HALLETT: Wild Make Major Cuts, Hint At Final Roster Outlook

Written By Nicolas Hallett

The 2014-15 NHL regular season is nearing and as a result roster transactions continue in earnest around the league as all 30 teams edge towards the final 23-man roster restriction for opening night.

The Minnesota Wild made big strides in this regard on Friday when they trimmed the squad to 27 players.

Defensemen Jonathon Blum, Justin Falk and Gustav Olofsson and forwards Tyler Graovac, Michael Keranen, Zack Phillips and Joel Rechlicz were all sent down to the minors and will join the Iowa Wild, while Curt Gogol and Brett Sutter were placed on waivers.

The biggest names on that list are Olofsson, Keranen and Phillips. Olofsson is a larger, lanky defenseman with NHL-ready composure, according to head coach Mike Yeo. At age 19 he’s not quite ready to contribute to the big league team but his career trajectory suggests you’ll see him playing regularly in St. Paul in the near term.

Phillips’ story is in direct contrast to Olofsson. The former first-round pick in 2011 seems to be running out of time. His contract runs out after next season and is going to his third year with the Wild organization. Yeo has had some words of encouragement regarding the 21-year-old Phillips’ play during training camp recently, but his actions speak louder than words. Phillips’ numbers also show he hasn’t been lighting the American Hockey League on fire offensively, which most impact players usually do before playing a major role in the NHL.

Keranen is an exciting Finnish prospect in the creative mold of his countrymen and Wild counterparts Mikael Granlund and Mikko Koivu. Last year he had 52 points in 52 games in the Finnish Elite League. His future appears bright, as he showed brilliant flashes during his brief time during training camp and preseason play. It’ll be interesting to see his numbers at the end of the AHL season.

What’s more noteworthy is the players that remain in St. Paul at present. Because the Wild’s remaining 27 players include suspended Josh Harding and Ilya Bryzgalov, the latter who is on a tryout basis, as well as Justin Fontaine, who will start the season on injured reserve, meaning none will count against the final roster, it seems only one cut remains among the team’s bubble players.

Surviving the ax on Friday were forwards Jason Zucker, Stephane Veilleux, Cody Almond and defensemen Matt Dumba, Christian Folin and Stu Bickel.

Predicting the bottom of the roster can sometimes be like pulling teeth. But looking at the above list, the decision for Yeo and co. appears to be clear-cut from a talent and logistical perspective: drop Veilleux.

Veilleux is a journeyman who has frequented the path between the minors and the NHL throughout his 11-year career. Bickel wouldn’t be a bad choice either. The 28-year-old Chanhassen native’s primary preseason contribution was to start fights. You know what you’re getting from both of these guys and neither represents dynamic skill (see: role players).

But apparently Yeo sees the 6-foot-4 Bickel’s role as the team’s enforcer, valuing it so much that he’s willing to play him on the wing even though he’s a defender by trade.

Folin and Dumba are unquestionably the most talented of the three defensemen on the chopping block. But what could alter this is how the Wild feel is the best way to develop both of these young defensemen. If both make the squad their minutes could be severely limited, whether that be sitting on the bench or being scratched, which could be detrimental to their career arc at this point.

“They’re making it tough,” Yeo told the Star Tribune’s Michael Russo. “It’s not like one guy’s pulled ahead from the other. It’s not like both guys are not playing well. Both guys have made a case to be not only one of our top six but both of them are making us think, ‘Do we need to put both these guys in the lineup?’”

The Wild claimed Nate Prosser off waivers Thursday, too, complicating matters. Based off of Yeo’s comments, it’s clear he’s being brought in because he’s familiar with the squad and could be inserted at a moment’s notice if need be. To me, this is a sign Dumba, 20, could be dropped to Iowa and allowed more time to develop, but we’ll see. The exciting former first-round pick saw playing time with the top power play unit during preseason, and not only did he look comfortable, but he impressed.

At 23 years old, Folin’s time is now, and he appears ready. His passing is crisp, his shot is thunderous and his size is what the Wild need amongst its relatively diminutive defense corps.

“I just try to show up every day like I’m in the NHL right now,” Folin told the Star Tribune. “I mean, why not enjoy it?”

Zucker is a fan-favorite and has offensive upside that could see him vault into the Top 6 at the peak of his powers, though consistent performance at that level is what we’ve yet to see from him. Almond is a big body who has returned for his second stint with the Wild with a new offensive edge after playing professionally in Switzerland.

Yeo’s got some decisions to make and we’ll see them soon enough when the Wild host the Colorado Avalanche for the season opener on Oct. 9 at the Xcel Energy Center.

Based on who goes and who stays, we will all get a clearer glimpse into what style Yeo’s going to play this season and, more importantly, how he rates the fringe players at his disposal.