Wild trade up to grab defenseman Daemon Hunt 65th overall
The Minnesota Wild traded up to select defenseman Daemon Hunt with the 65th pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Minnesota dealt the No. 70 and No. 132 picks to the Detroit Red Wings in order to make the selection.
Daemon Hunt
Position: Defenseman
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 198 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Moose Jaw Warriors
Nationality: Canadian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
(Stats source: EliteProspects)
Hunt played just 28 games during the 2019-20 regular season - he missed three months after a skate cut his arm in a freak incident - but he still managed to show what he's capable of in his limited time on the ice.
The 18-year-old didn't find the back of the net himself, but he did dish out 15 assists. He started with the Moose Jaw Warriors at just 15 years old and has shown increasing confidence in his game over the last three seasons.
Hunt may not be a dynamo offensive defenseman, but he still possesses a very well-rounded two-way game. His injury cut his first draft-eligible season short, but he proved he's a reliable and competent blue-liner with tons of room to grow.
What they're saying
"Skating first and foremost," Warriors head coach Mark O'Leary said, according to NHL.com's Aaron Vickers. "It's with and without the puck. Right away when he's in the lineup we spend less time in our zone because of his ability to skate the puck out of trouble. He skates on top of the ice.
"You can see the pro game in him. He's just as quick without the puck as well, defending through the neutral zone, skating forward, cutting guys off before they can even enter the zone. He just does everything so fast. That's the thing that stands out for sure is his ability to play quickly."