22 year old top prospect gives up on NHL dream, has deal terminated
After the NHL trade deadline, it isn't often that you see players placed on waivers. However, when you do, it is often the unconditional type for players to have their contracts terminated. Yesterday, the Minnesota Wild made the decision to place highly regarded 22-year-old prospect Vladislav Firstov on unconditional waivers for purposes of terminating his deal.
When Minnesota drafted Firstov in the second round of the 2019 NHL draft, they had high hopes for the prospect. Firstov was coming off a rookie season in the USHL where he put up 26 goals and 32 assists. However, after 3 years at the University of Connecticut, the prospect struggled to convert his game to the professional level.
After not making the NHL roster in 2021, 2022 and 2023, Firstov played limited games in the AHL. In two of those years he made the decision to return home to Russia and play in the KHL. Now it appears Firstov has given up completely on the NHL and is requested to have his deal terminated.
Less than 24 hours after this announcement, it now appears clear why he made this request. Hockey News Hub on X revealed the following:
With lots of holes the Minnesota lineup, it's interesting to see that the young prospect has made this decision now. It no longer appears that his future is in the NHL.
| POLL | ||
Will the Minnesota Wild make the playoffs next year? | ||
| Yes, they will | 47 | 25.5 % |
| No, they won't | 105 | 57.1 % |
| It depends on the moves they make | 32 | 17.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
