Top prospects Charlie Stramel and Hunter Haight get one last preseason opportunity to impress the Wild as Minnesota takes on the Stars tonight in Dallas.
Charlie Stramel and Hunter Haight have one more opportunity to make their case.
The Minnesota Wild will play their third of four preseason games Wednesday night against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center, and Stramel and Haight will both be in the lineup for what could be their final preseason opportunity before roster cuts.
Neither is expected to make Minnesota’s opening-night roster, but both have had extended looks throughout training camp and will get another chance to leave an impression on the coaching staff.
Stramel will center Mason Shaw and Tyler Pitlick. Haight will skate between Riley Heidt and Justin Kirkland.
Rieger Lorenz, who has been one of Minnesota’s more productive young players this preseason with a goal and an assist in two games, will play alongside Nico Sturm and Dylan Gambrell.
Kayden Lemire will also draw into the lineup, skating with Caeden Bankier and Jagger Joshua. Rasmus Kumpulainen will not play.
Wild Expected Lineup:
Mason Shaw – Charlie Stramel – Tyler Pitlick
Riley Heidt – Hunter Haight – Justin Kirkland
Rieger Lorenz – Nico Sturm – Dylan Gambrell
Kayden Lemire – Caeden Bankier – Jagger Joshua
Defense:
Daemon Hunt – David Spacek
Viking Gustafsson Nyberg – Carson Lambos
Matt Kiersted – Ben Dexheimer
Jesper Wallstedt will start in goal, with Riley Mercer also dressed.
Dallas Stars Lineup:
Dallas will counter with a lineup featuring significantly more NHL experience, including Jamie Benn, Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, Radek Faksa and Jake Oettinger.
For Stramel and Haight, though, Wednesday night carries a little more weight. With just Friday’s preseason finale remaining after the game in Dallas, there aren’t many opportunities left to force the Wild into a difficult decision.
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