The Wild's prospects camp is over after a second scrimmage at the X. The 42 players in camp will scatter across the country now.
But a number of them will reunite soon. Some will play for the Wild team in Traverse City (Mich.) Prospects Tournament, Sept. 10-14, against young players representing seven other teams. Some will be at coach Mike Yeo's first training camp which starts Sept. 16. Players report the day before.
"I liked the scrimmages; I thought some players really stepped it up," said new Houston Aeros coach John Torchetti, who ran the on-ice drills during the week. Torchetti also coached the White team in the camp's first scrimmage on Saturday and the Green team in Sunday's scrimmage.
"[The players] showed really great poise and overall the talent that is going to be coming through the system is really good," said Torchetti, whose Aeros are the Wild's AHL affiliate.
"I have been fortunate to been in Chicago and seen the talent. Here it is even more. And that is a great benfit to the organization for years to come. Some of these guys -- a couple might have a chance [to make the Wild] this year. They will probably be going back [to Houston] but it will definitely be a lot of fun coaching them."
Torchetti record as the bench coach in scrimmages this weekend was 0-1-1. The two camp teams tied 5-5 on Saturday. Then the Green team won the ensuing shootout in which everybody takes a turn.
On Sunday, the White team won the scrimmage 3-2, but lost 5-3 in the shootout. So, according to the scoreboard, the winner of this made-for-prospects hybrid event was the Green team 7-6.
Both scrimmages drew slightly more than 3,000 fans.