Wild cut ties with Vladislav Firstov after winger clears waivers

Vladislav Firstov cleared waivers Wednesday afternoon and the Wild terminated his contract, a three-year entry deal that was set to expire after next season. Firstov, 22, wasn't interested in playing next season in North America. A second-round pick in the 2019 NHL entry draft, Firstov, 22, has played most of his professional career in the Russian elite Kontinental Hockey League with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod, where he scored 28 goals and 61 points in 114 regular-season games.