The Minnesota Wild went with two back end talents for their two first-round picks in this year’s NHL entry draft, so it was a bit of a surprise when Bill Guerin and Judd Brackett went back to the blue line in the second round, taking home-state hero Jack Peart at 54th overall.
But take a closer look at the Grand Rapids native’s game and it’s pretty easy to see why Peart has a top-four role written all over him. Defensively sound, good at breaking up the play with his active stick, undersized but has the skating, the hands and the smarts to make up for it.