to the races like a Lamborghini this season with 15 points in 15 games for the Ice. He ranks second in the WHL for defensemen with 5 goals. Lambos is on pace to shatter his career-highs of goals, assists, and points in a season. A leader of the Ice, Lambos isn’t afraid to get mixed in with the physicality of the game either. Dev and Zooch mention him seemingly every week on Wild Takes, and they should honestly talk about him more. This kid has got it all.