ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild continued adding to their prospect pipeline this week, signing goaltender Filip Ruzicka to a three-year, entry-level contract.

At 6-foot-8, Ruzicka immediately becomes one of the tallest goaltending prospects in the NHL and gives the Wild another intriguing project to develop over the coming years.

Minnesota selected Ruzicka in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2026 NHL Draft after an impressive season with the WHL's Brandon Wheat Kings.

Rather than waiting to secure his rights, the Wild wasted little time signing the Czech netminder, signaling their confidence in his potential.

The first thing that stands out about Ruzicka is his size.

Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing more than 220 pounds, he naturally covers a significant portion of the net before even making a save. Goaltenders with that kind of frame are rare, and when they combine size with athleticism, they can become extremely difficult to beat.

Of course, size alone doesn't make an NHL goaltender.

Modern goalies must move efficiently, recover quickly, and stay technically sound. Those are all areas Ruzicka will continue refining as he develops, but his physical tools give him a foundation that few prospects possess.

Ruzicka earned the Wild's attention with a solid 2025-26 season for the Brandon Wheat Kings.

He appeared in 41 games, posting a 26-14-1 record with a .906 save percentage and a 3.19 goals-against average while helping Brandon remain one of the stronger teams in the Western Hockey League.

The native of Trinec, Czechia, also started four games in the 2026 WHL playoffs for Brandon, recording a 2.47 goals-against average and .936 save percentage.

Like most goalie prospects, Ruzicka remains a work in progress, but the Wild clearly believe his upside is worth investing in.

Many NHL starters don't reach the league until their early-to-mid 20s, making development one of the longest processes at any position.

Fifth-round selections are never guaranteed NHL players, but they're often where organizations search for high-upside talent.

With Ruzicka, Minnesota is betting on exactly that.

His combination of size, athletic ability, and recent progression made him an appealing prospect during the draft, and now he'll begin the next stage of his development under the Wild's system.

Whether he ultimately becomes an NHL backup, a starter, or simply organizational depth remains to be seen.

For now, Ruzicka remains a long-term project. But with a 6-foot-8 frame and intriguing upside, he'll certainly be one of the more fascinating prospects for Wild fans to follow over the next several seasons.

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