The Minnesota Wild don’t have a first-round pick this season. They sent it to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the David Jiricek trade, who will now select 20th overall in 2025. Therefore, the Wild must be creative to get something from this draft class.
One way the Wild could make the most out of their second-round pick would be to call Jakob Ihs-Wozniak to the stage when they pick at 52nd overall.
There are a few things that stand out about Ihs-Wozniak’s game. His size and scoring ability make him worthy of being a high draft pick. He was once projected to be a top-ten pick, but the inconsistencies in his game have dropped his stock. According to multiple scouting outlets, the highest he’s rated is 23rd overall, and the lowest is 58th overall.
Ihs-Wozniak may not be available at 58, but the Wild must grab him if he falls. They have grabbed multiple fallers under director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett. Riley Hedit, Danila Yurov, and Jesper Wallstedt are examples of talented players who have fallen to the Wild. Brackett knows how to get value out of his selections and won’t hesitate to draft a player other teams passed in the draft.
After signing a two-year extension with Luleå, Ihs-Wozniak will remain in Sweden for two more years. His contract situation may affect his stock, but he’ll likely need the development anyway.
Ihs-Wozniak is a sniper at heart. Standing at 6’2”, 196 lbs, he plays like Patrick Laine lite, with his offensive instincts and booming shot. Wozniak found success more than anyone on the powerplay this past season playing for Luleå Jr. (the top junior league in Sweden), where he scored 57 points and 23 goals in 40 games. Ihs-Wozniak is one of only six 17-year-olds to record a multi-point game in the SHL this season.
He also played on the world stage and didn’t disappoint. Ihs-Wozniak recorded five goals and seven points in seven games for Team Sweden at the World Championships. He struggled a bit playing with and against men, with only one goal and two points in 13 SHL games. Still, playing with professionals is a massive adjustment for a 17-year-old.
Here is The Hockey Writers’ scouting report:
Ihs-Wozniak’s potential will depend on his ability to improve the little parts of his game that need improvement, but if he can fine-tune his defensive consistency and maintain his physical and offensive strength then he could become a middle-six offensive forward with a chance to move into a top-six role depending on the team.
The big knock on Ihs-Wozniak is that opponents can shut him down with minimal effort when he’s not asserting himself. He tends to play games on the outside instead of using his size and skill to get to the net and contribute in the dirty areas. Hopefully, he will grow out of that habit as he develops into an NHL player.
I imagine Bill Guerin will fall in love with Wozniak as a big-bodied power forward with good instincts and a powerful shot. The Wild’s prospect pool has a lot of smaller skills and large players, but not many have the potential to put it all together in the same way Ihs-Wozniak does. While it’s probably a long shot, Wozniak would be a home run pick for Minnesota in late June.
All stats and data via HockeyDB, Elite Prospects, and CapWages unless otherwise noted.