According to Mark Divver of the Providence Journal, the Iowa Wild have signed Nick Boka to an amateur tryout after his college season came to an end recently, a move that will get him into the organization quickly. Boka still does not have an NHL contract, meaning he would potentially become an unrestricted free agent this August if he can’t come to terms with Minnesota.
A sixth-round pick in 2015, Boka spent four years at the University of Michigan where he amassed 30 points in 147 games. The 21-year old defenseman is a good player in his own end but has never shown a ton of offensive upside, which may limit his potential at the professional level. Still, he’ll get a chance to show the Minnesota brass what he can do down the stretch.
- As expected, Alexandre Texier has joined the Cleveland Monsters after finishing his season in Finland. Texier will likely get into the lineup either tonight or tomorrow for the Monsters. The 19-year old forward was second among all U20 players in scoring this season in the top Finnish league with 41 points in 55 games and easily led his club. Coming over to North America was the next step in his development track, one which has him speeding towards a Blue Jackets debut in the near future, perhaps even next season.
- After a recent report surfaced that Eemeli Rasanen had been allowed out of his KHL contract in order to join the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, the AHL Marlies announced a professional tryout with the young defenseman today. Rasanen—and fellow PTO Joseph Duszak—will help the Marlies immensely at this point in the season given how thin their blue line has been stretched due to injury at both the NHL and AHL levels. The 20-year old defenseman was selected 59th overall in 2017 out of the OHL, but continued his development overseas this year.