The Minnesota Wild are considered to have one of the better prospect pools in the NHL. Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club’s top 30 prospects. Every player on the list will be 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Wild or are on AHL or NHL deals and have played less than 40 NHL games.
#30 Kyle Masters
#29 Aaron Pionk, LHD
Age: 21
Shoots: Left
Height: 6'1''
Weight: 172
Contract: Unsigned (College)
Draft: 2023 fifth-round pick (149)
Last Year's Rankings: Not Ranked
Projection: 6th/7th defender who can fill power-play time if he makes the NHL.
The reason I put Aaron Pionk ahead of Kyle Masters was just because of how much more I am familiar with his game than Masters. Pionk played for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs last year which I saw more than ECHL games.
Pionk, 21, was the Wild's fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. The Minnesota native came to development camp following the 2023 Draft and looked good. His offensive game was growing and a good freshman season in Duluth proved that.
In 37 games for the Bulldogs, Pionk recorded three goals, 17 assists, and 20 points. He won the Jerry Chumola Award as the UMD's Rookie of the Year. Pionk also won the NCHC defenseman of the week award in early March.
Aaron is the younger brother to Neal Pionk who played for the Bulldogs from 2015 to 2017 and is currently playing for the Winnipeg Jets. Neal played his High School hockey for Hermantown and his College hockey for Duluth. Aaron is following the same path.
In 66 High School games for Hermantown, Aaron recorded 26 goals, 48 assists, and 74 points. He recorded 12 goals, 24 assists, and 36 points in 60 games for the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL before his freshman season at Duluth.
Pionk may need three or four years of college hockey before he can make the jump to professional hockey. That is okay for the Wild, considering how many defensemen they have. Look for Pionk to have a big sophomore season for the Bulldogs in 2024-25.
