The Wild were planning to take their roster plus a few extra players on a team-bonding getaway to Duluth, but their traveling party increased before they left Sunday to make the trek up north.
"The people that are here, they've warranted being here because of how they played," coach Dean Evason said.
Forwards Jujhar Khaira, Vinni Lettieri, Nic Petan and Sammy Walker are still with the Wild at training camp. Same with goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, defenseman Dakota Mermis and center Marco Rossi, who's been included among the regulars throughout camp.
Rossi, who received 17 stitches on his chin and another 10 on the inside after getting cut by a skate at practice Friday, made the team out of camp last year before eventually falling out of the lineup and getting assigned to the minors. Already, the team has noticed more maturity from Rossi, with Evason calling Rossi's last preseason appearance Thursday in the 4-2 win over Colorado probably one of his best games the Wild have seen.
"He's been here," Evason said. "He knows what it takes. Now he's ready to take that opportunity."
Still, the Wild did make some cuts before departing for Duluth.
They sent forward Adam Beckman and defensemen Carson Lambos and Ryan O'Rourke to the American Hockey League and put forwards Steven Fogarty, Jake Lucchini and Nick Swaney, as well as goalie Zane McIntyre, on waivers to assign them to the AHL. The Wild also released forwards Mike O'Leary and Joel Teasdale from their tryouts, and the two will report to Iowa's training camp.
More subtraction will have to happen before the season starts Oct. 12 vs. Florida, but until then, the Wild can continue to evaluate potential call-up options. The roster limit is 23 players, but the Wild are likely to carry fewer than that to help them accrue salary cap space.