Former Wild Prospect Signs In KHL

It's unfortunate that it just didn't work out between the Minnesota Wild and prospect Vladislav Firstov, but he has now found his new home.

According to recent reports, the young, 22-year-old winger has signed a one-year deal with the KHL's Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, the same team he has spent portions of the last two seasons with.

Firstov, a former second-round draft pick of the Wild, from all the way back in 2019 has tried in spurts to make it work in North America. After finishing his draft year in the USHL, he headed to the University of Connecticut and had a fairly successful start but plateaued a bit in his third and final year. He then attempted to go pro in the 2022-23 season but after just one game and not reporting to the ECHL, Firstov went back to the KHL as the Wild willingly loaned him to Torpedo.

The writing was on the wall and most recently, and after a third attempt in the AHL to no prevail, Firstov was officially an unrestricted free agent with no official ties to the Wild. So, of course, he went where he has found some success and signed the single-year deal with Torpedo.

Something tells us that he won't be trying his luck in North America again.

That's Wild

• The Wild can't let perfect be the enemy of good when it comes to Marco Rossi. They should be fine with the player that he is and potentially can become. [Hockey Wilderness]
• From a couple days ago but it is relevant, as assumed, the Wild officially left prospect Servac Petrovsky unsigned and he is now officially an unrestricted free agent. Look for his name to pop up on some training camp invite lists. [The Hockey News]

Off the trail...

• What's next for that Wild killer Joe Pavelski? [ESPN]
• A full preview of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers. [NHL.com]