Minnesota Wild top prospect Liam Ohgren, 20, is set to make his NHL debut tonight against the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ohgren, a left winger, is expected to play alongside Marat Khusnutdinov and Vinni Lettieri on the third line after skating with the pair at practice Thursday.
“First NHL game, it's been my dream since I started playing hockey,” Ohgren told the media after practice Thursday. “It's going to be special, for sure, and it's really fun (that) it's going to be in Vegas.”
The Wild recalled Ohgren from the Iowa Wild on Wednesday. Ohgren, who was reassigned to Iowa on April 2 after his season in Sweden ended, skated in three games with Minnesota's AHL affiliate.
Ohgren scored 12 goals and 19 points in 26 games this season with Farjestad BK in the Swedish Hockey League. He captained Sweden in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording three assists en route to winning Silver.
The Wild drafted Ohgren in the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft at 19th overall and signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on July 16, 2022. He will wear No. 28 with the Wild.
Despite having been eliminated from playoff contention with four games left, the Wild are getting a glimpse of the future right now with the recent recalls of Ohgren and top goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt, who made 24 saves against the Blackhawks on Sunday in Chicago for his first career NHL win and shutout.
Wallstedt will start for the Wild against the Sharks in San Jose on Saturday night, but before then, Ohgren will make his NHL debut tonight in Las Vegas.
“It's hard to believe it's actually true,” Ohgren told the media today. “It's been a fun week and a fun day in Vegas, and I'm really looking forward to tonight.”
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