The Wild didn't waste time signing its 2015 first-round pick. Joel Eriksson Ek, selected 20th overall last month, signed his three-year, entry-level contract today.
He still has two years left on his contract with Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League and will at the very least return this season. If you want to see the young forward in action, the Wild prospects will have a development camp-ending scrimmage Tuesday night at 6:30 at Xcel Energy Center. It's free and open to the public.
"He's a top young player with an exciting package of size, skill, hockey sense and character," assistant GM Brent Flahr said.
Eriksson Ek, 18 (1/29/97), recorded six points (4-2=6) in 34 games with Farjestad in the Swedish Hockey League and tallied 32 points (21-11=32) in 25 games with Farjestad's Junior team in 2014-15. His six points were the most by any under-18 eligible player and his 21 goals led the Under-20 league. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound native of Karlstad, Sweden, notched six points (5-1=6) in five games for Sweden at the 2015 Under-18 World Championship. He led his country in goals and ranked tied for first in scoring. Eriksson Ek also represented Sweden at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He tallied 40 points (22-18=40) in 33 games with Farjestad's Under-18 Team and four points (2-2=4) in 13 games with Farjestad's Junior Team in 2013-14.