Liam Ohgren Has An Opportunity To Capitalize On A Strong Preseason

Last year was supposed to be a breakout year for Liam Ohgren. Entering the season, many thought he had a great chance at cracking the Minnesota Wild’s lineup, with some even believing he had the opportunity to play top-six minutes.

However, that never really materialized for Ohgren. Still, he did make some significant steps in his development. The winger had 19 goals in 41 games with the Iowa Wild. He showed enough promise between his late-season NHL play and his dominance in Iowa that he is once again a player to watch this upcoming season.

While it’s just training camp and preseason, Ohgren has made a great first impression in his second attempt to break through as an NHL player. 

Ohgren started camp by showcasing the work he’s put into his body for the season. The NHL’s official Twitter account even took notice.

He’s made significant gains in the weight room, weighing in at 202 pounds at the beginning of camp. That’s a stark increase from the 187 he was listed at last season.

Ohgren’s physical growth may be vital for the young forward. When the Wild drafted him in the first round of the 2022 draft, the Swede was vaunted for his shot, play-driving ability, and potentially having a physical presence. 

There were times last season when Ohgren seemed to have difficulty adjusting to the NHL’s size and speed. That shouldn’t be an issue this season, given Ohgren’s physical transformation.

While getting his body more ready for the NHL season is a significant first step for Ohgren, it wouldn’t really matter if he wasn’t showing strides of development on the ice. Michael Russo mentioned him as a standout of early camp practices.

Even more importantly, Ohgren is earning rave reviews from John Hynes. Minnesota’s coach has highlighted Ohgren as a player who’s been impressive in camp and is pushing hard to make the roster out of camp.

“His speed is a factor, he’s tenacious on pucks, and he’s got a great shot,” said Hynes. “He’s in fantastic shape. He has a better idea of how we want to do things. And he’s playing with that tenacity and the mindset that he wants to come in and earn a job.

“He’s using his greatest assets. Like, he’s shooting to score. He’s bearing down. He’s got a second effort on pucks. His speed is a factor.”

Ohgren has shown promise while building chemistry with two veteran players who should be vital to the Wild’s success this season. Ohgren has primarily played and practiced alongside Joel Eriksson Ek and Vladimir Tarasenko. 

The trio has dominated Minnesota’s camp, with Tarasenko scoring four goals and two assists in two scrimmage wins. 

While Eriksson Ek and Tarasenko are undoubtedly the two more experienced components of the line, Ohgren isn’t a passenger. He has shown a willingness to use his impressive shot and drive play for the line, which is an encouraging development, given that there were times last season when he deferred to his more experienced teammates.

The Wild wants Ohgren to be a bit more assertive with the puck. He’s fast, physical, and has a great shot with the potential to score like a top-six forward for the organization. When Ohgren is using his best assets, good things happen on the ice.

Settling in with Eriksson Ek and Tarasenko has also been a crucial experience for Ohgren. Tarasenko expressed that he has taken advantage of the opportunity to learn from his veteran linemates.

“He’s a great kid,” Tarasenko said. “It’s nice to know the new younger guys who are willing to listen, and we’ve had a chance to communicate a little. He’ll catch it up right away. I would say it’s always a pleasure — I was young once, too — to see the younger guys who come and are willing to work hard and also learn.”

Ohgren is well on his way to having an impressive camp. Still, he’ll need to find a place on the roster if he hopes to make an impact on the team in his rookie year. He should have every opportunity to do so with a key injury in the team’s top six.

Bill Guerin recently announced Mats Zuccarello would be out “a little while” and could miss the start of the season. While it is unfortunate to see Zuccarello dealing with injury issues, it could give Ohgren just the opportunity he needs to play a significant role from the start of the season.

Zuccarello usually plays opposite Kirill Kaprizov. However, with Zuccarello out, Kaprizov will probably play with Matt Boldy on the first line. 

If the Wild enter the season with a first line that pairs Kaprizov and Boldy, they may want to see if the line of Eriksson Ek, Tarasenko, and Ohgren can carry their training camp chemistry into the regular season. 

That would leave Minnesota with a top six of Kaprizov-Rossi-Boldy and Ohgren-Eriksson Ek-Tarasenko. That would be a massive opportunity for Ohgren to prove that his eventful training camp is more than just a good preseason.

Minnesota is counting on Ohgren to be an impact player. Many thought he might take significant steps last season. While he did develop, it probably didn’t go the way most had hoped. This season will be a crucial year for his path in the organization. If the start of training camp is any indication, he’s doing all the right things to make the most of his opportunity.