Wild Week Ahead: Schedule & Storylines – Training Camp is Progressing

The Minnesota Wild had a busy few days as they started training camp and played their first preseason game. Of course, the game didn’t have any points to play for, but for some of the players, where they end up playing was on the line. The majority of the players from that first game will head back down to the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League or another minor league team, but if they make the right impression, they’ll be the first called up when there is an injury. 

The Wild have another full week ahead of them in terms of both camp and preseason games. According to head coach John Hynes, they’ll also be shortening their roster down this week, so we’ll be seeing cuts soon. Here are a couple of storylines to follow for the week of Sept. 21 – Sept. 28. 

Wild’s New Additions Settling In

The Wild’s newest additions have had some captains’ practices and a few days of training camp to get adjusted, and they are fitting in nicely. Blake Coleman has found himself a spot with Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy; it may not be a permanent fit, but early on they have found some chemistry and are working to build on it. 

The same can be said for the top line of Ryan Hartman, Kirill Kaprizov, and Maxim Shabanov. When watching their practice session, it was fairly easy to notice the spark on this line, especially with Kaprizov and Shabanov. It’s going to be fun to see if they can keep it going and if Shabanov can be the missing link on that line. 

Olli Määttä has potentially found himself a defensive partner as well in Zach Bogosian. Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber are already an established pair, as well as Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin, so that leaves Bogosian with Määttä. They work well together, and although he could end up paired with someone else like Daemon Hunt, it seems like Bogosian is a good fit.

Spurgeon & Hartman Discuss Future

Both Jared Spurgeon and Ryan Hartman are in the final year of their respective deals, and while Spurgeon says he’s not sure what will happen next year, Hartman said he isn’t thinking too much about his contract right now. 

“No, just play. Do what I can do, play the same way…,” Hartman said to the media following his practice session when asked if he thinks about it being a contract year. He’ll have a bit of a different look at the future of his career compared to Spurgeon. He has at least one more contract in him where Spurgeon isn’t sure what he plans to do next season, as he’ll turn 37 years old during the season and his career may be facing its end.

“Yeah, I don’t really think about that. Just go out there and play and be a part of the team, but it does go by fast. Some tough days, some tough stretches, but it flies by. I remember hearing it my first couple years, but it’s definitely true, so I don’t take anything for granted. So just getting out there, having fun being out there with the guys and competing again,” Spuregon said to the media following his practice when asked about his contract. 

Wild Schedule Sept. 21 – Sept. 28