NHL scouts often share stories about prospects they championed, only to see them thrive with other teams.

For Judd Brackett, a tale of missed opportunity fuels his work with the Minnesota Wild. As director of amateur scouting, Brackett is instrumental in building what is considered one of the NHL`s best farm systems, a key component of the Wild`s Stanley Cup aspirations.

Brackett`s early scouting days involved countless miles on the road, searching for NHL-caliber players. He once identified a promising two-way prospect with size, skill, and scoring ability. However, a crossover scout`s visit coincided with the player`s worst game, leading to dismissal of Brackett`s recommendation.

Despite being urged to forget the player, Brackett never did. Over 15 years later, it remains a significant lesson. The prospect, a later-round pick, went on to win a Stanley Cup with the drafting team. This experience taught Brackett the importance of valuing every scout`s voice, a principle he applies in his current role.

“I always make sure to reconnect with the area scout, even after a player has an off game,” Brackett explains. “I ask them to reiterate what they see in the player. If it was just an isolated poor performance, it`s understandable. But if a scout strongly believes in a player I overlooked, I need to understand why.”

Bill Guerin`s arrival as Wild`s general manager in 2019 signaled a new era. Under Guerin, the Wild are consistently playoff contenders, navigating salary cap constraints through strategic use of young, affordable talent. This is where Brackett`s scouting expertise becomes crucial. Though not in the public eye, his contributions are evident in the team`s sustained success.

Since Brackett`s appointment in the 2020-21 season, the Wild`s draft success is clear. Their first pick, Marco Rossi, has become a top-six center. The impactful Kevin Fiala trade, yielding Brock Faber and Liam Ohgren, also stemmed from Brackett`s insights.

With Brackett`s foundational work and upcoming salary cap relief, the Wild are poised for significant moves in the offseason.

“Judd is essential to our operation,” Guerin emphasizes. “His importance and the quality of his work cannot be overstated. He manages his department and draft day, displaying sharp intellect and leadership.”

The Central Division is known for its competitiveness, especially among the top teams.

Many rivals, such as Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and Winnipeg Jets, rely heavily on drafted or signed homegrown talent. The Colorado Avalanche`s 2022 Stanley Cup victory was built on a similar foundation.

The Wild currently have fewer homegrown players, highlighting the critical role of Brackett`s department in securing both immediate and future talent.

“I`m not sure exactly how he does it, but he`s effective,” Guerin jokes. “He understands, and I trust him completely. Judd is involved in development camp, training camp, free agency, and trade deadlines. We consult him even on established players, reviewing their draft history and character assessments. He holds all that vital information.”

Maintaining pace with rivals and leveraging upcoming financial flexibility from the Parise and Suter buyouts are key for the Wild.

The 2021 buyouts of Parise and Suter, following their identical 13-year contracts from 2012, had significant cap implications. A subsequent CBA limited contract lengths to eight years.

Had they stayed, their contracts would now be expiring. The buyouts initially provided over $10 million in savings but led to increasing cap hits in later years, peaking at $14.743 million. This necessitated finding impactful players on cost-effective contracts.

Brackett`s 2020 draft class has been particularly impactful:

  • Rossi emerged as a top-six center.
  • Marat Khusnutdinov contributed in a bottom-six role before a trade.
  • Daemon Hunt was part of the trade to acquire David Jiricek.

Guerin credits Brackett`s heavy involvement in trades like the Jiricek and Fiala deals. Faber, a Calder Trophy finalist, is now a top defenseman, and Ohgren has played significant games.

Collectively, Faber, Khusnutdinov, Ohgren, and Rossi played 227 games this season at a combined $3.6 million cost.

Zeev Buium, a highly-regarded defensive prospect, might further bolster the Wild. Drafted after Guerin strategically moved up, Buium is joining the team after a successful college season and multiple World Junior Championship gold medals.

Brackett emphasizes the dynamic nature of trade discussions, requiring readiness to evaluate multiple player options quickly. “Trades can materialize rapidly,” Brackett notes. “While some discussions are ongoing, you must be prepared to provide immediate insights on players when needed.”

Beyond past disappointments, Brackett also has a formative success story in Marty Reasoner. Facing Reasoner in high school hockey helped shape Brackett`s player evaluation skills.

Reasoner`s vision, selflessness, and talent provided Brackett with a benchmark for scouting. This approach guided Brackett through roles with the Gatineau Olympiques and Indiana Ice, where he contributed to team success and drafted numerous future NHL players.

Before joining the Wild in 2020, Brackett was with the Canucks, playing a key role in drafting core players like Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, and Elias Pettersson.

“Bill and I value honesty and unbiased evaluations,” Brackett states about their working relationship.

Brackett`s contributions are particularly timely as the expensive Parise-Suter buyouts are easing. Projected cap space is increasing, offering the Wild greater financial flexibility for upcoming seasons.

With key players needing contracts, including Rossi, the Wild are positioned to leverage their strengthened farm system, thanks to Brackett`s leadership.

“Judd is an invaluable asset,” Guerin concludes. “His confidence and belief in his work are evident, especially when he advocates for acquiring talent like Jiricek, demonstrating his commitment to the team`s future.”