The Wild announced Monday a flurry of Roster moves.
ST. PAUL - Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced Monday the team has sent Riley Heidt back to the Western Hockey League (WHL).
At the start of Wild training camp, Heidt's goal was to make the team. Right before his first preseason game, Heidt said he wanted to make the decision of what to do with him hard.
“The first time, you’re meeting new people every day and you’re just more of just trying to fit in and find a spot," Heidt said on being in his second camp. "But this year I just feel like I’m more ready and yeah I just feel better mentally and stuff. I’m ready to go. Like I said, I’m just trying to take the opportunity I can get and make it hard for them.”
After three preseason games, Heidt has been sent back to the WHL. In his first game, Heidt played with Brendan Gaunce and Graeme Clarke. In his second game, he played with Marat Khusnutdinov and Ben Jones. On Sunday he played with Clarke and Caeden Bankier on the fourth line.
Heidt, 19, made the decision to be sent back to the WHL pretty easy. His offensive skills and vision may be there but other parts of his game still need to grow. The Wild could've elected to keep him for a nine-game trial in the NHL before his entry-level contract kicked in but they have decided not to.
Because he is 19 years old, he has to go back to Juniors and not the American Hockey League (AHL).
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