Wild sign Danila Yurov, bringing top prospect from KHL to North America

Sports

add

The long-anticipated start to Danila Yurov’s NHL career could be on the horizon after the talented Russian center signed his three-year, $2.855 million entry-level contract ($950,000 AAV) with the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

If Yurov doesn’t make the team out of camp in the fall, he has a European out clause that would allow him to be loaned back to his KHL team, Metallurg Magnitogorsk, rather than going to AHL Iowa.

The 2022 first-round pick will earn $950,000 per season ($855,000 in salary plus a $95,000 annual signing bonus) when he’s in the NHL and has a chance to earn max “A” bonuses for a forward.

He can earn $250,000 for each bonus up to a maximum of $1 million if he achieves four of the following each season: 20 goals, 35 assists, 60 points, top six in total or average ice time among Wild forwards (minimum 42 games), top three in plus-minus among Wild forwards (minimum 42 games), 0.73 points per game (minimum 42 games), making the all-rookie team, being an All-Star selection or being the All-Star Game MVP.

He also can earn up to $1 million if he achieves one of any “B” bonus thresholds, according to league sources. They are finishing in the top-10 in the NHL in goals, assists and points per game (minimum 42 games), if he is named a first- or second-team All-Star or win the Hart, Selke, Rocket Richard or Conn Smythe trophies. This was a compromise from both sides as 2022 draft picks have the ability to receive up to $2.5 million in “B” bonuses.

Yurov, 21, who won a KHL championship in 2024, has 41 goals and 88 points in 209 career KHL games, including a team-leading 21 goals and 49 points in 62 games in 2023-24. That broke the KHL’s all-time under-21 scoring record, previously held by Vladimir Tarasenko.

Coming off shoulder surgery after that season and then suffering a late-season ankle surgery, Yurov’s production slipped this past season, with 13 goals and 25 points in 46 games.

Danila Yurov’s Instagram so long to his KHL team: “It’s time to continue my journey.”https://t.co/gJfmwpZ6Kt pic.twitter.com/4KSwsh5gcP

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) April 22, 2025

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler ranked Yurov as the Wild’s second-best prospect after Zeev Buium in his 2025 NHL prospect pool rankings, writing:

“For years, he was a rare winger who was capable of driving play, chances and results at both ends without necessarily looking like he was dominating out there. Last year, a move to center helped him really lean into that identity, and he looked like a natural down the middle outside of needing some expected work in the faceoff. He’s a kid who has really impressed me almost every time I’ve watched him over the years, whether against his peers or in the KHL. Considering his ice time, he was actually quite productive between ages 17 and 19 in the KHL, as well, so it’s not as though last year’s breakout was a surprise.

“If you were to fill up two buckets with his tools (one for the strengths, one for the weaknesses) and place them on a scale, the bucket with his strengths in it would be overflowing and the one with his weaknesses would be near empty. He plays hard and fast. He pushes tempo. He’s a strong and balanced skater. He’s an excellent give-and-go player who excels at playing in and out of space without the puck. His shot comes off his blade hard in motion (and has added some versatility/different weapons after it was more of a stand-up wrister earlier in his development). He’s got pro size (6-foot-1 and about 180 pounds) and skill. He’s diligent in all three zones. And he’s almost always in the right position or reading the play to get back into it (on offense or defense).”

The Wild hope to start Yurov at center next season, but if that’s too much of a load off the hop, they can try him at wing.

The big question is if Yurov’s arrival makes Marco Rossi more expendable and the Wild look to trade their second-leading scorer from the 2024-25 regular season this offseason. There’s a price point and max term the Wild seem to be willing to reach for Rossi, and the pending restricted free agent didn’t accept a five-year, $25 million contract earlier this winter, according to league sources. Rossi’s side countered with a shorter-term deal, but the Wild didn’t accept that.

Things have changed dramatically since. Rossi was disappointed by centering the fourth line during the final five games of the team’s first-round loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. It’s unclear if the five-year offer from the Wild is still on the table, and it’s likely Rossi’s camp will no longer accept a shorter-term bridge deal if there’s a chance Rossi won’t be in the top six over the term of the contract.

Rossi is eligible to sign an offer sheet with another team starting July 1. He is not eligible for salary arbitration.

Asked last week if he could see trading Rossi around the draft, Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin said, “I don’t know. We’ll see what happens. There’s contract talks. There’s player movement — not just for Marco; for anybody. I’m not going to try to predict the future where I see this, I see that. I have to go through the process and see where it goes.”

(Photo: Nick Wosika / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

Share on

email

Previous

trending_flat

Free MLB home run picks, odds for May 16: Pete Alonso, Josh Naylor among best bets for Friday HR player props

Sports

Next

trending_flat

Vampeta sinaliza clube que está “afundado em dívidas” no Brasil

Futebol