TropicalFruitGirl26 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Just like the main Wild thread, a fresh discussion board for discussion of upcoming players in the Wild's system. What new faces get promoted? Which ones are worth watching overseas? Which ones look like they got Bust City written all over them. Wild prospects...summer, heading into the new season, and throughout the new season, right here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandron Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Here is more to read about Zeev Buium who is going to attend soon the World Junior Summer Showcase in Michigan from July 26-August 3 : https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/first-light-zeev-buium-071724 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandron Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 Yesterday it was published an article at Daily Faceoff about 2024-25 NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown: Minnesota Wild's top 10: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/2024-25-nhl-prospect-pool-breakdown-minnesota-wilds-top-10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandron Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 Wild signed, in a swap of Adam Beckman, the final restricted free agent Graeme Clarke,23 y.o., Minnesota native. I checked his not bad at all stats. It seems he has some solid promise. Once in his career he had even 136 points (82 goals; 54 assists in 81 games), but that was 7 years ago. https://hockeywilderness.com/news-rumors/wilderness-walk/wild-re-sign-final-restricted-free-agent-r30153/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandron Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 More info about Graeme Clarke. https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/minnesota-wild-signs-clarke Definitely he needs more tryouts in NHL to see his real potential. So far he had only 3 NHL games with Devils. But Beckman appeared in 23 NHL games with the Wild in 3 seasons and had 3 assists during that period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IllaZilla Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 I wouldn't get too excited about Clark. Pretty much a depth signing for Iowa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreaseAndAssist Posted August 1 Share Posted August 1 Yes, because none of the actual Wild fans can create a thread on their own. I don't think any of the forwards in Iowa are going to really push for a roster spot. I've seen Reese Johnson's name mentioned since he played mostly with Chicago last season...and is more of a gritty player. But overall, the real hope is Iowa will actually be a playoff team. Daemon Hunt to me, is still the most likely 1st call up for the Minnesota Wild. But we talked about all of this on our podcast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewin Flames Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 Top prospects for Minnesota Wild Ohgren, Khusnutdinov each could play key role in NHL this season © Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images ByJessi Pierce NHL.com Independent Correspondent 12:00 AM NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the top five prospects for the Minnesota Wild, according to NHL.com. 1. Liam Ohgren, F How acquired: Selected with No. 19 pick in 2022 NHL Draft 2023-24 season: Minnesota (NHL): 4 GP, 1-1-2; Iowa (AHL): 3 GP, 0-0-0; Farjestad BK (SHL): 26 GP, 12-7-19 Ohgren made his NHL debut April 12 and got his first two points the next day with a goal and an assist. Prior to that, he played three games in the American Hockey League after his arrival in North America from the Swedish Hockey League. Injuries the past two seasons have slowed the 20-year-old's ascent, but Ohgren was healthy enough to help Sweden win the silver medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship as captain. He had two assists in seven games. Ohgren (6-foot, 187 pounds) is expected to make the roster out of training camp and could play an integral role in the bottom six. "He's going to be another guy that's going to come to camp and the opportunity will be there for him," Wild director of player development Brad Bombardir said. "He's a big, strong and smart player." Projected NHL arrival: This season MIN@SJS: Ohgren backhands a rebound into the net for his first career goal 2. Marat Khusnutdinov, F How acquired: Selected with No. 37 pick in 2020 NHL Draft 2023-24 season: Minnesota (NHL): 16 GP, 1-3-4; HC Sochi (KHL): 49 GP, 6-14-20; SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): 6 GP, 0-0-0; HK Sochi 49 GP, 6-14-20 The 22-year-old (5-11, 176) made his NHL debut last season, coming over from the Kontinental Hockey League. He is expected to be an important piece of the Wild offense this season. "I think Marat is the type of player that can help us right now," Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin said. "All the assets that he has -- he's a solid two-way player, he's got speed, he's tenacious -- those are the things we're looking for. We want to make sure we put him in a situation that he can succeed in, and [the] timing of when he gets into the lineup is going to be important, but he will eventually get in the lineup." Projected NHL arrival: This season 3. Jesper Wallstedt, G How acquired: Selected with No. 20 pick in 2021 NHL Draft 2023-24 season: Minnesota (NHL): 3 GP, 2-1-0, 3.01 GAA, .897 save percentage; Iowa (AHL): 45 GP, 22-19-0-4, 2.70 GAA, .910 save percentage Wallstedt made his NHL debut Jan. 10, allowing seven goals on 41 shots in a 7-2 loss at the Dallas Stars. The 21-year-old (6-3, 214) played the majority of the season in the AHL, then was recalled by Minnesota in April, for two more starts, winning both. He could crack the Wild’s goalie rotation this season. "It was great to see Jesper Wallstedt get back in the net and get a couple of wins under his belt," Guerin said. “… Obviously had a tough game and had a chance to go down to Iowa and work on his game, then was able to come up and have some success here and play well, and he looked like a different goalie -- just much more confident." Projected NHL arrival: This season 4. Zeev Buium, D How acquired: Selected with No. 12 pick in 2024 NHL Draft 2023-24 season: Denver (NCAA): 42 GP, 11-39-50 Buium led NCAA defensemen with 50 points (11 goals, 39 assists) in 42 games last season as a freshman to help Denver win the national championship. The 18-year-old (6-0, 183) also helped the United States win the World Junior Championship in January, finishing with five points (three goals, two assists) in seven games. Buium will return to Denver for his sophomore season. "He's actually pretty close (to being ready for the NHL)," Bombardir said. "He's fairly close. Time will tell." Projected NHL arrival: Next season 5. Danila Yurov, F How acquired: Selected with No. 24 pick in 2022 NHL Draft 2023-24 season: Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL): 62 GP, 21-28-49 The 20-year-old (6-1, 178) won the Gagarin Cup with Metallurg Magnitogorsk last season and broke Vladimir Tarasenko's KHL record for most points in a season by a player under age 21. "He had a great year," Bombardir said. "He's more than welcome to come over here anytime. … We're fine with him staying over there because if he's going to be able to play that big of a role, that many minutes and be that important of a player for that team, great, good for him." Projected NHL arrival: Next season 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IllaZilla Posted August 17 Share Posted August 17 The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler made some observations about Buium, Yurov , Heidt and Stramel. He’s projecting stardom for Buium, and Yurov as a potential star. Feels Heidt is not quite ready, maybe another year in the WHL and maybe this year gets on Team Canada. Stramel is basically starting over at Michigan State in his junior year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreaseAndAssist Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Stramel is on his last chance at Michigan State. He either shows some potential or you can stamp him as a bust. Its now or never for him IMO. Buium and Yurov are far and away the team's most talented "not yet in the NHL" prospect skaters. Heidt is in that odd spot of being a super dominant WHL player who likely will only be able to have a similar season there. Making Team Canada would be a good feather in his cap; and would give him a chance to see him play against the best of his age group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandron Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 I still believe that both Buium and Yurov are potential stars "not yet in the NHL" prospects based on statistical achievements at their age. Buium and Faber probably will be the most talented defensemen duo in the Wild history if they will be capable to bring us to the Stanley Cup finals. Of course, combined with a solid team's offense and goaltending. Regarding Yurov, in recent publications, he was statistically even better than Tarasenko for stats at his age among all Russian players. And second was Kaprizov for stats at same age as Yurov is. But I will be very happy if Yurov will reach a similar level as Kaprizov made for the Wild team in his last 4 years of playing here. So far, Kaprizov is the most talented player in the Wild history. I can't compare anyone else in 24 years of the Wild existence who was able to show his outstanding results. Probably, he is merit to be in a Hall of Fame in Minnesota for a sports achievement, if we have one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandron Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 According to eliteprospects