In midsummer, Sheppard has hockey on the brain

If the Wild's James Sheppard had his way, the 2008-09 NHL season would begin tonight.

Forget the rest of the summer, forget training camp.

Bring on Sheppard's sophomore campaign. He's ready to strap on the skates for real.

"I can't even tell you how much I'm raring to go," said Sheppard, in town for the Wild's development camp. "Ever since I started training, I've been feeling strong and I'm just excited to go.

"I'm more comfortable, I know what to expect now, and I know I can do more. I want to and know I can take charge out there."

And, boy, the Wild will need Sheppard to take charge.

A lot can change between now and training camp, but the way it stands now, Sheppard -- at age 20 -- is arguably No. 2 on the Wild's ultra-thin center depth chart.

Sheppard, who scored four goals and 19 points in 78 games (a Wild rookie record) last season, lands right after Mikko Koivu and right before Eric Belanger and 21-year-old rookie Benoit Pouliot.

Again, Sheppard's mature and confident, but he's 20.

"I can handle it, but it's not going to come in one year," Sheppard said.

"Next year I'm not going to have the best year of my career. It's going to come in little increments. I'm not going to try to be better than Mikko Koivu. I'm not going to try to be better than Marian Gaborik.

"But I'm going to try the best I can to improve and take charge, and I know that's going to create more goals, create more assists and get my ice time up."

Sheppard was impressive in a number of areas last season, most notably along the walls in both zones. He's smart and does subtle things while battling that often result with the Wild coming away with the puck.

Next step? Scoring more, "which I know I can do now that I'm no longer timid," Sheppard said.

There's a reason Sheppard is the most common name Doug Risebrough hears when fellow GMs call to talk trade. Risebrough has refused to part with Sheppard, most publicly to Florida when the Panthers wanted him in a package for Olli Jokinen.

"It definitely gives you that warm feeling that you're part of the team and they believe in you," Sheppard said. "It's good that people want you, but it's good that you're staying here. I'm glad that people like my style of play and want me, but I'm happy in Minnesota and this is where I want to stay. Hopefully, Doug still keeps that in his mind the next several years."

It's been a difficult summer for Sheppard. In May, his friend Luc Bourdon, a Vancouver Canucks defenseman who was Sheppard's junior teammate at Cape Breton, died in a motorcycle accident.

It hit Sheppard hard.

"As a friend or teammate, he'd do everything for you," said Sheppard, who attended Bourdon's funeral in Shippagan, New Brunswick. "It's definitely sad and makes you remember to appreciate what you've got."

Back in his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Sheppard is living with two buddies, but he's essentially on his own for the first time. He's contemplating moving out of former Wild center Darby Hendrickson's house when he returns to Minnesota.

"It's just growing up," Sheppard said. "I think I'm ready to get a place on my own and get the challenge of getting groceries and making my own meals and doing the ironing and the laundry and the cleaning and kind of fending for myself."

He also might be persuaded into changing his number. His No. 15 (due to his shoe size) once belonged to Andrew Brunette, and now that Brunette is back with the Wild, Sheppard knows that conversation's probably on the horizon.

"I imagine I'll talk to Bruno," Sheppard said, laughing. "I don't know how it works. I don't know who trumps the other guy, but I'm sure there won't be any hard feelings if I have to give it up."