Minnesota Wild: Training Camp Stories To Follow
By Luke Ryan
Has Everyone Passed Their Medical?
The big question on everyone’s lips; did everyone make it back to the Minnesota Wild in full health during the off-season. Ryan Suter was shut down with a broken right ankle last season, whilst youngster Luke Kunin suffered a torn ACL; neither would’ve been easy injuries to rehab.
News out of camp is that Ryan Suter did indeed pass muster and will be competing in scrimmages at training camp. He won’t however be involved in pre-season games with Boudreau preferring to keep him fresh for regular season action.
Per NHL.com, Boudreau said Thursday he believes Suter is one of the few players in the NHL who could step right into regular-season action without playing a preseason game.
This may seem like a bold move but you’ve got to assume the coach knows best. If we see a rusty Suter for the first few games of the season; you’d suggest the coach has made the wrong call.
If, however, he’s straight back to peak performance – maybe pre-season isn’t as important as some make out.
The bad news for the Minnesota Wild; worse for the player himself of course, is that Luke Kunin has not yet been cleared to get back to full-contact practice.
We talked about exercising patience on his return and maybe that’s exactly what the Minnesota Wild coaching staff are doing.
For the player though, it’s likely to feel like a bit of a blow to his NHL ambitions. Here he is after what was no doubt an emotionally and physically gruelling recovery and he has to watch on as his teammates fight it out for a chance at an NHL roster spot.
As reported by Michael Russo of The Athletic (subscription required), Kunin is taking it in his stride.
He should be happy he got to skip out on the fitness test! Joking aside, chances are he’s not back until at least October and it’ll be a slow progression from the Iowa AHL team back to the Minnesota Wild if his performance is up to scratch.