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Minnesota Wild: 5 Things to watch in preseason opener

By Brennen Rupp

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 04: Alex Stalock #32 of the Minnesota Wild makes a save during a game with the Boston Bruins at Xcel Energy Center on April 4, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 04: Alex Stalock #32 of the Minnesota Wild makes a save during a game with the Boston Bruins at Xcel Energy Center on April 4, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota.(Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Minnesota Wild open up their preseason schedule tonight against the Dallas Stars in St. Paul at the Xcel Energy Center. Yes, it’s only the preseason, but Wild hockey is back! Here are five things to watch for in the Wild preseason opener.

  • The Zach Parise, Ryan Donato, Mats Zuccarello line. Ever since former general manager, Paul Fenton signed Mats Zuccarello I’ve been day dreaming of Zuccaello playing on the same line as Parise. It appears that I’ll be getting that wish as those two will flank youngster, Ryan Donato. Donato played center during his time at Harvard and by all accounts is on board with the switch from wing to center. This line could be one of the more dynamic lines in recent memory in Wild history and Wild fans will get their first look at it tonight in the preseason opener.
  • Matt Dumba said he was ready to run through a wall after Bill Guerin gave a speech to the team on the first day of training camp. I’m sure Wild fans are ready to run through a wall to see him on the ice again after he suffered a season-ending injury last season.
  • Alex Stalock will get the start between the pipes tonight. One of the Wild’s biggest question marks is backup goaltender. It’s going to be Stalock, but the Wild need him to be much better this season to allow Devan Dubnyk to have more time off the ice this season. They need Stalock to be better in 2019-2020 and that starts tonight.

    • Connor Dewar

    was ranked the Wild’s 16th best prospect by

    The Athletic’s Corey Pronman

    . Last season in the WHL, Dewar scored 36 goals in 59 games.

    EVERETT, WA – APRIL 07: Everett Silvertips center Connor Dewar (43) accelerates with the puck in the neutral zone during Game 2 of the playoff series between the Everett Silvertips and the Spokane Chiefs on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
    EVERETT, WA – APRIL 07: Everett Silvertips center Connor Dewar (43) accelerates with the puck in the neutral zone during Game 2 of the playoff series between the Everett Silvertips and the Spokane Chiefs on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett, WA. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

    "He’s a good skater who can carry pucks up ice. He’s very smart distributing the puck. He competes well and can kill penalties. Offensively his best attribute is his vision as he knows where to move pucks to and can be creative when doing so."

    5. Ryan Hartman was Fenton’s other free agent signing this offseason. The former first-round pick spent this past season with the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks. He finished the season with 12 goals and 14 assists. The 24-year-old is described as a player who can get underneath the opponent’s skin. It was apparent watching the Wild a year ago that they need to play with more of an edge and Hartman will bring some much-needed toughness to this Wild team.

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