With Wild cuts coming, veterans making strong cases

NHL teams placed another 29 players on waivers Saturday as the league pares down its training camp rosters.

The Wild were not one of them, but that will change, in one form or another, on Sunday.

The Wild will play the fourth of their six preseason games Sunday evening at Xcel Energy Center, triggering the first big camp cuts of the fall.

Some might come before a 5 p.m.

puck drop against Dallas, some after.

ADVERTISEMENT It could be a little bit of both depending on whos in the practice group and whos in the game group, coach John Hynes said Saturday after a pair of practices in front of season-ticket holders at the X.

The Wilds AHL team in Des Moines begins camp on Monday morning.

Because this is a team heavy with veterans on long-term deals, it was evident when camp started Sept.

19 that there were only one or two spots open for a prospect or free agent to make the NHL roster out of camp.

That remains the case with less than two weeks before the Oct.

10 regular-season opener against Columbus in St.

Paul.

At seasons end last spring, there was a sense that rookies Marat Khusnutdinov and Liam Ohgren had the inside track, but that has changed during camp.

Instead, forward Jakub Lauko, acquired in the trade that sent Vinni Lettieri to Boston, has made the best early impression among young players, and veteran free agents signed to lucrative two-way deals have made strong cases, as well.

ADVERTISEMENT Lauko, 24, scored a goal in each of his two preseason games and will be in the lineup against the Stars on Sunday.

He has been conspicuous in games and in practice, eager to show his new team that hes ready for his first permanent promotion after playing 60 regular-season games with the Bruins (2-810) last spring.

Hes got a motor.

You can tell that he loves the game.

He asks questions, you know, in meetings, Hynes said.

I like his drive on the ice, his ability to skate, compete and impact the game.

Youve seen it, really, every day.

Every time weve seen him practice, or the games, he has made an impact.

If Lauko seems to be cementing that fourth-line winger role opposite Freddy Gaudreau, a few of the veterans who signed free-agent contracts in July are making a case to center that line when the season starts.

ADVERTISEMENT Brendan Gaunce, 30, and Ben Jones, 25, have played well in games.

Jones scored on a breakaway in Fridays 8-5 victory over Winnipeg at the X, two days after missing on a breakaway in a 5-2 loss at Dallas and he acknowledged that went through his head as he charged at Jets veteran Connor Hellebuyck on Friday.

I was trying not to miss again, he said.

Instead, he faked with his forehand and scored on the backhand.

Ive just kind of been taking every day by day, take it kind of one step at a time, and see what each day brings, Jones said.

See if Im going to be able to play another game, and just bring what I bring and try and be a Swiss Army Knife for this team and help wherever I can.

ADVERTISEMENT Jones, Gaunce, Travis Boyd, Devin Shore and Reese Johnson all signed two-way contracts this summer that combined are worth more than $2 million in minor league dollars.

Thats a lot of money, a clear indication that Wild general manager Bill Guerin wants physical forwards he can trust and can contribute when theyre called up this season.

Gaunce, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward, has a two-way, two-year deal after spending last season in the Columbus organization.

He played two games for the Blue Jackets but had a strong year at AHL Cleveland, 19 goals and 39 points in 46 regular season games, and five points in six playoff games.

I had a good season last year, good playoffs, kind of came in confident, said Gaunce (pronounced GAWNS).

I know how I had to play, and I think they do, as well; Im just trying to show that.

ADVERTISEMENT On the other end, Ohgren and Riley Heidt, a prospect who must return to juniors if he doesnt make the team, have failed to make an early impression, although Ohgren had a goal and assist in an out-of-control second period against a prospect-heavy Jets team on Friday.

Both played against the Jets, Hynes said, because they looked out of sorts in the Dallas game.

Khusnutdinov scored Friday, as well, but has been mostly inconspicuous.

Hes 22, and Ohgren 20.

Neither has played in the AHL, and if the coaching staff isnt entirely confident in their readiness for the NHL, starting them there makes more sense for the Wild than putting them on the roster.

Ohgren will get another chance to make a good impression on Sunday against the Stars.

So will Shore, Gaunce, Jones and former Gopher Travis Boyd, who played well in the teams first preseason game.

Jesper Wallstedt will play his second preseason game, and Lauko his third.

ADVERTISEMENT You come here trying to make an impression from the get go, so happy with the way things are going so far, Lauko said Friday.

But, you know, its still preseason.

Two preseason games.

It just barely started.

I just wanted to start strong, so its going well so far.

But, like I said, its just the beginning.

Nothings done.

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