Wild Prospect Report Goalies - (Oct 20)

The Minnesota Wild Goaltender Prospect Report - October 20, 2010

Igor Bobkov - London (OHL) - Bobkov has been off to a slow start this year only appearing in one game for the Knights, in which he gave up four goals in a loss.  Some could attribute his slow start to visa and permissions issues from Russia.  Bobkov needed to have his transfer card signed before he could play in any OHL exhibition games and this did not happen until he was allowed to attend the Anaheim Ducks rookie camp.  The season is still young and hopefully he will get into more games before the 2011 WJC in Canada where he is likely to backstop Team Russia again.


Joacim Eriksson - Skellefteå (Elitserien) - Eriksson like Bobkov has been off to a slow start this year.  After a record setting year in Leksand (Allsvenskan) he is currently the back up to Andreas Hadelöv.  Eriksson's numbers are average for the Elitserien, hopefully he will get used to the speed of the Elitserien game and his numbers will improve.

Zane Gothberg - Fargo (USHL) - Gothberg is platooning with the Fargo Force in the USHL, this project goaltender has had decent numbers so far this year in Fargo and is one of three goalies that could be chosen for Team USA in the 2011 WJC.

Jonathan Iilahti - Blues U20 (Finland) - Recently signed Jonathan Iilahti platoons with fellow Wild prospect Lars Volden.  Iilathi has played great in the games he has played so far with the under 20 team for the Espoo Blues club in Finland.  He could see some SM-Liiga time this year as a back up.

Timo Pielmeier - Syracuse (AHL) - The Wild's only goaltending prospects eligible to be recalled to play in the NHL this year.  Pielmeier is currently splitting duties with JP Levasseur until one of them can take over as a full time starter.

Lars Volden - Blues U20 (Finland) - Arguably one of the, if not the, best U20 Norwegian players, Volden is currently perfecting his craft with the Espoo Blues U20 club.  Along with the Iilahti the two are leading the U20 Blues club to the best record in the U20 circuit. 

With the rumors that the Wild are actively looking to trade a goaltender, they seem to have the pipeline stocked for a few more years.

Next Wild Prospect Report - Defense (coming soon).

Players of the week 10/10-10/16

Team of the week:



Players of the week:

3. John-Michael Liles - Carolina / Alex Goligoski - Pittsburgh = 47 points
2. Tomas Vokoun - Boston = 49
1. Kris Letang - Edmonton = 51