Nineteen-year-old center Joel Eriksson Ek is making quite the impression at the NHL level. The former first-round pick by the Wild in 2015 scored his second goal of his career and season on Thursday night against Buffalo.
Joel Eriksson Ek goes bar down and the @mnwild are on the board!
Catch the game on @fsnorth and #FOXSportsGO: https://t.co/DhrEzY5nmLpic.twitter.com/n3nacOpzqR
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) October 27, 2016
Here’s another look at the goal.
The kid is good! @ErikssonEk with his second goal of the season. #MINvsBUF pic.twitter.com/uAC9gz5dv2
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 27, 2016
Eriksson Ek made a solid impression in training camp but wasn’t on the opening night roster due to Minnesota’s salary cap. He played one game with the Iowa Wild and was shortly recalled after Erik Haula was injured.
In his four games at the NHL level, he has two goals and three assists and he may end up staying put on the Wild’s roster.
Because he’s a prospect and is just making his NHL debut, Eriksson Ek can play at the NHL level for 9 games and could be sent back to Sweden without burning a year of his entry-level contract.
However if Eriksson Ek keeps up his stellar play, the Wild can keep him with the NHL or reassign him to Iowa where he can continue to play with other top prospects.
