Elite newcomers join forces with established stars as Minnesota experiments with high-octane pairings, offering a glimpse into a revamped roster designed to challenge for Western Conference dominance.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Training camp line combinations should always come with the same disclaimer: It's Day 2.
But the Minnesota Wild didn't exactly ease into camp with a collection of random combinations.
Minnesota's first practice groups provided an early look at a lineup that closely resembles what the Wild could use when the regular season begins.
Here were the NHL-heavy group's combinations:
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov — Ryan Hartman — Maxim Shabanov
Blake Coleman — Joel Eriksson Ek — Matt Boldy
Yakov Trenin — Danila Yurov — Bobby Brink
Marcus Foligno — Michael McCarron — Nick Foligno
Tyler Pitlick — Nico Sturm — Justin Kirkland
Defense
Quinn Hughes — Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin — Jared Spurgeon
Olli Määttä — Zach Bogosian
Daemon Hunt — David Spacek
Goaltenders
Jesper Wallstedt
Calvin Pickard
There are several notable takeaways.
Shabanov received perhaps the most interesting assignment, opening camp alongside Kaprizov and Hartman. The Wild need to determine whether Shabanov can become a legitimate top-six option, and they're wasting little time putting him in a position to show it.
Hartman, meanwhile, received the first opportunity to center Kaprizov while Eriksson Ek remained alongside Boldy. Minnesota added Coleman to that duo, creating an experienced second line that could be used in difficult matchups while still providing considerable offense.
Yurov beginning camp at center is another development worth watching. The young forward centered Trenin and Brink on the third line rather than opening on the wing.
On defense, Minnesota immediately put its two biggest names together.
Hughes skated alongside Faber on the top pair, with Brodin and Spurgeon forming the second pairing. Määttä and Bogosian made up the third pair.
Hunt and Spacek rounded out the NHL-heavy defensive group.
The Wild's second practice group featured several players attempting to force their way into the conversation, including Hunter Haight, Charlie Stramel, Caedan Bankier, Rieger Lorenz, Carson Lambos, Jack Peart and Viking Gustafsson-Nyberg.
None of Minnesota's Day 1 combinations should be written in permanent ink.
But after an offseason that created several questions throughout the lineup, the Wild have provided their first answers.
Now camp will determine how many of them stick and with a short training camp and only four games, they might stick.
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