Andover-grad, UMD freshman Wyatt Kaiser awaits NHL Draft

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Andover-grad and current Minnesota-Duluth freshman Wyatt Kaiser is projected to be the first Minnesota-native selected in the 2020 NHL Draft which begins on Tuesday night.

Click the video box on this page to watch KSTP Sports’ chat with Wyatt Kaiser on the eve of the 2020 NHL Draft

Kaiser is the reigning Reed Larson Award winner, given to the state of Minnesota’s top senior defenseman each season.

The National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Bureau ranks Kaiser 37th in its final listing of North American skaters eligible for the Draft.

RELATED: 15 Minnesotans make final NHL Scouting Bureau prospect rankings

The draft was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the NHL season, which just concluded last week with the Stanley Cup Finals.

This year’s prospects were unable to skate at a Draft Combine or have the usual in-person interviews with teams, so video chats ran all summer as teams screened players they may consider selecting this week.

The first round of the draft is Tuesday night, with remaining rounds taking place Wednesday.