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Minnesota Wild: Top-8 prospects worth getting excited about

By Colton Pankiw

Russian forward Kirill Kaprizov (L) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Russian forward Kirill Kaprizov (L) (Photo by ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Calen Addison #2
Calen Addison #2 of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.(Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images ) /

7. Calen Addison

While the Wild were able to pick up Alex Galchenyuk from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2020 Trade Deadline for long-time forward Jason Zucker, that was not the best asset they got in the deal. The most exciting piece headed the Wild’s way was 2018 Second Round (No. 53 overall) pick Calen Addison. The 20-year-old defenseman has spent the last four seasons in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, posting point per game numbers over the last three.

This past season saw Addison put up 10 goals and 52 points in 50 games played. While that was impressive, it was nothing compared to his performance at the 2020 World Juniors where he played a massive role in Canada winning Gold with nine points in seven contests.

That total was good enough for second in scoring by a defenseman at the tournament, trailing Leafs prospect Rasmus Sandin by just one point. Addison will likely spend the 2020-21 season in the AHL with the Iowa Wild, where he will look to continue putting up big numbers. While it is a big jump in play, he appeared in three AHL games during the 2018-19 season as a part of the Penguins organization and had two assists.

Vladislav Firstov
Vladislav Firstov, Minnesota Wild. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

6. Vladislav Firstov

One of many skilled forward prospects the Wild possess is Vladislav Firstov. The 19-year-old was taken in the Second Round (No. 42 overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. At the time he was selected, he had just wrapped up his first and only season in the USHL, where he suited up for 62 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks. In those 62 games he had 26 goals and 58 points.

This past season saw Firstov make his debut for the University of Connecticut. By all accounts, it was a successful freshman season as he put up 11 goals and 23 points in 34 games played. That point total was good enough for third on his team, and was just five shy of the team lead. What makes it even more impressive was that he was just 18 for the entire season. He will have a strong shot at representing Team Russia at the upcoming World Juniors in Edmonton.

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