Filip Ruzicka has John Hynes adding a towering new goalie project to Minnesota's pipeline.
The Wild signed Ruzicka to a 3-year entry-level contract on Tuesday, locking in one of the biggest goalie frames they have brought into the system in a while.
And yes, the size jumps right off the page. Ruzicka is listed at 6-foot-8 and around 229 pounds, which is always going to grab attention before he even makes his first NHL camp stop.
But this is not just a novelty signing. Minnesota used the 137th pick in the 2026 draft on him, then moved quickly to get the contract done.
That tells you Bill Guerin and the Wild see more than a giant body in net. They see a prospect worth pulling closer right away. That is an inference from the draft slot and the immediate entry-level deal.
Ruzicka spent last season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings and played 42 games, posting a 26-14-1 record, a 3.19 goals-against average, a .906 save percentage, and 2 shutouts.
He also gave them something stronger in the playoffs. In 4 postseason starts for Brandon, he posted a 2.47 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage.
" SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed goaltender Filip Ruzicka to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2026-27 season.
Ruzicka, 18 (3/24/08), played in 42 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season, compiling a 26-14-1 record, 3.19 goals-against average (GAA) and two shutouts while ranking T-7th in the WHL with a .906 save percentage (SV%). The 6-foot-8, 229-pound native of Trinec, Czechia, also started four games in the 2026 WHL playoffs for Brandon, recording a 2.47 GAA and .936 SV%.
Prior to his time with Brandon, Ruzicka spent the 2024-25 season with Mountfield HK of the Czechia U17 league where he posted a record of 23-15-0 with a 1.80 GAA, a .943 SV% and five shutouts in 38 games. He ranked second among all goaltenders in wins, GAA and SV% and was T-3rd in shutouts. The Wild selected Ruzicka in the fifth round (No. 137 overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft. "
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Filip Ruzicka just became the Wild's biggest goalie signing
That is the part that matters most here. Ruzicka is only 18, and goalies that age are almost never about instant return. They are about projection, patience, and whether the tools can be sharpened over time. That is an inference from his age and position.
Minnesota's press release said he is expected to return to Brandon for 2026-27, which is the right play. A goalie this young does not need to be rushed just because the frame looks NHL-ready.
The contract itself is modest by league standards, with an average annual value of $987,500. That gives the Wild time to develop him without any real pressure from the cap side.
Source : Wild sign a 6'8" monster of a goaltender
https://www.hockeyfeed.com/nhl-news/wild-sign-a-68-monster-of-a-goaltender
Hynes will not be coaching him every night this season, but the organization still gets an early look in camp and can start building a clearer development map around him. That is an inference from the reported camp plan and Minnesota's structure.
There is risk here, of course. Big junior goalies always create excitement, but size alone does not make a prospect. Minnesota still has to see whether the movement, reads, and consistency catch up to the frame. That is an inference from standard goalie development.
Still, this is the kind of low-cost swing smart teams take. Ruzicka has the measurements, the draft pedigree, and just enough results to make the Wild believe there could be something bigger coming if the next steps go right.
Will Filip Ruzicka become a real NHL goalie for the Wild?
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