OHL In The System: Minnesota Wild
The latest instalment of OHL In The System takes a closer look at the Minnesota Wild.
This 32-part series spotlights OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In The System!
Declan Chisholm (D) – Peterborough Petes (2016-20)
Signed: July 9, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 214 Games Played | 22 Goals | 120 Assists | 142 Points
Age: 24
Selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2018 NHL Draft, The Wild re-signed Declan Chisholm as a restricted free-agent on July 9, 2024. Chisholm collected eight points in 29 games with the Minnesota wild in 2023-24 and scored his first career NHL goal on February 17 after being claimed off waivers from the Jets in January. The Bowmanville, Ont. native recorded an additional five points in six games played with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose this past season. He recorded 43 points in 59 games with the Moose in 2022-23, ranking sixth among AHL defensemen in assists and 14th in scoring. Selected by the Peterborough Petes in the second round of the 2016 Priority Selection, Chisholm played four seasons in the OHL, tallying 142 points in 214 regular season contests.
Ben Jones (C) – Niagara IceDogs (2015-19)
Signed: July 1, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 260 Games Played | 89 Goals | 151 Assists | 240 Points
Age: 25
Originally selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Draft, Ben Jones signed a two-year contract with the Wild on July 1, 2024. The 25-year-old forward spent the past two seasons with the Calgary Wranglers, the AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames. Most recently, during the 2023-2024 campaign, Jones suited up for 72 games, netting a team-leading 21 goals, along with 22 assists for 43 points. Selected seventh overall by the Niagara IceDogs at the 2015 OHL Priority Selection, the Waterloo, Ont. native posted 240 points over 260 regular season contests. Jones served as the team’s captain in 2018-19.
Stevie Leskovar (D) – Peterborough Petes (2021-23), Mississauga Steelheads (2023-24)
Selected: 174th overall, 2024 NHL Drafted
OHL Career Stats: 125 Games Played | 3 Goals | 12 Assists | 15 Points
Age: 19
Selected by the Wild in the sixth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Stevie Leskovar was the sole OHL player to hear his name called by Minnesota in Las Vegas. Originally chosen by the Peterborough Petes in the fifth round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, the Cambridge, Ont. native was traded to the Mississauga Steelheads midway through the 2022-23 season. Appearing in 125 OHL career games, Leskovar has recorded three goals, 12 assists and 15 points.
Graeme Clarke (RW) – Ottawa 67’s (2017-20)
Acquired: June 21, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 134 Games Played | 46 Goals | 30 Assists | 76 Points
Age: 23
Acquired by the Wild from New Jersey on June 21, 2024, Graeme Clarke was originally selected by the Devils in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft. The 23-year-old forward recorded 49 points in 67 games with the Utica Comets of the AHL last season, and appeared in three NHL games with the Devils. Selected sixth overall by the Ottawa 67’s in the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, the hometown product recorded 76 points in 134 games played, along with 14 points in 23 playoff contests. Clarke was named an Eastern Conference champion with the club during the 2018-19 season, falling short to the Guelph Storm in the Championship Series.
Matthew Sop (C) – Kitchener Rangers (2019-24)
Signed (AHL): June 17, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 203 Games Played | 76 Goals | 93 Assists | 169 Points
Age: 21
Selected by the Kitchener Rangers in the seventh round of the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, Matthew Sop closed out a four-year OHL career this past season, tallying 169 points over 203 regular season contests with the club. The 21-year-old Kitchener, Ont. native signed a one-year contract with the AHL’s Iowa Wild on June 17, 2024. Sop recorded 90 points and a plus-19 rating in 67 games with the Rangers during the 2023-24 season, adding six points in 10 playoff games. Following the 2023-24 campaign, Sop earned the Leo Lalonde Trophy as the OHL’s Overage Player of the Year.
Rasmus Kumpulainen (C) – Oshawa Generals (2023-24)
Signed: March 18, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 58 Games Played | 28 Goals | 28 Assists | 56 Points
Age: 18
The Wild’s second round pick at the 2023 NHL Draft, Rasmus Kumpulainen signed an entry-level contract with the club on March 18, 2024. Selected 13th overall by the Oshawa Generals at the 2023 CHL Import Draft, the finnish forward registered 56 points in 58 regular season games this past season, adding 11 points in 21 playoff contests to be crowned an Eastern Conference champion. Kumpulainen also represented the Finnish flag at the 2024 World Juniors, appearing in seven games and grabbing two goals.
Hunter Haight (C) – Barrie Colts (2021-23), Saginaw Spirit (2022-24)
Signed: March 2, 2023
OHL Career Stats: 193 Games Played | 68 Goals | 100 Assists | 168 Points
Age: 20
Selected by the Wild in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Hunter Haight signed a three-year entry-level contract with the organization on March 2, 2023. Originally selected ninth overall by the Barrie Colts in the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, the 20-year-old forward was traded to the Saginaw Spirit midway through the 2022-23 season. Over three OHL seasons, Haight has registered 168 points in 193 regular season games played, along with 26 points in 34 playoff contests. The Strathroy, Ont. native was crowned a 2024 Memorial Cup champion with the Spirit.
Ryan O’Rourke (D) – Soo Greyhounds (2018-22)
Signed: May 6, 2021
OHL Career Stats: 167 Games Played | 25 Goals | 80 Assists | 105 Points
Age: 22
Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Ryan O’Rourke signed an entry-level contract with the club on May 6, 2021. Playing three OHL seasons with the Soo Greyhounds after being selected in the first round of the 2018 OHL Priority Selection, O’Rourke registered 105 points over 167 regular season contests. The 22-year-old blueliner has spent parts of the past three seasons with the Iowa Wild, tallying 28 points in 170 games played. O’Rourke won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Matvey Guskov (LW) – London Knights (2018-20)
Selected: 149th overall, 2019 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 121 Games Played | 28 Goals | 32 Assists | 60 Points
Age: 23
Selected by the London Knights in the 2018 CHL Import Draft, Matvey Guskov played two seasons in the OHL, tallying 60 points in 121 regular season games played, along with 11 points in playoff action. The 23-year-old forward from Nizhnekamsk, Russia was selected in the fifth round, 149th overall by the Wild in the 2019 NHL Draft. Guskov signed a three-year KHL deal in 2020 and recorded seven points in 35 games played this past season.
Tune in tomorrow as we check in on the Pittsburgh Penguins!
Loading ...