Gone Puck Wild
Fansided

Minnesota Wild: Prospects Looking To Shine In Traverse City

By Luke Ryan

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 17: Jordan Greenway #18 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Xcel Energy Center on April 17, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 17: Jordan Greenway #18 of the Minnesota Wild skates against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Xcel Energy Center on April 17, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Minnesota Wild prospects will once again head to Traverse City for the annual NHL Prospect Tournament, kicking off on September 7th.

The Minnesota Wild youngsters will face off in the Ted Lindsay Division against the Dallas Stars, New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.

Per NHL.com; the roster will feature 12 players drafted by the Minnesota Wild:

"Minnesota’s roster features 12 Wild draft picks: defenseman Louie Belpedio (2014, 3rd round), forward Shawn Boudrias (2018, 6th round), defenseman Gustav Bouramman (2015, 7th round), forward Connor Dewar (2018, 3rd round), forward Damien Giroux (2018, 5th round), defenseman Jacob Golden (2017, 5th round), forward Jordan Greenway (2015, 2nd round), goalie Kaapo Kahkonen (2014, 4th round), forward Alexander Khovanov (2018, 3rd round), right wing Ivan Lodnia (2017, 3rd round), center Mason Shaw (2017, 4th round) and right wing Dmitry Sokolov (2016, 7th round)."

The biggest name on that list of Wild draftees has to be Jordan Greenway, who looked solid in his 11 game big-league showcase last season.

He seems a decent bet to be on the Minnesota Wild starting roster come opening night, and will likely be looked up to as a leader in this Traverse City group.

Kaapo Kahkonen is another that has shown significant promise, albeit in the Finnish league. He will be relied upon in net, no doubt. A strong performance here should all but confirm him a spot on the Iowa Wild, in my opinion.

Likewise, Louie Belpedio will be hoping to confirm his starting spot with the Iowa Wild. The young defenceman made his NHL debut last year and will certainly be seeking a bigger shot with the Minnesota Wild, but may have to wait it out.

He will likely be on the first pairing in Traverse City, giving him a prime opportunity to show his value ahead of training camp.

More from Gone Puck Wild

Dmitiri Sokolov should rightfully expect to be playing in the American Hockey League this season; he’ll be a likely second-line option during the tournament.

Ivan Lodnia, meanwhile, will be returning to a Niagara team that seems to be going all-in for the Memorial Cup this season. He will be hoping to head back with some good lessons from playing with slightly more experienced youngsters.

Mason Shaw is the prospect with the most to gain from playing in a Minnesota Wild jersey at the tournament. He missed almost the whole season last year due to brutal injuries and is expected to start the year in Iowa.

He will be looking to get back on the ice and in a competitive environment so he can focus on his NHL dreams once more.

Next. Minnesota Wild Goaltending Options - Part 3. dark

The Prospect Tournament drawing near means the new NHL season is just around the corner. Nothing like watching the future of the Minnesota Wild to whet the appetite for hockey!

Home/Prospects