Wild's 2018 first-round pick Filip Johansson signs extension in Sweden

The Wild have been waiting for a while to get prospect defenseman Filip Johansson under contract, and it appears they’ll have to wait even longer now as his club team in Frolunda announced that they’ve inked the blueliner to a two-year extension through the 2023-24 season.

The 21-year-old was a first-round pick of Minnesota (24th overall) back in 2018 but has remained in Sweden since then, spending time at the Allsvenskan level after being drafted before transferring to Frolunda last season.  So far this year, he has seven points in 26 games while his average ice time is up to 17 minutes per game.

What’s particularly notable here is that if the Wild don’t sign Johansson by June 1st of next year, they lose his rights.  In that case, they would receive the 24th selection of the second round in the 2022 draft which would be 56th overall.  However, since Johansson was a first-round pick, the NHL’s transfer agreement with Sweden permits them to sign the rearguard to an entry-level deal and have Minnesota control where he plays.  At that point, he could be loaned back to Frolunda or kept in North America.  Lots can change over the next five and a half months but this will be a situation to monitor for the Wild.