Former Gophers infiltrate the Wild roster

Zach Parise doesn't want to say the locker-room walls are closing in on him, but everywhere he looks, the former University of North Dakota star sees a Gopher.

"I'm outnumbered. Grossly outnumbered," the Wild first-liner said, kiddingly.

One person who probably doesn't mind is Don Lucia, the longtime coach at the University of Minnesota. He drove to St. Paul to watch the first two days of Wild training camp and was proud to see five ex-Gophers — three roster shoo-ins (Thomas Vanek, Keith Ballard and Erik Haula) and two vying for jobs (Stu Bickel and Jordan Schroeder).

"It seems they're more open to college guys than maybe they were years ago," Lucia said. "You know, different philosophies for different regimes. It's nice to see our former players, but it's nice to see so many former college guys out there, too."

Fair or not, there was a perception that the previous Wild regime wasn't a fan of the college player. But since Chuck Fletcher became GM in 2009, he has put more of a focus on U.S.-born and college players, adding several scouts to get more viewings.

Of the 65 players the Wild has rights to, 24 played college hockey, including 14 drafted by the Wild and 10 others either signed (from Parise and Ryan Suter to Justin Fontaine and Christian Folin) or traded for (Charlie Coyle).

The Wild has created a strong relationship with the state's college programs. In recent weeks, Mike Yeo's coaching staff has met with Lucia and his staff, as well as University of Minnesota Duluth coach Scott Sandelin. Yeo plans to meet with St. Cloud State's Bob Motzko and last season met with Gophers women's coach Brad Frost.

Lucia and the others have open invitations to come to Xcel Energy Center to watch Wild practices. Friday and Saturday, Lucia sat in the stands jotting down notes.

"How lucky am I that we have all these Division I colleges here," Yeo said. "When we meet this is not a one-sided conversation. They come in and see and hear some of things we're doing, but at the same time, it's an opportunity for us to bounce everything off of them.

"These are resources that I'm very lucky to have. It's been a great experience. Meeting with Don and his staff and just knowing the success they've had and following their program, as great as it is that he can be here, it's even better for us."

Ballard, 31, a proud Gopher through and through, won two national championships at the U. Vanek won one. All five of the Wild's ex-Gophers, like most of the school's NHL alumni, train at Mariucci Arena in the offseason.

"I'm really proud of Erik," Lucia said of Haula, 23, his leading scorer in 2011-12 and 2012-13. "I watched him last year and as I watch him even on the first day of training camp, he has really worked himself into position. I'm not surprised, but I keep hearing how surprised everybody else is.

"But I saw everyday how competitive and what a complete player he is."

In fact, Saturday, Yeo raved about how good Haula has looked the first two days of camp. Lucia is also convinced Vanek, who signed a three-year contract July 1, will solidify the Wild's top-six forwards.

"He's got things you can't teach," Lucia said of Vanek, 30, his leading scorer in 2002-03 and 2003-04. "He can just score and make those little plays in tight. Bottom line, he can put the puck in the net."

Two players Lucia watched closely were Bickel and Schroeder.

Bickel, 27, a forward for most his life, moved to the blue line in the USHL. He was undrafted, so when Lucia recruited him, he figured he would have Bickel for four years. Bickel had a solid freshman year and signed with Anaheim after one in 2008.

"He was not a superstar coming up. He was a late bloomer and now brings that element of toughness and good size," Lucia said. That's exactly why Bickel has a shot to make the Wild, which doesn't exactly have a rugged blue line.

Schroeder, the former St. Thomas Academy standout taken 22nd overall by Vancouver in 2009, was hindered by injuries the past two seasons — a shoulder injury and two broken ankles. After the Canucks cut him loose in June, the Wild gave him a shot. He's fast and skilled and at the very least could be a good call-up option if he doesn't make the team.

He and Bickel feel at home with so many Gophers around.

"And funny enough, I never played with any of them," Schroeder, 23, said.

Added Bickel, "These are guys I've been working out with and playing shinny with for years. It's fun to finally be in a serious setting rather than messing around at summer skates. It's cool to actually go to battle with them."