Minnesota Wild progress through training camp and preseason

The Minnesota Wild are progressing through training camp and preseason preparations ahead of their upcoming season. Head coach John Hynes indicated that the team will begin shortening its roster and making cuts in the coming week.

Recent training sessions have highlighted new chemistry among players, including potential top-line combinations involving Kirill Kaprizov, Ryan Hartman, and Maxim Shabanov, as well as Blake Coleman, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Matt Boldy. On the defensive side, Zach Bogosian and Olli Määttä have shown potential as a pairing.

Former Wild coach and NHL Network analyst Bruce Boudreau noted that while the team possesses high physicality and strong goaltending depth with Jesper Wallstedt and Filip Gustavsson, the roster lacks a definitive No. 1 center to reach Stanley Cup contention. The team faces significant roster turnover following the departures of Matt Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson, and Vladimir Tarasenko. Additionally, Gustavsson is expected to miss the start of the season due to a hip injury, with a projected return in November.