Wild rookie defenseman Calen Addison makes his NHL playoff debut

LAS VEGAS – Calen Addison made his NHL debut in February with the Wild, and on Monday he achieved another milestone: skating in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time.

The rookie defenseman played Game 5 against the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena, replacing Carson Soucy, who was out with an upper-body injury. Addison, a right shot, worked on the Wild's third defensive pairing with veteran Ian Cole.

"He's probably definitely going to have some nerves going, but he's a good player," winger Jordan Greenway said. "When he did play for us earlier in the season, he had a great impact for us. He did a lot of good things. So, I think if he just focuses on doing what he does and not try to do anything crazy, I think he'll be fine. He'll get the job done."

Addison picked up his first NHL point in the first period Monday, assisting on Greenway's first period goal.

A prized prospect at the time he was acquired by the Wild in the Jason Zucker trade with the Penguins last season, Addison has lived up to that hype since becoming a full-time pro.

He helped fill out the blue line when the Wild resumed its season shorthanded after a COVID-19 shutdown, logging a hefty 19 minutes, 41 seconds in his first game on Feb. 16 at Los Angeles. Addison played next to top-pairing defenseman Ryan Suter, appeared on the power play and was even on the ice late in the game.

The 21-year-old remained in the lineup for two more games before going back to the minors, but he left an impression.

"He was great," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "Provided us with a lot defensively, offensively. Moved the puck extremely well. He's had a real good year in Iowa."

This was Addison's first full-length professional season since being drafted in the second round 53rd overall by Pittsburgh in 2018. Overall, in 31 games in the American Hockey League this year, the 5-11, 180-pound Addison picked up six goals and 16 assists, finished a plus-7 and accrued 78 shots. He ranked second with Iowa in assists and shots and tied for third in scoring.

Among all AHL defensemen, Addison tied for first in shots and ended up third in scoring while sitting second in scoring among rookie defensemen.

"Happy to have him in," veteran forward Nick Bonino said. "He's a great player. I'm sure there's nerves but seems like the younger guys these days are getting more and more self-assured and ready to go whenever they're called on."

Addison's addition to the back end wasn't the only change the Wild made for Game 5 against Vegas.

Nick Bjugstad returned to the lineup after he was scratched for Game 4, in his usual post on the fourth line next to Bonino and center Nico Sturm. Kyle Rau, who suited up for Game 4, didn't play.

The Wild also reorganized two other lines, reuniting wingers Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello with center Victor Rask and moving center Ryan Hartman between wingers Zach Parise and Kevin Fiala.

Kaprizov, Zuccarello and Rask were a dominant line for the Wild early in the season.

"The nice thing about this season is that we've gone through a process where different people have played with different people," Evason said. "That's what we do so that when we get to this spot if we do make a couple of tweaks and a couple of changes, you go back to what you believe is something that's worked in the past and something that can work in the future.

"We've liked that line in the past. They've fed off each other and had a nice chemistry."

Joel Eriksson Ek was officially credited with two goals through the first four games against the Golden Knights, but in reality he scored four times.

The center had a goal disallowed in Games 3 and 4, both due to successful coach's challenges by the Golden Knights, but the production continued Eriksson Ek's best season to date with the Wild.

"Impressed? Yeah, for sure," Evason said. "Surprised? No, definitely not. He plays so hard every night. You ask somebody to do the right things or want to watch somebody do the right things in all areas of the game, on and off the ice, it's him.

"Obviously, he's continued to do what he did all season."

After racking up a career-high 19 goals in 56 regular-season games, Eriksson Ek emerged as the Wild's steadiest player against Vegas early in the series.

He capitalized in overtime for the Wild's 1-0 win in Game 1 and converted again in Game 3. His other goal that night was called back after video review determined the play was offside. Eriksson Ek then had another tally erased in Game 4 because of goaltender interference.

Still, he showed he's capable of delivering in important situations. Combine that offense with his clutch defensive performance, and this prowess at both ends of the ice is now the standard for the 24-year-old Eriksson Ek, who is up for a new contract before next season — which will be his sixth in the NHL.

"The work ethic standard was always there," Evason said. "He just didn't have the results, and now that you go through your career and the confidence that he has now, that's not going to waver. The way that he plays the game is not going to change. So, we don't expect any part of his game to change course from what it was this year and through these playoffs."