MN Wild Top Prospect (and Trade Asset) Nearing 100%
The Minnesota Wild are not worried about their long-term future, right now. If president of hockey operations Bill Guerin has made anything crystal clear since the start of last offseason, it’s that this organization is focused on winning right now.
That’s why former Wisconsin bust turned Michigan State standout Charlie Stramel — the league’s No. 21 ranked prospect according to Scott Wheeler (The Athletic) — stands as easily the Wild’s top prospect.
Stramel — a Rosemount, MN native — may have saved his hockey future his senior season in East Lansing, where he scored 19 goals and totalled 44 points for the Spartans.
OH MY GOODNESS CHARLIE STRAMEL š±#NCAAHockey / @MSU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/qdxEZjnnbf
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) January 16, 2026
For context, the 2023 No. 21 overall draft pick totaled just 17 goals and 47 points in his previous three collegiate seasons combined (two at WIS, one at MSU).
In fact, Charlie was so good last year at Michigan State that, for weeks, he was being floated as someone who could have come in right away at the end of last season and immediately contributed to a playoff run.
That was until he suffered a gruesome ankle injury at the very end of Sparty’s NCAA Tournament run, crushing the idea that he’d be able to burn a year of his entry-level contract in order to assist in the postseason. Instead, the MN Wild signed Stramel to a futures deal and ramped up his rehab.
Charlie Stramel’s rehab going extremely well
Outside of constant trade rumors, where he is the featured piece going out in any sort of deal that Bill Guerin can conjure up for another star (like Dylan Larkin), Charlie Stramel has been focused on getting healthy.
And from the sounds of it, his mission is going extremely well. The 21-year-old met with members of the media on Monday to kick off the start of Minnesota Wild development camp where he revealed his expectations to be back at 100% within the next couple weeks.
Charlie Stramel said heās back on the ice and a couple weeks from being 100-percent after broken ankle ended his season with @MSU_Hockey in late March. Not worried over trade rumors; his focus is on trying to make #mnwild team in camp. pic.twitter.com/zcGAtllvNy
— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithNHL) June 29, 2026
Last spring, Wheeler had Stramel — who was picked No. 21 overall in the 2023 NHL Draft — ranked No. 37. That means he jumped up 16 spots with his spectacular year at Michigan State. Unfortunately, Stramel’s rise up the prospect charts will probably be short-lived.
More than likely, the former top pick will tumble back down most prospect rankings in the coming weeks, after a fresh batch of prospects were drafted into the league over the weekend.
Reminder: MN Wild still trying to trade Stramel at all costs
Of course, that is the least of Charlie’s worries. The way Guerin is shopping him, two weeks won’t be enough time for the local kid to wear a his hometown team’s sweater at 100% health, even if it’s just the practice version.
Michael Russo & Joe Smith: Re Wild: Thereās no doubt Bill Guerin would trade multiple first-round picks and prospects like Danila Yurov and Charlie Stramel for Dylan Larkin – The Athletic (6/27)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 29, 2026
But just in case there are any inquiring GMs out there who might be interested to know, the Minnesota Wild’s best young tradable asset is now healthy and nearly ready to start contributing to his (next?) team sooner than later.
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