Erik's Emergence

Haula quietly making a name for himself in Minnesota.

- Stephen Laroche

The 2015-16 season served as a breakout for Minnesota Wild left winger Erik Haula as he not only established new personal marks in scoring, but emerged as one of the most promising defensive forwards in the game.

A native of Pori, Finland that came over to North America as a teenager to play at the prestigious Shattuck St. Mary’s school in Faribault, Minnesota, he was taken in the seventh round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draftby the Wild. Along the way to becoming a pro player, he spent a year in the USHL before moving up to the University of Minnesota. He spent three seasons there, averaging over a point per game and capped offhis collegiate career with a Second Team All-American nod in addition to earning a spot on the All-Academic Team.

Haula split his first pro season between the Wild and their AHL farm team in Iowa, making his NHL debut against the Colorado Avalanche on November 29, 2013. Soon after, he appeared on his first trading cards.