By Aaron Heckmann -
Liam Ohgren showed promise during his audition late last season, taking a major step toward his NHL future. The 20-year-old left winger recorded two points in his four-game stint with the Minnesota Wild in April, including his first NHL goal in San Jose.
Ohgren made an impact and held his own. Most importantly, he looked ready for the NHL. Ohgren earned a job out of training camp this fall, but it was short-lived. The Wild reassigned him to AHL Iowa on October 31 after he went pointless in seven games.
The silver lining for Ohgren is that he can take a page out of Marco Rossi’s book.
The Wild’s strong start this season and relative health up front were bigger factors in the demotion than Ohgren’s play or lack of points. Had Ohgren produced, he may have kept his spot on the roster. However, that would have been difficult. He was stuck on the fourth line and averaged a team-low 9 minutes and 33 minutes.
So the Wild had to prioritize Ohgren’s development by sending him to Des Moines, where he would get more ice time and responsibility. Iowa can deploy him in their top six, which he wouldn’t get in Minnesota. Having Ohgren marinate in AHL Iowa is better for his development and confidence. And it’s much better than getting minimal ice time on the fourth line or getting healthy-scratched in Minnesota.
Ohgren has an opportunity to follow Rossi’s footsteps and blueprint. Remember, the Wild sent Rossi down to Des Moines in his rookie season in 2022-23 after he only had one point in 19 games. The circumstances surrounding their demotions were different. Ohgren’s demotion had more to do with the Wild’s strong start and health, while Rossi needed more time. Still, the point stands.
Rossi established himself in Iowa and broke out last season with the Wild, scoring 21 goals and 40 points. Now, Rossi is flourishing in the NHL, centering the Wild’s top line with young superstar Kirill Kaprizov on his left and ageless veteran Mats Zuccarello on his right.
Ohgren can follow Rossi's path and prepare for an NHL role later this season or the 2025-26 campaign. So far, so good for Ohgren, who has four goals in four games and is getting valuable experience in Des Moines. Ohgren played well in Rockford, Ill., last week, scoring a hat trick and recording five shots.
Despite having only played four games, Ohgren is second to Hunter Haight (5) for the team lead in goals. Ohgren’s arrival has been a huge boost for a struggling and goal-deprived Iowa team that is finally starting to move in the right direction after starting 0-6-1 this season. Iowa is 4-1 in its past five games and 3-1 since Ohgren joined the team.
Ohgren can learn valuable lessons during this time. For example, Rossi established a shooter’s mindset, which he has benefited from in the NHL. Doing so helped him hit the 20-goal mark last season, where he finished sixth in Calder Trophy voting.
With Michael Milne coming up and down right now to serve as an extra forward, it’s clear that the Wild plans to keep Ohgren in Iowa for now. However, that could change later this season. That is not an indication of the Wild’s opinion of him. A seven-game stretch in a fourth-line role at age 20 means very little. Ohgren’s talent is evident, and there shouldn’t be any concerns about his lack of production in those seven games this season. The Wild are high on him.
“There’s a maturity to (Ohgren's) game,” former Iowa GM and now Wild Assistant General Manager Mike Murray told me in April.
“He’s a responsible 200-foot player. He’s strong on the walls. And the two things that really define his game are his explosive skating — his first step is just as explosive as I’ve seen, very strong skater — and then his shot is second to none. He has an NHL-caliber shot already. So he has defining skill sets that will put him in position to be a successful NHL player for a long time.”
Wild coach John Hynes also praised Ohgren toward the end of last season.
“Liam has made a strong case for himself,” Hynes said. “His speed and pace is NHL. He’s got good strength to him when you look at him in the competitive battles of the game. He’s got a power play element to him, and he seems like he’s getting more and more comfortable in a short period of time.”
While Ohgren could join the Wild later this season, he’s in the best spot for his development. He can use this experience to gain more confidence and puck touches while having a larger responsibility and more ice time, as Rossi did two seasons ago.
Think you could write a story like this? Hockey Wilderness wants you to develop your voice, find an audience, and we'll pay you to do it. Just fill out this form.
-
2
.thumb.jpg.135f23d814d3c2e3085010a40dc8bd0a.jpg)
Recommended Comments
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.