1:25ST. LOUIS – In order to give itself roster flexibility heading into the weekend, the Wild placed forward Jake Dowell on waivers and released center David Steckel from his pro tryout Friday.
Dowell will not necessarily be assigned to Iowa of the American Hockey League if he clears Saturday, General Manager Chuck Fletcher said. It simply gives the Wild the option to send Dowell to the minors any time in the first 10 games or 30 days of the season.
Steckel's release — he is expected to sign an AHL contract with Iowa if he doesn't get an NHL job in the next few days — puts the Wild roster at 24 healthy players.
Rosters must be down to a maximum of 23 by 4 p.m. Monday. That means one more cut, whether that be Dowell or one of the youngsters on an entry-level contract. Entry-level players like Jason Zucker, Mikael Granlund and Nino Niederreiter don't have to pass through waivers to get to the minors.
"It just gives us the flexibility to make a decision now on Jake or make a decision in a few weeks or maybe we don't ever use that option and send him down," Fletcher said.
Torrey Mitchell was tripped up by St. Louis Blues defenseman Roman Polak late in Friday's 4-1 exhibition loss. The Wild will have to make certain Mitchell, who did skate off on his own power, is OK before making a subtraction.
Fletcher said Dowell's future largely rests on whatever lineup coach Mike Yeo wants to use opening night against the Los Angeles Kings and subsequent games.
If Yeo feels he wants to play rugged center Zenon Konopka, perhaps Dowell would stay as the extra 13th forward and an entry-level player starts in Iowa. If Yeo wants to go with an all-skill fourth line, the Wild likely would assign Dowell because Konopka is on a one-way contract that requires waivers.
