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Minnesota Wild: Eriksson-Ek Has Made the Case to Stay

By Danny Lambert

Oct 27, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) looks to make a pass during the first period against Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) looks to make a pass during the first period against Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of the biggest decisions for the Minnesota Wild this season will come in five games when they decide to either keep Joel Eriksson-Ek in Minnesota or send him back to Sweden.  Looking at the 19-year-old’s performance it’s obvious that he needs to stay.

Joel Eriksson-Ek is taking the State of Hockey by storm.  The 2015 1st Round Draft Pick of the Minnesota Wild wasn’t expected to be here at this level just yet.  But the 19-year old Swede has shown what a lot of hard work and dedication can do, as he’s made it to the NHL club only one year after being drafted.

Still the Wild face a dilemma with their young star.  The club will need to decide in five games to either to keep him on the Wild roster and start the first year of his three-year contract, or they can return him to Sweden and not burn the first year of his contract.

Going into the season the logic seemed to be that returning him to Sweden would be the right way to go.  That way he could develop more and the Wild could slide his contract out another year.  After all he’s only 19 and has plenty of good hockey years ahead of him.

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Then he made his NHL debut and scored a goal in New Jersey.  Everyone seemed to raise an eyebrow, but still thought “Don’t get too excited he’ll smooth out and be back in Sweden”.  Then just two games later Eriksson-Ek scored three assists in the Wild’s 5-0 shellacking of the Bruins, and it seemed like “Okay the kids got skills, but he’ll still be back in Sweden soon.”

Sep 27, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek (54) protects the puck from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Duncan Siemens (15) during the second period of a preseason hockey game at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Joel Eriksson Ek (54) protects the puck from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Duncan Siemens (15) during the second period of a preseason hockey game at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Now add in last night’s performance in Buffalo where Eriksson-Ek tallied the opening goal in a 4-0 Wild win.  Now the comments seemed to turn into “He needs to stay.  Keep him here!”

The case has been made and it seems like the Wild will have no choice but to keep Eriksson-Ek with the team and start the first year of his deal.  Why not he’s tied for sixth on the team in points after only four games.  He’s tailed five points in four games, and right now he’s adding great depth to the Wild who are a bit lean in the center department.

In the history of the Wild franchise the only other rookie that has had the buzz of Eriksson-Ek is Marian Gaborik.  The idea that the Wild fans are watch a home drafted talent is huge after so many disappointments.  Also if he keeps up this pace he’s got a good chance to do something that no other Wild player has ever done, win the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year.

Most of all his humility and soft spoken way seems to be meshing well with his teammates.  The Wild players are standing back and are being inspired by this young man.  He’s not only producing, but he’s learning from his teammates and proving himself all at the same time.

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As he told Michael Russo of the Star Tribune “I still have a lot to learn.  There’s a lot of new things going on. So I just try to learn as much as possible from the guys here and take my chances to show I can play here.”

He’s showing a lot of people he can play.  Most importantly his coach Bruce Boudreau who said of Eriksson-Ek after the game last night “He’s getting better every night.  One of these days I’m going to put him on the power play. He’s done everything and more that we’ve asked of him so far.”

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And that’s all Joel really wants to do, do what is asked of him.  The maturity and attitude of this young man is well beyond his 19 years.  But what is most impressive is just the sheer complete game he brings to the Wild right out of the gate.  He’s not going to be a great NHL player, because he already is.  That’s why he needs to stay with the Wild because he’s not just a good NHL talent, he’s IS a good NHL player.

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