Wild: Sheppard can expect to see more playing time

The 19-year-old rookie will start playing on the top two lines, Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said.

By Michael Russo, Star Tribune

Last update: November 1, 2007 - 11:49 PM

Get ready to see a lot more of rookie James Sheppard.

Wild coach Jacques Lemaire's plan is to spot the 19-year-old on the first two lines and deploy him on the left wing, two strategies that could allow the Wild to get more out of Sheppard offensively.

"You look at [Chicago rookie Patrick] Kane [seventh in the NHL with 16 points], and all these kids, they come in and start to get a couple points and then they feel good, and then they play on one of the top two lines, and they feel better and get more points," Lemaire said. "I feel Sheppard could do that. I could see him just taking off now."

Like Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra, who were centers before coming to the Wild, Sheppard will play left wing because there's not such a defensive responsibility.

"I've played center all my life, but playing center here is a lot different than last year in junior where I was always down low, working with the puck, forechecking and 1-on-1 battles, which is what I like to do," Sheppard said. "Playing the wing here, that'll be a boost [offensively]. I like playing offense."

Also, if Sheppard continued to play solely on the fourth line, he'd play mostly against top offensive players.

"You can play a kid and he's in a bad situation, like he's playing against guys that are too good, so he'll never feel good about himself because he'll be second all the time," Lemaire said. "You have to give him a chance to be first, to be better than the other guys. That's how you get confidence.

"It's not that he's not capable. He's capable. But I want him to have success. He could play there, but he's going to feel like he's a checker. He'll stay back, not want to get caught. I want to give him a chance to try to do more."

First punches

Sheppard had his first NHL fight Tuesday against Adam Hall, the former Wild player now with Pittsburgh. Sheppard's had one junior fight with Halifax's James Pouliot.

"I'm on pace for a lot more," Sheppard said, laughing. "I was never much of a fighter or a hater, but sometimes you can get angry. I knew I high-sticked [Hall]. I don't want to be a guy who gives a high stick or a big body check and then just skates away from a battle."

Etc.

• Wild center Wes Walz has been excused for "two to three days" to tend to a personal matter, assistant GM Tom Lynn said.

Benoit Pouliot, the fourth overall pick from 2005, was recalled and played in Thursday's 3-2 loss to St. Louis. He had no goals and two assists in seven games for AHL Houston.

Wingers Marian Gaborik and Demitra (groins) returned to the lineup, while goalie Niklas Backstrom (groin) backed up Josh Harding.

"I still could feel it a little bit, but I think it's going in the right direction," Gaborik said after the Wild's 3-2 loss Thursday.

Goalie Nolan Schaefer and right wing Cal Clutterbuck were returned to Houston. Clutterbuck, 19, had four hits against Pittsburgh. Lemaire said, "He might turn out to be a real good player."

• Rolston, who wore the captain's C the past four games in October with Demitra out, was named November's captain. Mikko Koivu and Nick Schultz will wear the alternate captains' A. This is the fifth month in Rolston's Wild career that he's worn the C, two fewer than record-holder Brad Bombardir.

• Kim Johnsson (bruised leg) was replaced by Keith Carney.

Michael Russo • mrusso@startribune.com