Minnesota Wild: Top-8 prospects worth getting excited about

3. Adam Beckman

No player on this list had a bigger improvement in a year than Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native Adam Beckman. The Wild were able to grab the now 19-year-old in the Third Round (No. 75 overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft with a pick that just a year and a half later appears to be a massive steal. His draft season in 2018-19, which happened to be his first in the WHL, was a solid one as he had 32 goals and 62 points in 68 games, along with another 12 points in 15 Playoff matches. However, no one expected him to do what he did just one season later.

Beckman tore up the WHL last season, scoring 48 goals and 107 points in just 63 games. Both of those totals led the league, as Orrin Centazzo finished second in goals with 44, while Seth Jarvis came second in points with 97. As a result of the fantastic and unexpected season, Beckman earned himself an invite to Team Canada’s selection camp for the World Juniors, and also has a great shot at making the team. This was a fantastic pick by the Wild scouting staff.

2. Marco Rossi

As if the Wild didn’t already have enough great forward prospects, they were able to add yet another in the 2020 Draft when they selected Marco Rossi with the ninth overall pick. While being taken at ninth overall is nothing to scoff at, Rossi likely would have been a top five selection if not for concerns on his size.

The Austrian born forward stands at just five-foot-nine. Given his offensive talent however, along with the fact that the NHL is seeing more and more undersized players being able to make an impact, it doesn’t seem overly concerning.

This past season, which was his second for the Ottawa 67’s in the OHL, Rossi put up a video game like 39 goals and 120 points in just 56 games. This followed what was already considered an impressive rookie season in which he had 29 goals and 65 points. His 120 points led the league by a fairly significant margin, as Seth Jarvis came in second with 109.

The future is very bright for the 19-year-old and he could develop into a franchise player for the Minnesota Wild.

1. Kirill Kaprizov

Wild fans, the time has finally come. After years of anticipation, the talented Russian forward, who was selected in the Fifth Round (No. 135 overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, is set to come to North America for the 2020-21 season. The 23-year-old has been considered one of, if not the best player in the entire world outside of the NHL, and for good reason.

Over his last four KHL seasons, he has put up 195 points in 205 games. That includes his 2019-20 career-high in which he had 33 goals and 62 points in 57 games for CSKA Moscow. That point total led his team in scoring by a wide margin, as former NHLer Linden Vey came in second with just 48.

There is always a risk with Russian players adapting to the NHL’s style of play, but it doesn’t seem to be something that concerns many regarding Kaprizov. The expectation is that after a long wait, he will finally play in the NHL and put up big totals, which is outstanding news for the Minnesota Wild who are in dire need of a spark.