Wild season preview: Roster overhaul heightens need to jell quickly

The 2020-21 season is scheduled to begin Jan. 13. With training camps underway, NHL.com is taking a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster questions, and the projected lines for each of the 31 teams. Today, the Minnesota Wild, who will play in the West Division.

Coach: Dean Evason (second season)
Last season:35-27-7 (.558 points percentage); 10th place in Western Conference, lost to Vancouver Canucks in Stanley Cup Qualifiers

3 KEYS

1. Integrate new players quickly
After a busy offseason, the Wild have several new players to work into their lineup, including forwards Marcus Johansson (trade with Buffalo Sabres), Nick Bonino (trade with Nashville Predators), Nick Bjugstad (trade with Pittsburgh Penguins) and Kirill Kaprizov (rookie), and goalie Cam Talbot (signed as unrestricted free agent). That will be a challenge during a truncated first training camp under Evason, who replaced Bruce Boudreau as coach Feb. 14, 2020, without the benefit of preseason games. The Wild hope the two game-day simulations they have planned, featuring morning skates and scrimmages at Xcel Energy Center at night, will be helpful. New leadership on the ice will help integrate the new players: Defenseman Jared Spurgeon, entering his 11th season with Minnesota, was named captain Jan. 3, replacing forward Mikko Koivu, who signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 10.
2. Center by committee
Trading Eric Staal to the Sabres for Johansson left the Wild without a true first-line center, so they'll try to utilize their depth down the middle and quality wings to compensate. Johansson will probably get the first crack at center on the top line, though the 30-year-old played wing for most of his first 10 NHL seasons. Minnesota's other center options include Bonino, Bjugstad, Joel Eriksson Ek, Victor Rask, Nico Sturm and possibly rookie Marco Rossi, the No. 9 pick of the 2020 NHL Draft, after the 19-year-old returns from representing Austria at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship.
3. Play of Talbot
Minnesota signed Talbot to a three-year contract Oct. 9 planning for him to be its No. 1 goalie after trading longtime starter Devan Dubnyk to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 5. The 33-year-old should be ready for a heavier workload this season after going 12-10-1 with a 2.63 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and two shutouts in 26 games (22 starts) with the Calgary Flames last season. With Alex Stalock recovering from an upper-body injury, rookie Kaapo Kahkonen likely will begin the season as the backup, placing more importance on Talbot playing up to his contract.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut
In addition to deciding whether Rossi will make the roster, the Wild likely will need to replace forward Mats Zuccarello on the second line to begin the season after he had surgery on his right arm in November. Jordan Greenway probably will get the first look, but Bjugstad also is a possibility for the top-six spot. Zuccarello's absence would mean Sturm likely will be in the opening night lineup. Veterans Brad Hunt and Greg Pateryn will compete to play on the right side on the third defense pair with Carson Soucy.
Most intriguing addition
Kaprizov, a fifth-round pick (No. 135) in the 2015 NHL Draft, led the Kontinental Hockey League in goals the past two seasons with CSKA Moscow, scoring 30 in 57 games in 2018-19 and 33 in 57 games last season. The Wild have been eager to see what the 23-year-old can do in the NHL. He signed a two-year, entry-level contract July 13 but was ineligible to play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. He's expected to slot into one of their top two lines and play on the first power-play unit.
Biggest potential surprise
Rossi probable won't have much time in training camp after returning from the World Juniors, so he'll have to make a quick impression to make the team. Rossi led the Canadian Hockey League last season with 120 points (39 goals, 81 assists) in 56 games for Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League and has the potential to be the Wild's No. 1 center of the future. Minnesota will have to decide whether to keep him to start the NHL season or return him to Zurich in Switzerland's National League, where he was loaned before leaving for the WJC.

Ready to break through
Kahkonen, a fourth-round pick (No. 109) in the 2014 NHL Draft, was expected to battle Stalock for playing time behind Talbot before Stalock was injured and will get more of an opportunity now. The 24-year-old played well in five games with the Wild last season, going 3-1-1 with a 2.96 GAA and .913 save percentage. He was 25-6-3 with a 2.07 GAA, a .927 save percentage and a league-leading seven shutouts in 34 games with Iowa of the American Hockey League.
Fantasy sleeper
Talbot (average draft position: 182.2) is expected to be the Wild's No. 1 goalie option after they traded Dubnyk and with Stalock missing some time. Talbot shared starts with David Rittich with the Flames last season and emerged as Calgary's No. 1 goalie in the postseason, where he was 5-4 with a 2.42 GAA, .924 save percentage and two shutouts in 10 games. He should have plenty of goal support with the Wild, who have intriguing young forwards Kevin Fiala and Kaprizov. Talbot also brings security playing behind one of the deepest defenses in the NHL and is worth drafting among the top 175 overall players. -- Rob Reese
Projected lineup
Zach Parise -- Marcus Johansson -- Kevin Fiala
Jordan Greenway -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Kirill Kaprizov
Marcus Foligno -- Nick Bonino -- Nick Bjugstad
Nico Sturm -- Victor Rask -- Ryan Hartman
Ryan Suter -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Mathew Dumba
Carson Soucy -- Brad Hunt
Cam Talbot
Kaapo Kahkonen