Meet and greet ...

At first glance the only change you might notice with the Wild are the new sweaters. Each of the top five scorers from 2006-07 -- and nine of the top 10 -- are back. Expectations, so high last season, remain aloft. But look closer. There is a small infusion of youth. There is a dash of veteran toughness. There is youth waiting to be served, a center about ready to draw attention and a winger who learned that coming home wasn't as easy as he thought it would be. Consider this cross-section of the 2007-08 Wild.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD

YOUNG GUN Ø JAMES SHEPPARD

Rookie will watch and learn

A year ago the only way James Sheppard was going to give a pass to, say, Brian Rolston was by turning on his video game. Now the 19-year-old is the newest -- and youngest -- member of the Wild. Get ready for an education.

"This is a learning experience, and I know it," said Sheppard, a 6-1, 204-pound center who is about to work the same career path as Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Brent Burns did before him. What does that mean? A lot of work in practice along with the occasional game. Sheppard will work all the time and watch a lot of the time. But don't worry.

"Sitting on the bench won't hurt me," he said. "I'll progress. Practicing with these guys will help me. No matter how many games I play, just being here will help me."

He already has learned the most crucial thing: He belongs. "I'm getting more confidence every day," he said. "Last year I watched these guys on TV. I realize they're great players, but they're human. I keep that in mind, I'll do OK."

Until then, lots to learn.

OLD HAND Ø SEAN HILL

When his suspension ends, he'll be ready

It took Sean Hill 15 years to come home. But the next 19 games will seem longer. That's when the Duluth native will be serving a suspension for testing positive for the steroid boldenone. He won't be eligible to play until Nov. 18.

"I've been preparing myself for it ever since the ruling came down," Hill said. "There will be some tough days, long days."

Hill, 37, is here to add toughness to the Wild blue line, a weakness that was exposed in the Wild's playoff loss to Anaheim.

Physical play? "It comes natural to me," the 6-4, 204-pounder said. "That's the way I've always had to play, it's just what I do. I need to play a physical game to be effective."

And when mid-November arrives and he's back in the lineup, Hill will be out there delivering big hits and, hopefully, big shots. "I'm excited about this team," he said. "And I'm excited about blending in and becoming a part of it."

NEW TRICKS Ø MARK PARRISH

Learning from home

Bloomington native Mark Parrish had seven NHL seasons under his belt when he came back to Minnesota last year to play for the Wild. One year later, he can't believe how much he had to learn.

His lesson? "I learned a lot about myself, about the game of hockey. I really learned how much it takes to be successful."

Last season, Parrish scored 19 goals, the second-lowest total of his career. But he might have emerged from the season as a more complete player. Parrish had built a reputation as a goal-scorer. He came to Minnesota and built a two-way game. Parrish thanks Wild coach Jacques Lemaire for much of it.

"Some coaches just pigeonhole you and you play your role and that's all that's expected of you," Parrish said. "You can't do that here. And you can't do that if you're a team expecting to win a Stanley Cup."

A BIG OPPORTUNITY Ø ERIC BELANGER

Clicking with new linemates

It has happened once before -- late last season, after Eric Belanger had landed, via trade, in Atlanta. He got hooked up with some high power -- wingers Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov -- and things just clicked.

He heard the same sound early in training camp this fall, when the center settled in between Brian Rolston and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. "It happens quickly," Belanger said. "When you click with a line, you sense it."

Fans saw it. In one exhibition game -- a 7-0 victory over St. Louis -- the Belanger line combined for nine points. Much was made at different times the past two seasons of the chemistry Todd White had centered Bouchard and Rolston. It appears the new line could be even better.

"First of all, it's his speed," Bouchard said of Belanger, who has totaled 37 and 35 points the past two seasons. "He's good all over the ice. But the most important thing is his ability to read and react."

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Ø DOMINIC MOORE

Newcomer works his way into the lineup

Dominic Moore came to the Wild via trade last February and didn't get much past an introduction with Wild coach Jacques Lemaire.

But one solid camp has Lemaire singing Moore's praises. The center will start the season on the fourth line, but he is hoping to continue to earn more opportunities.

"He's been having his best training camp," Lemaire said. "He's in shape, just great shape, shape I haven't seen in the past. He's skating well."

Moore will be asked to concentrate on defense initially. His speed, rugged build and hard-nose attitude make him well-suited for this. But he's hoping more responsibility will come once he and Lemaire become even better-acquainted.

"In college [at Harvard] I was an offensive player who played sound defensively," Moore said. "In the pros I've had to sort of play more of a defensive role. But I think I can bring offense as well, make plays at both ends of the rink."