By Bryan Reynolds -
Each year, the Wild participate in the Traverse City prospect tournament along with a handful of other NHL teams. It's much like the Grapefruit League of hockey. Send the kids, let then stretch their legs against their fellow prospects, and possibly bring home some hardware and build some winning ways.
Are there any further diamonds in the rough? Will there be another Jared Spurgeon among the tryouts signed for the tournament? Will this tournament EVER be broadcast for hockey fans to watch?
Make the jump for the roster, the schedule, and some discussion.
Full Roster, via Glen Andresen at Wild.com:
Tryout players are in bold type.
Schedule:
Saturday, September 10
Sunday, September 11
Tuesday, September 13
Wednesday, September 14
So What?
The Traverse City tournament is something 99% of hockey fans could not care less about. It ranks up there with development camp in the importance to the average hockey fan. Caring about Traverse City is generally left for the hard core fans, those who care deeply about the prospects and understand what they mean to the future of the franchise. For that reason, we truly wish there was a way to get this tourney broadcast in the markets playing in the tournament.
Alas, the money must not make sense, for it has yet to grace my TV screen.
The names of guys like Sam Lofquist, Kris Fredheim, Dylan Busenius, Dylan Willick, Carter Sandlack, Taylor Peters, Tyler Maxwell, Alex Belzile, Mike Kramer, and Nathan Burns may not mean anything to you right now, how many of you knew who Jared Spurgeon was at this point last year?
According to our contract page, the Wild have 45 contracts on the books. That leaves them five contracts to work with, should they find a player worthy of a deal. No GM wants to pin themselves in by hitting the cap, so don't expect a windfall, but if one of these players shines, maybe they get a chance. You may also see some of them sign deals to play in Houston.
While the tournament will take place mostly out of sight and out of mind, keep an eye out for signings, and hope for further success from the kids. The more success they have at the lower levels, the more success they will want to have at the top levels.
Stay tuned here for details as we get closer, and for updates as the tourney progresses.
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