Wild training camp observations: Is the final roster becoming clearer after Monday’s cuts?

The Wild are getting closer to finalizing their opening-night roster after announcing their largest round of cuts at training camp on Monday.

They still have decisions to make, and a few statuses are up in the air because of injuries, but the lineup they’ll ice for the season opener Oct. 9 at St. Louis should become clearer as they wrap up their preseason schedule this week.

Only 31 players remain in camp after the latest exodus shored up the Wild’s minor league team.

Forwards Caedan Bankier and Rasmus Kumpulainen, defensemen Carson Lambos and David Spacek, and goalies Samuel Hlavaj and Riley Mercer were sent to Iowa in the American Hockey League. Forwards Nicolas Aube-Kubel and Ben Jones, defensemen Ben Gleason and Matt Kiersted went on waivers to get assigned to Iowa, and defenseman Wyatt Newpower was released from his tryout; he will report to Iowa training camp, which opened Monday.

Like Jones a year earlier, Aube-Kubel, Gleason and Kiersted were among the Wild’s offseason depth signings, and they all will be call-up options if the Wild get depleted.

This will be Kumpulainen’s first AHL season after he played professionally in Finland.

Bankier and Spacek are returning for their third seasons with Iowa; same with Lambos, who had a solid showing at camp. A first-round pick in 2021, Lambos did join the Wild briefly last season but never made his NHL debut. That opportunity, though, looks closer than ever.

Veteran winger Mats Zuccarello won’t be ready for the start of the season because of an undisclosed injury that’s sidelined him all of training camp.

As for defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Nico Sturm, their returns are “moving targets,” coach John Hynes said.

Brodin, who’s been recovering from offseason surgery, participated in his first full practice Sunday after being limited and not taking contact at the beginning of camp. Sturm (back) also skated Sunday after staying off the ice for a few days.

Kirill Kaprizov didn’t practice Saturday due to an eye infection.

The winger has appeared in only one preseason game, but more Wild veterans will be in action for their final two preseason matchups starting Tuesday vs. Winnipeg at Grand Casino Arena.

Aside from their regulars, the Wild have a handful of hopefuls still here, particularly at forward.

Tyler Pitlick, Brett Leason and Hunter Haight have stuck around; Pitlick signed a two-way contract in the summer, Leason is in camp on a tryout and Haight is a prospect coming off a 20-goal debut in the AHL.

In three preseason games, Haight has two goals, with his second coming Sunday vs. the Blackhawks, and his performance is why he continues to contend.

“That’s why I’m here is to try and find a roster spot and every day try and get better,” Haight said. “I think I’ve progressed throughout this camp.”

Vinnie Hinostroza, the forward who was a waiver-wire pickup last February, has played in every preseason contest, and veteran defenseman Jack Johnson is at camp on a tryout. Johnson’s situation could depend on how Brodin progresses, and the Wild are also gauging younger defensemen Zeev Buium and David Jiricek as well as rookie forwards Danila Yurov and Liam Ohgren.

But when it comes to their youth, the Wild won’t rush their development.