With rosters having to be submitted to the NHL by Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT, the Wild has trimmed its roster to 25 players today -- two more than the maximum
Zac Dalpe was reassigned (maybe temporarily if Erik Haula can't start the season) to Iowa and defenseman Tyson Strachan and right wing Brett Bulmer were placed on waivers for the purpose of assigning to Iowa. I'd be shocked if both don't clear, but of course, I figured the Wild wouldn't keep a first-year pro in Mike Reilly if he's not initially playing.
But as GM Chuck Fletcher, who usually wants kids to play, reminded yesterday, "We did last year with [Matt] Dumba and [Christian] Folin at times where we had those players with the NHL roster. They weren't playing every night, but they were learning and watching and practicing, and then at times they needed the game reps [and were sent to Iowa]."
So we'll see how long Reilly lasts if the Wild doesn't have injuries in the top-6. Remember, too, the Wild has two games in the first three days and then has four days off before a three-game road trip. So today's roster may not be next week's roster.
The roster is at 25, but it's really 24 because Justin Fontaine is expected to start on injured reserve.
If Haula or Jordan Schroeder start on IR, the Wild could have its opening-night roster right now. None of the above three is practicing now.
If Haula starts on IR and the Wild doesn't recall Dalpe, Ryan Carter could play center. If Haula and Schroeder both start on IR, the Wild will either need to recall a forward or maybe play Prosser at wing.
Here's the roster as of now.
