The Wild have made only one round of cuts halfway through their preseason prep, but the hierarchy in training camp is taking shape.
Players were separated into two practices Saturday, with the NHLers (plus a few additions) in one group and most of the prospects and minor leaguers in the other.
This split hasn’t been made official, but it did indicate where the Wild’s depth chart is trending before the season opener Oct. 10 vs. Columbus.
“Not everybody can make the team,” coach John Hynes said. “But everybody can leave an impression.”
The prized prospects
After not feeling like he’d played up to his potential early in camp, Liam Ohgren finally hit his stride in his second preseason game on Friday.
The winger capitalized in the Wild’s 8-5 victory over Winnipeg after a lackluster performance two nights earlier in Dallas.
“Obviously, I didn’t feel that good the first game, so I just wanted to play a little bit simple, get the pucks deep and go to the net,” said Ohgren, who is vying to stick around after getting in four games late last season. “Obviously, I scored a goal, and that always helps with the confidence. So, it was better.”
Unlike Ohgren, Riley Heidt doesn’t have the option of going to the minors: He has to play with the Wild or return to his junior team in the Western Hockey League.