Louis Belpedio

Belpedio made quite an impression in his first taste of NHL action last year, snagging two assists in the regular-season finale against the Sharks. The 22-year-old has the upside to be a prototypical modern offensive defenseman, combining strong skating and passing skills with a big shot from the point while not completely neglecting his duties in his own end of the ice. He also flashed a physical edge to his game in college that belied his 5-foot- 11 stature. The Wild blue line is deep enough that Belpedio won't be pushed into a role he can't handle right away, but having Ryan Suter as a mentor can only help the rookie's development as he fights for minutes on the third pairing.