ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Wild selected eight players during the 2019 NHL Entry Draft Friday and Saturday at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, including seven players during rounds two-seven today. Minnesota selected five forwards, two goaltenders and one defensemen, including three Americans, two Canadians, two players from Russia and one player from Finland in the draft.
Wild selects eight players in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft
Minnesota selected five forwards, two goaltenders and one defensemen, including three Americans, two Canadians, two players from Russia and one player from Finland in the draft
Minnesota selected left wing Matthew Boldy, 12th overall, during the Draft's first round Friday night. The 18-year-old (4/5/01), spent the 2018-19 season with the United States National Team Development Program (NTDP), totaling 81 points (33-48=81) in 64 games. He led the team in shorthanded goals (4), ranked second in power-play goals (10), third in goals and fourth in scoring. The 6-foot-2, 196-pound Milford, Mass., native ranked second on Team USA in goals (17) and points (43), T-2nd in game-winning goals (2) and assists (26) and third in PPG (4) and shots (97) in 28 games in the United States Hockey League (USHL). The left-shot winger was named Player of the Game at the 2018 USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game at Xcel Energy Center after tallying three points (2-1=3) for Team Langenbrunner. Boldy is committed to Boston College for the fall of 2019.
"Matthew is a power forward with scoring ability along with good hockey sense and playmaking skills," said Paul Fenton, Minnesota Wild General Manager. "He is heavy on pucks down low and has played center in the past."
Minnesota began Saturday by selecting left wing Vladislav Firstov in the second round with the 42nd overall selection. The 18-year-old (6/19/01) collected 58 points (26-32=58) in 62 games with the Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) during the 2018-19 season. The 6-foot-1, 181-pound native of Yaroslavl, Russia, ranked T-2nd on the team in GWG (6) and assists and third in goals and points while ranking T-15th in the League in scoring. He was named to the USHL 2018-19 All-Rookie Team. The left-shot winger is committed to the University of Connecticut for the fall of 2019.
"Vladislav is a playmaking forward with scoring ability, a high hockey IQ and a strong work ethic," said P.J. Fenton, Minnesota Wild Amateur Scout.
The Wild traded its third round (No. 73) and fourth round (No. 99) draft selections to the Carolina Hurricanes for the 59th overall pick in the draft. Minnesota selected goaltender Hunter Jones with the selection. The 18-year-old (9/21/00) went 28-24-2 with a 3.31 GAA, a .902 SV% and three shutouts in 57 games with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the 2018-19 season. The 6-foot-4, 202-pound Brantford, Ont., native ranked T-2nd in the League in games played, T-6th in shutouts and T-9th in wins. The left-glove backstop is the 14th goaltender drafted in Wild history, first since 2015.
"Hunter is a smooth, big goalie with good hands, feet, and an athletic ability that plays a calming style," said P.J. Fenton.
Minnesota made its second trade of the day to acquire the 75th overall selection from Nashville in exchange for the Wild's 2020 third round draft pick. The Wild took left wing Adam Beckman with the selection. The 18-year-old (5/10/01) spent the 2018-19 season with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The 6-foot-1, 168-pound native of Saskatoon, Sask., recorded 62 points (32-30=62) in 68 games with the Chiefs, leading the team in goals and plus/minus rating (+19), fourth in scoring and T-5th in PPG (8). The left-shot winger also ranked second amongst League rookies in goals, PPG and points and T-2nd in assists and shots (177). He collected 12 points (8-4=12) in 15 playoff contests, leading Spokane in goals and T-4th in scoring.
"Adam is a smart, two-way player that can score and has good hockey sense," said P.J. Fenton.
The Wild selected center Matvey Guskov in the fifth round with the 149th overall selection. The 18-year-old (1/30/01) recorded 30 points (12-18=30) in 59 games with the London Knights (OHL) during the 2018-19 season. The 6-foot-2, 182-pound native of Nizhnekamsk, Russia ranked second amongst team rookies in goals and points, while ranking T-7th amongst League rookies in GWG (2), T-11th in goals and 12th in scoring. He tallied three points (1-2=3) in his London debut vs. Windsor (9/21/18). The left-shot forward has also represented Russia in the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and in the 2018 World Junior A Challenge.
"Matvey is a big skater with a good shot that can play the wing or center position," said P.J. Fenton.
Minnesota selected defenseman Marshall Warren in the sixth round with the 166th overall selection. The 18-year-old (4/20/01) registered 34 points (8-26=34) in 58 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program during the 2018-19 season. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound native of Laurel Hollow, N.Y., ranked second amongst team defensemen in shots (102), T-2nd in goals and fourth in scoring. He also collected 13 points (4-9=13) in 26 games with Team USA (USHL). The left-shot blueliner was a member of the gold medal team at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and served as an alternate captain for Team USA at the 2019 Under-18 World Championship. He is committed to Boston College for the fall of 2019.
"Marshall is a great two-way skating defenseman that has a high compete level and a tenacious style," said P.J. Fenton.
The Wild selected center Nikita Nesterenko in the sixth round with the 172nd overall selection. The left-shot, 17-year-old (9/10/01) tallied 59 points (30-29=59) in 31 games with Lawrenceville in the New Jersey Prep High School League during the 2018-19 season. The 6-foot, 157-pound native of Brooklyn, N.Y., also recorded 24 points (12-12=24) in 10 contests the New Jersey Titans of the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The Brown University commit will play with the Chilliwack Chiefs of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) for the 2019-20 season.
"Nikita is a skilled player from a prep school in New Jersey that we hope will continue to develop," said P.J. Fenton.
Minnesota selected goaltender Filip Lindberg in the seventh round with the 197th overall selection. The 20-year-old (1/31/99) went 11-4-0 with a 1.60 GAA, .934 SV% and four shutouts in 17 games with the University of Massachusetts during his freshman season (2018-19). The left-glove goalie was named National Goaltender of the Month for April after backstopping the Minutemen to their first NCAA Frozen Four Championship appearance. He spent five seasons playing for the Blues in the Finnish Junior League (2013-17).
"Filip is an athletic and patient goalie that had a strong freshmen season at the University of Massachusetts," said P.J. Fenton.
