Simon Johansson’s path from the Minnesota Wild organization to Finland has turned into something far bigger than a standard overseas reset.
The former Wild prospect is coming off a monster season with Ilves in Liiga, one that puts him in rare company among the league’s all-time offensive defensemen. In 57 games during the 2025-26 campaign, Johansson piled up 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points. That production left him 11th in league scoring overall, while he paced every Liiga defenseman in goals and points.
The goal total alone was eye-catching. His 19 goals were the most by any defenseman in the league. But the bigger number is the one that lands him in the record books: 51 points, tied for the fourth-highest single-season total ever by a defenseman in Liiga history.
That kind of season looks a long way from where things started. Minnesota picked Johansson in the fifth round, 148th overall, of the 2018 NHL Draft with hopes he could grow into an NHL contributor.
That never happened. He spent two seasons with the Iowa Wild from 2022-24, posting two goals and 12 assists for 14 points in 64 games in 2022-23, then improving to nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 72 games in 2023-24.
Even with that step forward in his second year in Iowa, Johansson never got a call to Minnesota and never appeared in an NHL game for the Wild.
Instead, he returned to Ilves and found his game again in a big way. The result is one of the most productive seasons a defenseman has ever put together in Finland’s top league, and a reminder of why Johansson was once seen as an intriguing prospect.
In Other News...
Wild Could Spark Real Camp Competition With Low-Risk Veteran Help
The Wild are looking at a practical way to add some bite to the bottom six without tying up cap space or committing to a guaranteed deal. A professional tryout at training camp would let Minnesota bring in an established veteran, get a closer look before opening night and push the current roster spots into real competition.
That framework puts a few familiar names in play, including David Perron, Brandon Saad and Jonathan Drouin, each of whom brings the kind of experience and offensive touch that could fit a depth role. For a team that wants more options up front, the appeal is obvious: low risk, useful evaluation time and a chance to see whether one of those unsigned forwards can turn camp into a roster opening. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Cap Space Debate Just Put One Veteran Winger In Focus
Vladimir Tarasenko has quickly become one of the more interesting names in the Oilers search for a way to use their remaining salary cap space. The veteran winger still brings the kind of scoring rsum that naturally draws attention, and his experience would fit the profile of a team looking for help without having to start from scratch.
The hesitation is just as real, though, because there are questions about whether his recent play still matches the reputation that made him such an appealing option in the first place. His speed has slipped, his price tag matters, and Edmonton is also weighing what it gives up by committing that cap room to Tarasenko instead of holding it for another move, so nothing appears close to being settled yet. [Read more 🡒]