It’s unfortunate that the relationship between the Minnesota Wild and their prospect, Vladislav Firstov, didn’t pan out, but he has now secured a new opportunity.
Recent reports reveal that the 22-year-old winger has inked a one-year contract with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the KHL, the team he has intermittently played for over the last two seasons.
Firstov, a former second-round pick by the Wild in the 2019 NHL Draft, has made several attempts to establish himself in North America. After being drafted, he spent his draft year in the USHL before moving on to the University of Connecticut. While he had a promising start in college, his performance plateaued in his third and final year. During the 2022-23 season, Firstov transitioned to professional hockey but played only one game before opting not to report to the ECHL. Subsequently, the Wild loaned him back to Torpedo in the KHL.
Given these developments, it became increasingly apparent that Firstov’s future was not with the Wild. His third attempt to break into the AHL also proved unsuccessful, leading to him becoming an unrestricted free agent without any official ties to Minnesota. Consequently, he decided to return to a more familiar and successful environment by signing a one-year deal with Torpedo.
It seems unlikely that Firstov will make another attempt to play in North America.
In related news, the Minnesota Wild have a significant decision to make regarding another prospect, Marco Rossi. The team should focus on his current abilities and potential rather than expecting perfection. Rossi has the capability to become a valuable player for the Wild, and they should be content with his progress and development.
Additionally, the Wild recently made another notable decision by not signing prospect Servac Petrovsky, who is now an unrestricted free agent. Hockey enthusiasts can expect his name to appear on various training camp invite lists as teams look to explore his potential.
These updates underscore the dynamic nature of managing and developing hockey talent, as players and teams continuously navigate their respective paths to success
