WINNIPEG – Tyler Graovac walked into the visiting locker room at MTS Centre on Tuesday and had nothing but good memories.
It's where he made his NHL debut last season during a 3-2 Wild win Dec. 29.
"I'll never forget that feeling walking into that room," Graovac said before the Wild beat the Jets 1-0 in overtime. "I thought about it all summer and that feeling doesn't get any better. It's something that kept me going all summer. Looking back to that day, walking in that arena, I want nothing more than staying here and making an impact."
To accomplish that, Graovac, a 22-year-old, 6-foot-5 center who has the frame, skating ability and all-around tools that whets the Wild's appetite, has work to do.
After Graovac's pedestrian first intrasquad scrimmage of camp, coach Mike Yeo said he can't just "blend in" if he expects to make the team. Expecting a big response to that challenge, the Wild was disappointed with Graovac's second intrasquad scrimmage.
In a preseason loss to Buffalo on Monday, Graovac seemed more assertive off the bat, but as the team's game declined, so did Graovac's.
Yeo described Graovac's game as "probably similar to what his camp has been: OK. He's getting a lot of attention. I'm not trying to pick on the kid, but we definitely need somebody to make a statement that they're pushing hard to make this club."
Yeo saw progression from Graovac against Winnipeg. He had three Grade A shots and won seven of 11 faceoffs.