site, Vladislav Firstov moved back from the Iowa Wild team to the KHL same Torpedo Nizhnii Novgorod team, where he played perfectly well for 2 previous seasons. Good for him, who will have a better professional experience there. Future Considerations said about him "Solidly built and skilled, Firstov is a hard-working power forward who has an impressive hockey IQ". And McKeen's Hockey said "He is an offensively gifted player whose puck possession skills allow him to extend possessions". He was our 2nd round draft; #42 overall in 2019. But it's very sad that the Wild club didn't find a chance for him to play few games for the big team last season. And maybe we would have a different result for that season too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IllaZilla Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 @AlexandronThe Wild terminated Firstov's contract back in May 2024. Not enough production and some dubious professional decisions that I'm sure rubbed the Wild the wrong way. Not every prospect is going to work out. It is unfortunate that the Wild missed on him, but the reality is other prospects were passing him by: Ohgren, Yurov, Khusnutdinov. Good for him finding a home at Torpedo. But I don't think adding Firstov to the roster last season was going to change anything. That team was a dumpster fire from Day 1. Too many injuries and too many passengers. And everyone of them locked in with a NMC/NTC. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexandron Posted August 28 Share Posted August 28 (edited) 6 hours ago, IllaZilla said: @AlexandronThe Wild terminated Firstov's contract back in May 2024. Not enough production and some dubious professional decisions that I'm sure rubbed the Wild the wrong way. Not every prospect is going to work out. It is unfortunate that the Wild missed on him, but the reality is other prospects were passing him by: Ohgren, Yurov, Khusnutdinov. Good for him finding a home at Torpedo. But I don't think adding Firstov to the roster last season was going to change anything. That team was a dumpster fire from Day 1. Too many injuries and too many passengers. And everyone of them locked in with a NMC/NTC. I agree. From day 1 too many injuries and too many passengers locked with a NMC/NTC who has a diminished hockey IQ related : or to a comfortable contract; or to the older age; or to the lower level of talent; or all combined above. I am still thinking that more tryouts of our prospects in a big club would help to make a better and valuable selection. We missed that opportunity with Firstov last season. He probably would develop a nice duo with Khusnutdinov in the Wild team. Statistically he was even better in KHL than Khusnutdinov. And in AHL he had 4 points(2 goals;2 assists) in 10 played games last season. Missed opportunity for the Wild to have him. Khusnutdinov came directly from KHL, but Firstov needed to go through AHL first, which is a huge anchor for the Russian prospects. No doubt. Edited August 28 by Alexandron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IllaZilla Posted Wednesday at 06:46 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 06:46 PM The Athletic: Minnesota Wild rank No. 10 in NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2024 I'm not going to link to the article, because it's behind a paywall, but the top Wild prospects in the article are: Zeev Buium (D) - Projected: All-star Brock Faber (D) - Projected: Top of the Lineup Player Marco Rossi (F) - Projected: Bubble Top and Middle of the Lineup Player Jesper Wallstedt (G) - Projected: Bubble Top and Middle of the Lineup Player Danila Yurov (F) - Projected: Bubble Top and Middle of the Lineup Player Caeden Bankier (F) - Projected: Bubble Top and Middle of the Lineup Player Liam Ohgren (F) - Projected: Will Play Games in the NHL Carson Lambos (D) - Projected: Will Play Games in the NHL Charlie Stramel (F) - Projected: Will Play Games in the NHL Ryder Ritchie (F) - Projected: Will Play Games in the NHL Marat Khusnutdinov (F) - Projected: Will Play Games in the NHL Rasmus Kumpulainen (F) - Projected: Will Play Games in the NHL Aron Kiviharju (D) - Projected: Will Play Games in the NHL Honorable mentions Hunter Haight (F) Riley Heidt (F) Daemon Hunt (D) Rieger Lorenz (F) Jack Peart (D) David Spacek (D) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CreaseAndAssist Posted 47 minutes ago Share Posted 47 minutes ago Interesting how Heidt is just an honorable mention for this article. I almost wish he'd take his game to Europe because he has nothing more to prove in the WHL and since junior league protection rules prevent him from joining the AHL. Buium being projected as an an all star player is promising. The rest; the projection doesn't seem quite as promising as many thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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