Kicking off the Minnesota Wild top 10 under 25 series is the only goaltender to check in on the list. Mat Robson was signed in March 2019 out of the University of Minnesota after two seasons with the maroon and gold. In signing Robson to a two-year deal, they immediately burned one season off that contract by signing and keeping him with the NHL club through the end of the season.
Due to not having NHL regulation pads, we never saw Robson play with the Wild after signing in March last season. He was a participant in practice, but never made it to the ice. Prior to his signing, he posted record numbers with the Gophers, including a .924 career save percentage which is the best in the history of the University.
Robson carries a 6-foot-3, 190 pound frame and what made him successful with the U of M was his ability to be very sharp in his angles in goal. While his ability to play the angles well typically leads to regular/uneventful saves, he still made some saves of the highlight-reel variety from time to time as well.
To begin the upcoming season, Robson will play with the Iowa Wild alongside fellow goaltending prospect Kaapo Kahkonen. With both having success last season — not with the same team — it is assumed that there would be a split between the pair in goal unless one really emerges as the bonafide number one starter.
If there is an injury to either Devan Dubnyk or Alex Stalock, Robson could very well be seen in Minnesota as a backup this next year for however long the injury lasts.
Following the 2019-20 season, Robson will be a restricted free agent as his two-year entry-level contract will expire. New Wild general manager Bill Guerin will seemingly have his eye on Robson as the Wild are not particularly deep at goaltender in the prospect pipeline and will want to determine if Robson is worth signing long term.
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