Minnesota Wild: Top 10 Prospects Entering the 2018 Season

9. Ivan Lodnia, RW [18] (3-85, 2017)

Stats (Erie Otters, OHL): 62 gp, 22 g, 37 a, 59 p, 5 PPG (7 A), 3 SHG, 3 GWG, 216 SOG, .95 pts/g.

Lodnia is a hard prospect to figure out. He was drafted in the third round of 2017, yet was Minnesota’s first draft pick that year. That means he has the regard of a third-round pick but the expectations of a higher one. That might not be fair to a still-growing winger, who has yet to put forward a point-per-game performance in the OHL. He received AHL games this year as well, yet went scoreless in six contests.

Those are good signs for a potential bottom-six player down the road, perhaps someone who can move the needle from a fourth-line role.

The reason Ivan Lodnia still makes this list is that he continues to grow, moving from 57 points in 66 games in his draft year to 59 in 62 this season. His goal scoring didn’t suffer all that much, and he became a better playmaker.

Those are good signs for a potential bottom-six player down the road, perhaps someone who can move the needle from a fourth-line role. Tied for 54th in scoring, 66th in goal scoring, 48th in assists, and 58th in points per game in the OHL, it doesn’t seem like Lodnia’s ceiling is all that high.

But he has the chance to become an NHL player, and if he does, he’ll get time with the Minnesota Wild. A team in need of depth, they could find it in Lodnia. He’ll need to continue to work on his defensive game and on possession, but he has the skills to do it.