The Minnesota Wild have decided that Brennan Menell is worth a three-year entry-level contract, just months after he went undrafted for the third time. The high-flying defenseman will report to Iowa to try and crack their lineup, or head back to Lethbridge of the WHL for his overage year.
Michael Russo of The Athletic wrote about Menell just two days ago when the Woodbury, Minnesota native played in an exhibition game with the team. His journey is one of being constantly overlooked, but after a 71 point season in the WHL last year he finally earned a shot at the Wild development camp. He’s continued to impress, something that he did on a nightly basis for the Hurricanes, recording the second most points from a defender in the entire league.
There is still a long way to go for the undersized puck-mover, but he hasn’t been stopped yet. His offensive upside is tremendous, and as the game moves more and more towards mobility over physicality he could find a role in the professional ranks right away. The team lists him at 6’0″, 181-lbs which would be a far cry from the smallest player in the league. He won’t be overlooked any longer.