Minnesota Wild: Alexander Khovanov shines in Canada Russia Series

Minnesota Wild prospect, Alexander Khovanov had an impressive outing for Team Russia against Team QMJHL in the CIBC Canada Russia Series, dishing up two assists in their 5-1 win.

The 2018 third round (86th overall) draft pick by the Minnesota Wild certainly showed that he meant business, all but securing the Russian team an overall win in the Canada Russia Series! Alexander Khovanov could just as easily have been playing for Team QMJHL, having put up 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists) in 21 games for the Moncton Wildcats thus far this year.

Last year, he was just as good for the Wildcats, putting up 28 points in 29 games despite only turning 18 in April.

On the play, he didn’t manage to put any shots on net, but in general; it seems shot counts were low for the Russia team, mustering just 17 across the whole game. Five of them went in so it can’t all be bad!

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It was clear that Alexander Khovanov was given a decent level of responsibility, taking the most draws on the team and coming away with a 60% face-off winning percentage.

Although he doesn’t pack the size of fellow Minnesota Wild draftee Shawn Boudrias, who also played in this game, he does look to be quite the young play-maker. To succeed at professional level, he needs to add some size or switch to the wing in all likelihood though.

As seen at the end of this highlights package, Alexander Khovanov notches his first assist of the night by being willing to engage behind the net. He lays a perfect shot back to Dmitry Zavgorodniy, who puts it home:

Obviously, on the back of a strong showing so far in major junior hockey and in the Canada Russia Series, it’s a fair suggestion to state that Alexander Khovanov could one day be wearing a Minnesota Wild jersey as a member of the roster.

Provided he stays on the same trajectory, I’d expect him to be kept in juniors for one more season before being eased into the professional game with the Iowa Wild.

If that’s the case, it’s very likely he’ll be joining fellow countrymen, Andrei Svetlakov and Kirill Kaprizov, both of whom Minnesota Wild General Manager, Paul Fenton reached out to personally.

Bring on the Russian Revolution in Minnesota, I say!!