Usually Doug Risebrough skips the Wild's summer prospect camp because he doesn't want his team's youngsters to feel their performance is being scrutinized as an end-all, be-all.
But this summer is different.
When the weeklong camp opens this morning at Xcel Energy Center, the Wild general manager plans to be front and center.
The first reason, and maybe the most important, is to sit down with 2006 first-round pick James Sheppard and let him in on the Wild's development plans, specifically the fact the team is hoping the talented 19-year-old proves during September's training camp that he's ready for the promotion from junior hockey to the NHL.
The second reason is to continue the kick in the rear Risebrough gave prospects Benoit Pouliot, Roman Voloshenko, Peter Olvecky and Clayton Stoner during April meetings. The four players, highly regarded a year ago by the organization, are coming off lackluster seasons for the most lackluster team in the American Hockey League's Western Conference last season, the Houston Aeros.
"This is the first time I'll have a chance to talk face-to-face with [Sheppard] and let him know where we think he's at and see where he thinks he's at," Risebrough said. "We wouldn't consider putting him in the NHL if we didn't think it would accelerate his development, similar to say [Pierre-Marc] Bouchard, but I want to make sure James is comfortable with that.
"I also want to be there because there are a lot of players who had disappointing seasons last year and I want to make sure they know that I'm still watching them so they get on a better track. There are a lot of new faces, too, and I want to see players like [Petr] Kalus [acquired from Boston for Manny Fernandez]."
As for Sheppard -- who scored 33 goals and 96 points last season for Cape Breton and was third in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with a plus-39 -- he has heard all the talk about his opportunity to make the team.
But he's taking nothing for granted.
"I don't want to read too much into the talk," Sheppard said. "I know that when it comes down to it, it's up to me to show what I have. My main mind-set is it's in my hands and whatever I do will shape the rest of the year.
"They're not just going to put me on the team. I have to produce in camp and prove I belong."
But according to Risebrough, the evaluation won't start this week. If for some reason the 6-2, 204-pound Sheppard doesn't perform well these next seven days, it won't hinder his chances when training camp begins.
"He's got big-time size and skating, and there's a calm and composedness about him," Risebrough said. "There's a maturity, but I know training camp will be the big thing. ... He's going to practice with [Marian] Gaborik and [Pavol] Demitra, and that's when his skating and skill will shine.
"We know if he can play a certain number of games in the NHL, he'll be better for it. We're not offering this to everybody."
Of course, Sheppard got a chance to practice with Gaborik and Demitra last fall after missing much of training camp and the early part of Cape Breton's season because of a back injury. Sheppard rehabbed in Minnesota, and that gave him invaluable experience.
"It's a different lifestyle on and off the ice, so just to hang out and be around the rink and practice with the team really opened my eyes up to what the atmosphere is like in the NHL," Sheppard said.
Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com
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