Minnesota Wild: Alexander Khovanov makes Team Russia World Juniors camp

Minnesota Wild prospect, Alexander Khovanov will be headed to Team Russia’s World Juniors selection camp, having impressed so far this season with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL.

Alexander Khovanov starred for Team Russia in the recent CIBC Canada Russia Series, putting on decent displays in both his outings against Team QMJHL. He has not found himself overlooked by his nation’s selectors, unlike fellow Minnesota Wild draft pick, Connor Dewar, who was ignored by Team Canada.

Still only eighteen years old, he is campaigning in his second year with the Wildcats, having moved over from Russia ahead of the 2017-18 season. Last year’s point totals have already been eclipsed, with his 9 goals and 19 goals in 29 games overall looking cute, in comparison to his 19 goals and 22 assists in 30 games thus far this year.

For the Moncton Wildcats, Alexander Khovanov has cemented his spot as their top-line center this year and that is likely the key reasoning behind his impressive growth in point production. It speaks to the depth of the Russian squad that he is being looking at as potentially their third-line center for the World Juniors.

The Minnesota Wild have quite the impressive prospect group right now when you look at the likes of Khovanov, fellow Russians Kirill Kaprizov and Dmitri Sokolov, Connor Dewar, Ivan Lodnia and goalie Kaapo Kahkonen.

Should Khovanov continue to perform as impressively as he has thus far, you have to wonder whether he can make a push for a roster spot at the Minnesota Wild training camp next year.

Whilst the World Juniors would surely be more enjoyable if there were a few more Minnesota Wild youngsters to watch, we can take pride in the drafting of Alexander Khovanov in the third round, no less, and cheer him on!

That is of course, provided he makes it through the Russian selection camp!

Statistics courtesy of Elite Prospects.