Yahoo Sports Minnesota Wild Prospects - #28 Jimmy Clark
The Minnesota Wild are considered to have one of the better prospect pools in the NHL. Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club’s top 30 prospects. Every player on the list will be 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Wild or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games.
Rest of the list:
#28 Jimmy Clark, C
Age: 19
Shoots: Left
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 179
Contract: Unsigned (College)
Draft: 2023 seventh-round pick (213)
Last Year's Rankings: Not Ranked
Projection: Speedy bottom-six forward who can kill penalties
Photo Credit: Brad Rempel
The Edina, MN., native had a great freshman season at the University of Minnesota. Jimmy Clark was expected to start the 2023-24 season in the USHL with the Green Bay Gamblers after a good first season there.
But after a late subtraction to the Gophers roster, Clark was brought in to fill the roster spot Logan Cooley left after he decided to turn pro.
Related: Wild prospect Jimmy Clark scores first Collegiate goal
Clark, 19, instantly made an impact for the Gophers. He provided the team with solid defensive play in the bottom-six and used his speed to play in a physical role with John Mittelstadt, Garrett Pinoniemi, and Charlie Strobel.
The 6-foot forward even got time in the top-six last year for the Gophers where he never looked out of place. Clark's speed and constant pursuit of the puck made him an intriguing player to watch on a team full of intriguing players.
In 39 games for the Gophers last year, Clark recorded five goals, six assists, and 11 points. Minnesota was 3-1-0 when Clark scored a goal, he scored two in a game against Michigan in November.
He was one of nine Gophers to play in every game last season and assuming he stays healthy again in 2024-25, Clark should be on his way to playing every game again. He was a player Head Coach Bob Motzko just couldn't take out of the lineup.
Clark has a path to the NHL if he keeps building on his two-way game. His puck tracking and pursuit for the puck should be two assets that could translate to the next level. He is still 2-3 years away from being ready to make the jump to the pros and is probably a guy who is going to play four years of college hockey.
But Clark is a prospect the Wild should continue to develop. He could become a Connor Dewar type of player at the NHL level. A solid speedy bottom-six forward who can win face-offs and kill penalties.
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