Top Minnesota Wild Prospect Suddenly Departs Team and NHL, Signs with European Team

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Daniel Lucente
October 20, 2024 (11:14)

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Simon Johansson played two years with the Minnesota Wild's affiliate AHL team in Iowa, and now the top prospect has decided to continue playing in Europe.

After two seasons in the American Hockey League with the Iowa Wild, Simon Johansson has returned to Finnish Liiga team Ilves. The two years spent in the AHL were a very important part of his development, as the young D-man gained valuable experience in the competitive hockey environment of North America. Back home in Finland now, Johansson wants to do even more.

In his time with the Iowa Wild, Johansson appeared in 136 games, showing his skillset on both ends of the ice. In that time, he had 11 goals and 35 points, showing himself to be a reliable two-way player. His capability of contributing offensively while maintaining a strong defensive presence made him an important figure in the lineup for the Iowa Wild.

Before making the jump to the AHL, Johansson was a household name for Ilves, where in 58 games he scored eight goals and 24 assists for a total of 32 points, making him one of the shining stars in the Liiga. His stellar performances in Finland earned him a notice from the Minnesota Wild organization, and thus his shift to North American hockey began.

Now back with Ilves for the current season of Liiga, Johansson has wasted no time making an impact. In just nine games, he has scored five goals and added two assists for a total of seven points. This early success this season would tend to reinforce the notion his time in the AHL has helped him elevate his game even more.

Since his return to the Liiga with Ilves, Simon Johansson has been solid both in the attack and the defense. The 25-year-old D-man was touted to keep on rising after some important AHL experience and is developing well in European hockey. With form like this, he may be one of Ilves's main performers this season.