LOS ANGELES - The Wild will have a sixth player make his NHL debut this season, with defenseman Louie Belpedio slated to appear in the regular-season finale Saturday against the Sharks after signing a two-year, entry-level contract Thursday.
He'll wear No. 47.
"I think I just need to play my game and do what got me here," Belpedio said. "At the end of the day, it's hockey, right? Obviously, I'm around the best players in the world now, which makes it a little different. But I just gotta stick to my game and be simple and come every day with an open mind."
Belpedio met up with the Wild in Los Angeles Thursday, getting on the ice in the morning at Staples Center, but he won't play later in the evening against the Kings. The Wild will, however, make a lineup change, with center Matt Cullen getting the night off. That means winger Tyler Ennis will draw back in after sitting out Wednesday, a 3-1 loss to the Ducks.
The 21-year-old Belpedio spent the past four seasons at Miami-Ohio, scoring 25 goals and tallying 58 assists in 135 games, before joining the Iowa Wild for the past 10 games on a tryout contract. During that stint, he had two assists.
A third-round choice (80th overall) in the 2014 NHL draft by the Wild, Belpedio could have become a free agent in July if the Wild hadn't signed him. The first year of his two-year contract will be burned over the final two regular season games this year.
"I obviously had a great four years in college," Belpedio said. "Going to Iowa definitely helped me get adjusted to the pro game and the pro lifestyle, so it was good. I think it helped me a ton, and not going right from college to here also helped to just get used to everything and get the feel for being a pro now. Just try to take it day by day, enjoy the moment and go from there."
Projected lineup:
