Charlie Stramel made his unofficial debut for the Minnesota Wild in their preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night, but Wild general manager Bill Guerin may have spent his summer trying not to make it happen. Stramel was the centerpiece in every trade rumor connecting the Wild to Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin and with the Wild in a championship window, it felt like it was only a matter of time before he was sent packing.
That deal, of course, hasn’t come to fruition and Stramel is standing out during training camp and the preseason as he looks to crack the Wild’s roster. But in the meantime, the Wild are elevating his value and after Nico Sturm’s comments after Saturday’s 3-2 overtime victory, Minnesota may have a plan to make Stramel a player that no team can refuse.
“He’s a big, strong kid; he’s got confidence with the puck on his stick,” Sturm said via The Athletic’s Michael Russo and Joe Smith. “He’s actually got an elite shot. …I actually think the way he skates and his shot and stuff, he’s got a little bit of [Vegas Golden Knights center] Jack Eichel in him. …He’s going to be a really good player in this league.”
Wild could help Charlie Stramel go from questionable prospect to top trade chip
If Stramel turns into Jack Eichel, he’s a player that the Wild should probably hang on to. The 23rd overall pick in the 2023 draft, Stramel’s selection drew criticism over his ceiling and it’s the same storyline that has followed him as the Wild have potentially dangled him in a package in their attempt to acquire Larkin from the Red Wings.
But Stramel has responded to that criticism with his play on the ice. After logging just eight goals and 20 points over two seasons (77 games) at the University of Wisconsin, Stramel transferred to Michigan State and reunited with Adam Nightengale, who coached Stramel when he was part of the U.S. National Team Development Program.
The change of scenery worked with the Spartans as Stramel scored nine goals and tallied 27 points during the 2024-25 season. But he found another gear to his game last year, scoring 19 times, recording 44 points and became a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, which is given to the top player in college hockey.
A broken ankle in last year’s NCAA Tournament ended his collegiate career, but it also led to him signing his entry level contract (ELC) with the Wild. Given the opportunity to take part in camp, Stramel has stood out getting a rave review from Wild analyst Wes Walz on X.
“Charlie Stramel looked outstanding,” Walz wrote on Sept. 17. “Little gassed (like most guys) late in scrimmage, but his first 2-3 steps are very explosive/twitchy for a large human.”
Wild director of player development Brad Bombardir also spoke highly of Stramel, even leaving the possibility he could make the NHL roster.
“He’s right there,” Bombardir told Smith. “We’ve always told our guys, if you want to come in and make an impression to try and make an impact early, it’s up to you. We’ll do everything we possibly can to give you that opportunity. But once you get on the ice with those NHL guys it’s up to you. Because the National Hockey League is a monster, right?”
The Wild’s Stanley Cup window could decide Charlie Stramel’s fate
Stramel is still a long shot to make the roster to begin the season and will likely start with the AHL’s Iowa Wild. But while there is a world where he could make his official NHL debut this season and carve out some playing time, the Wild might not be in a position where they can afford to watch him develop.
Consider where the Wild were at with Zeev Buium a year ago. A standout at the University of Denver, Buium had plenty of hype before making his NHL debut late in the 2024-25 season. He also cracked the Wild’s opening night roster as a teenager, giving fans a vision of what he could become.
Those visions went out the window when Quinn Hughes became available and Buium was sent to Vancouver along with Marco Rossi, Liam Ohgren and the Wild’s 2026 first-round draft pick (Adam Novotny) last December. No Wild fan has lamented over what Buium could become as Hughes made an instant impact in Minnesota and there’s a chance that Stramel could have the same fate if he and Danila Yurov get off to strong starts this season.
Even if Larkin isn’t the player involved, Guerin will likely be aggressive to improve a team with Stanley Cup aspirations. If a deal appears, Stramel will almost certainly be involved, meaning whatever ceiling he has likely won’t be reached while he’s in Minnesota.
It’s unfortunate in a way because the Wild could use some young, impact talent. But when a team is ready to win now, players like Stramel are the price to pay. It’s something to monitor as Stramel works his way through the start of his professional career and it could convince a team to take the bait and give the Wild the player they’ve been looking for.
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