Wild draft Charlie Stramel 21st overall
The Minnesota Wild selected Charlie Stramel with the 21st overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Charlie Stramel
Position: Center
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 222 lbs
Shoots: Right
Age: 18
Club: Wisconsin (NCAA)
Nationality: 🇺🇸
NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 30th among North American skaters
2022-23 stats
| GP | G | A | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 33 | 5 | 7 |
| World juniors | 7 | 0 | 3 |
Stramel plummeted down draft boards after struggling significantly as a true freshman in the NCAA with Wisconsin last season. He entered the 2022-23 campaign ranked in Bob McKenzie's preseason top 10 draft rankings but ended the year as the No. 34 prospect on McKenzie's list.
Stramel scored 22 points in 26 games with the U.S. National Development Team in 2021-22, exceeding the scoring rate of Ryan Leonard and Oliver Moore. Those results, combined with his frame and mobility, made him an intriguing prospect going into the college campaign.
Instead, Stramel managed just five goals and 12 points in 33 contests while playing on the worst team in the Big Ten in Wisconsin. Though there were only four draft-eligible players in the NCAA this season, Stramel was by far the lowest-scoring of the bunch. Adam Fantilli led the nation in points, while Matthew Wood and Gavin Brindley were a shade under a point per game.
Stramel was the youngest player on the U.S. world junior team in 2022 and played just one game at the tourney. Despite his struggles at Wisconsin, he earned a spot on the American squad for the 2023 world juniors, tallying three assists in a depth role and helping his team win bronze.
He's expected to return to Wisconsin for his sophomore season in the fall.
What they're saying
"He can power his way through checks and to the net and never shies away from an engagement," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote. "The degree of offense is the major question on his game. I think he has good hands and can create a little, but he lacks vision and won't be a big-time scorer as a pro. If you go into picking Stramel understanding the offense may be limited, but see a guy who can help you at even strength a lot and potentially be a nice third-line center, you'll be happy."
"Stramel is a heavy kid whose athletic, muscular build jumps out at you right away," wrote The Athletic's Scott Wheeler. "His strength complements a competitive, physical, forechecking, middle-lane style that makes good use of his length and hard wrister from mid-range."
"A massive center who can play a strong two-way game," FloHockey's Chris Peters wrote. "This is more of an upside play based on his total body of work."
Click here to view Stramel's highlights.