Ohgren thinking ahead, aims to make Wild roster in 2024-25

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Forgive Liam Ohgren if his attention is focused a year into the future. Because that's when the 19-year-old forward prospect is aiming to wear a Minnesota Wild uniform and play in the NHL.

"One more year in Sweden in the SHL (Swedish Hockey League), and I hope to take even more steps," Ohgren said during Wild development camp last month. "Hopefully I'll do my best to make the team next year in Minnesota."

Selected by Minnesota with the No. 19 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, Ohgren's first season in Allsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier professional league, was delayed by injuries. Despite that, he had 20 points (11 goals, nine assists) in 36 games for Djurgardens IF and 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in 17 playoff games.

But for Ohgren (6-foot, 187 pounds), it was his defensive ability and 200-foot game he was particularly proud of.

"I think my defensive game took a huge step and also my strength on the puck in the [offensive] zone," he said. "The board game."

Ohgren had been dominant at the junior level, with 58 points (33 goals, 25 assists) with Djurgardens' under-20 team in Nationell in 2021-22.

Wild director of player development Brad Bombardir said Ohgren's entire game took a big step in his first year as a pro.

"Once he found some more confidence in his game, he was a force," Bombardir said. "I think the biggest challenge for him this year was being around the net more. We really worked on that a lot. I think at the junior level he was able to score a lot of his goals just with his shot alone. He could shoot from the outside, put pucks to the net.

"So, learning the pro game for him this year was more about being around the net, and we give him a lot of credit. He really is a fast learner and he changed his game and improved that so quickly. And I think we saw that in the second half of the season this year for him."

The plan is for Ohgren to refine that this season with Farjestad BK of the SHL.

"We can see his progression, how smart he is and how quickly he learns," Bombardir said. "We would expect him to have a very good, solid year in the SHL."

For his part, Ohgren said he's excited to prove he's ready for the NHL challenge.

"I think last season it was just getting comfortable with my game at that next level," he said. "This year I have a confidence that I think will really show, a hopefully pushes me to that next level, which I hope is the Wild."