https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hockeywilderness.com/platform/amp/2019/6/22/18701202/nhl-entry-draft-2019-minnesota-wild-vladislav-firstov-second-round-university-of-connecticut-ncaa

Fantasy Summary

Firstov is a powerful winger who’s offensive instincts are quite good. He competes at a high level and finds his teammates in good spots when he isn’t using his cannon of a shot. With some added bulk his physicality should play up more in leagues that counts peripherals such as hits


Observations

Click to Expand

June 2023 – Firstov remains an intriguing prospect for the Minnesota Wild. After one game in the AHL for the Iowa Wild during the 2022-23 season, Firstov was loaned back to Russia to play for the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the KHL. Firstov had a very respectable first season in the KHL posting 11 goals and 15 assists in 47 games and also adding four points in 10 playoff games. Despite having a disappointing spell for the Iowa Wild in the nine career games that he has played with them for, Minnesota retains his NHL rights and there is still potential for Firstov to become a middle-six point-scoring winger in the NHL. The intrigue will depend on whether Firstov will remain a KHL-based player or will take the chance to come back to North America moving forward in the near-future. Nathan Leblanc

 

February 2021 – Firstov has more than a point per game for the University of Connecticut after a solid freshman season with the program. It’s beginning to look like he could jump to the professional ranks as soon as next season. Sam Happi

 

June 2019 – The Minnesota Wild drafted Firstov in the second round in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. He finished second in rookie scoring in the USHL this season, just one point behind overager Shane Pinto. Firstov displays a creative offensive game that relies on his good skating and high IQ. He consistently looks to set up his teammates in high danger areas. Firstov competes hard along the boards and around the net but could put on a few pounds to improve his effectiveness. He has a hard, heavy shot that hits the net more often than not. Some refinement in some of the finer details of the game could be useful and Firstov’s likely to get it next season as he’s committed to the University of Connecticut. Tony Ferrari 

 

Attributes
Fantasy Upside 6.5
NHL Certainty 6.5
Country RUS
Position LW
Roster Type Europe
Shoot/Glove Left
Date of Birth June 19, 2001
Height 6‘1”
Weight 185 lbs
Drafted 2019 Round 2; Overall: 42

Stats

 Season Team League GP G A TP PIM      Playoffs GP G A TP PIM 
 2016-2017 Lokomotiv-2004 Yaroslavl U16Russia U1630 23 2750 22|        
 2017-2018 Lokomotiv-2004 Yaroslavl U17Russia U1724 10 1525 24|        
  Loko-76 YaroslavlNMHL21 4 59 2|Playoffs6 1 12 27 
 2018-2019 Waterloo Black HawksUSHL62 26 3258 24|Playoffs4 0 22
 2019-2020 Univ. of ConnecticutNCAA34 11 1223 31|        
 2020-2021 Univ. of ConnecticutNCAA13 3 912 12|        
  Russia U20WJC-205 0 00 0|        
 2021-2022 Univ. of ConnecticutNCAA35 12 1123 18|        
  Iowa WildAHL8 0 22 4|        
 2022-2023 Iowa WildAHL1 0 00 0|        
  Torpedo Nizhny NovgorodKHL47 11 1526 42|Playoffs10 3 14 14 
 2023-2024 Torpedo Nizhny NovgorodKHL67 17 1835 68|Playoffs5 2 02
  Iowa WildAHL10 2 24 8|        
 2024-2025 Torpedo Nizhny NovgorodKHL22 6 915 23|        

Highlights