When making the decision whether Joel Eriksson-Ek should stay with the Minnesota Wild after his 9 game trial, one of the larger factors was his participation in the World Junior Championships. Erkisson-Ek had a great summer development camp with Team Sweden and looked to be a huge factor for the Swedes in the tourney that started today in Montreal.
The World Junior Championship has been the proving ground for many of the NHL’s great players, and the Wild figured that the playing time he’s going to receive against the world’s best young players could be invaluable.