Wild select Vladislav Firstov 42nd overall
The Minnesota Wild drafted forward Vladislav Firstov 42nd overall at the 2019 NHL Draft.
Vladislav Firstov
Position: Left wing
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 181
Age: 18
Club: Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Nationality: Russian
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 26 | 32 | 58 |
(Stats Courtesy: Elite Prospects)
Firstov entered the draft as NHL Central Scouting's 23rd-ranked North American skater after a strong season in Waterloo when he finished third in team scoring with 58 points.
The native of Yaroslavl, Russia, possesses a dangerous wrist shot and quality vision in the offensive zone. His development needs to continue in all areas for him to become an impact NHL player. He'll get the opportunity to develop against strong competition with UConn next season.
What they're saying
"He’s a skilled, smart winger with a heavy shot. On the power play, Firstov shows the ability to beat defenders with his vision and his finish. He scored numerous goals this season from a distance, and if the defense got too close to him, he could find a seam. I don’t think his skill is high-end, but he showed flashes of that level this season. His skating is fine. He doesn’t blow by defenders, but he gains the zone with speed reasonably well." - The Athletic's Corey Pronman.
Highlights
From the set up to the shot, well-executed snipe by Vladislav Firstov (2019). He sets up the defender as a screen on outnumbered entry. Shot is so clever, not giving away his spot with his blade + dragging the puck around the D's stick to shoot under it. 47p in 49gp in the USHL. pic.twitter.com/2WkI7Bj5j2
— Mitch Brown (@MitchLBrown) March 6, 2019