Minnesota Wild terminate contract of young promising prospect

Pavel Novak was once seen as a top prospect in the Minnesota Wild organization, and today the team decided to place him on unconditional waivers for termination.

Pavel Novak is a Czech ice hockey player who was drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild, selecting him 146th overall. A versatile winger, Novak was seen as having strong skating, an accurate shot, and smart on the ice. Born on April 16, 2002, in Tabor, Czech Republic, Novak has represented his home country in various international tournaments, including the IIHF World Junior Championship. Today, the Minnesota Wild announced that they placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination.

Before being drafted, Novak played for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL, where he immediately made a name for himself with his scoring capability and playmaking. He recorded 58 points in 55 games during the 2019-2020 season, making him a prospect as a forward who could create offense. At 5'9", Novak is smaller in stature but quick, creative, and an extremely hard worker.

In June 2022, Novak announced that he was diagnosed with cancer, which made him sit out while receiving treatment during the 2022-23 season. From the public messages, one could find the outburst of his fighting spirit and desire to return to the ice as soon as his health allowed him to do so. In 2023, after receiving successful treatment, Novak came back to training and resumed his hockey career, a move many admired because of his bravery and determination to overcome his challenges.

The Minnesota Wild think highly of Novak as a high-ceiling prospect who could add some depth to their lineup in the near future if he keeps improving. His journey back to ice hockey shows not only how good he is on the ice but, above everything, what kind of character he is.

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