Top prospects expected to make Wild roster

Minnesota is expected to maintain top prospects Liam Ohgren and Jesper Wallstedt on their opening night roster, per Michael Russo of The Athletic .

Minnesotas brass has named both players as favorites to make the team since the start of training camp.

The Wild are showing no hesitation in placing perhaps the leagues best goalie prospect Wallstedt into a three-man rotation with Marc-Andre Fleury and Filip Gustavsson .

All three goaltenders made two appearances in the preseason, with Wallstedt leading the trio in save percentage with a .930 to Fleurys .925 and Gustavssons .898.

Fleury and Gustavsson split starts last year, making 40 and 45 appearances respectively.

Neither were particularly productive, each posting save percentages below .900 a feat Fleury hadnt managed since his rookie season of 2005-06.

Those muddling performances leave plenty of room for excitement in Minnesotas goaltending room something Wallstedt may be able to bring quickly.

The former first-round pick has posted two strong seasons as an AHL starter, collectively posting 40 wins and a .909 save percentage in 83 appearances.

Ohgren should have a much clearer path to an NHL role, having spent five preseason games on the teams third line.

He certainly seemed comfortable in the role, posting one goal and one assist the same statline he managed in his first four NHL games at the end of last season.

An upper-body injury delayed the start of Ohgrens 2023-24 to late November, but he played well immediately upon returning, ultimately recording 19 points in 27 games in Swedens SHL the highest scoring pace of any U20 SHL player last season.

Wild general manager Bill Guerin has previously praised Ohgrens ability to produce from any spot in the lineup, which could mean hell have to work his way up to a high-usage role though a fully healthy season could make quick work of that challenge.

Both Ohgren and Wallstedt seem poised to bring big impacts to the Minnesota lineup a welcome relief to the team that ranked in the bottom 15 of both goals scored and goals allowed last season.

Theyll each be names to watch closely, as Ohgren fights for healthy footing and Wallstedt looks to claw above two proven NHL starters.

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission..

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