Cuts made; more likely after Monday

The Wild's training camp roster is dwindling.

By Kent Youngblood

Last update: September 22, 2007 - 9:18 PM

The Wild's training camp roster is dwindling.

After Friday's preseason game in Chicago, the Wild on Saturday re-assigned winger Aaron Voros and center Serge Payer to Houston of the American Hockey League. In camp on a tryout contract, center Adrian Foster also was cut, but he could be sent to Houston for a tryout.

Time for young players to prove themselves is dwindling, too. Wild coach Jacques Lemaire made the point after a long practice Saturday. There are a lot of prospects, a few jobs, and maybe just one more opportunity: Monday against Buffalo in Grand Forks, N.D.

Benoit Pouliot certainly is feeling the pressure. He saw his first preseason action Friday, skating with Payer and Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Lemaire was unimpressed.

"The whole line wasn't as good as I thought it would be," Lemaire said. "The line wasn't clicking at all. ... You know, sometimes we're maybe a little tough. Because we would like a kid to beat people, make great plays, and skating, show a lot of stuff.

"It's hard to do that. The one that can do that, you know where they play? In the NHL."

Lemaire said Pouliot definitely would play Monday. James Sheppard and Colton Gilles could play, too.

Pouliot is aware Lemaire is closely watching.

"You have to be good at the start of camp, but then you have to get better by the time it ends," Pouliot said. "That's what I'm trying to do."

Etc.

• A day after getting the forehead above his left eye split open by a slapshot, Derek Boogaard practiced Saturday as though nothing has changed. The equipment staff did have to carve a little of the foam padding out of Boogaard's helmet so he could fit it over the swelling.

• Center Wes Walz was given the day off from practice Saturday.

Kent Youngblood • kyoungblood@startribune

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