Prospect Charlie Stramel centers a gritty veteran line as Minnesota’s youth movement takes center stage against Chicago to kick off a high-stakes, four-game preseason audition.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild will get their first look at game action Saturday night when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Grand Casino Arena in their 2026-27 preseason opener.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT. It is the first of just four preseason games for Minnesota this year. 
The Wild will dress a prospect-heavy lineup, with Charlie Stramel among the players to watch. Stramel is expected to center Minnesota’s top line between veterans Nico Sturm and Nick Foligno.
Calvin Pickard is expected to start in goal for Minnesota. Wild coach John Hynes previously said Pickard and Jesper Wallstedt are each expected to start two of Minnesota’s four preseason games.
Chicago will counter with Arvid Soderblom, who is expected to start and play the entire game. 
Wild projected lineup:
Nico Sturm - Charlie Stramel - Nick Foligno
Mason Shaw - Hunter Haight - Dylan Gambrell
Justin Kirkland - Riley Heidt - Tyler Pitlick
Rieger Lorenz - Caeden Bankier - Jagger Joshua
Defense:
Olli Maatta - Daemon Hunt
Matt Kiersted - David Spacek
Carson Lambos - Roman Schmidt
Starting Goaltender: Calvin Pickard
Scratched: Mike Koster, Kayden Lemire.
Injured: Viking Gustafsson Nyberg
Viking Gustafsson Nyberg was initially part of Minnesota’s defensive rotation during Saturday’s skate but left practice early. Wild head coach John Hynes said he is dealing with something and is a bit sore.
For several of Minnesota’s younger players, Saturday represents an early opportunity to make an impression during a shortened preseason. Stramel, Lambos, Heidt and Haight are among the prospects who will get that chance against Chicago.
The Blackhawks are also bringing a younger lineup to St. Paul, setting up a preseason opener centered largely around prospects and players competing for roster positioning.
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