Wild Beginning To Shape Opening Roster

That's Wild

• It doesn't mean a whole lot right now -- since the Minnesota Wild already have an established NHL group -- but they cut their training camp roster size down to 39 players over the weekend. They sent loads of interesting prospects down to Iowa in the move. [NHL.com]
• On Sunday, the Wild lost 4-2 to the Dallas Stars to go an even .500 in preseason action. The result didn't mean much since Minnesota's roster was fairly young and certainly not the final roster, but there were some takeaways. [Sportskeeda]
• The Wild are growing fond of their own "grape dealer" in Jakub Lauko. [Pioneer Press]
• Matt Boldy might be out for the first little bit of the season, so who will step up in his absence? [Hockey Wilderness]

Off the trail...

• The NHL fined Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj a few thousand bucks for unsportsmanlike conduct after jumping a player in retaliation for injuring teammate Patrik Laine. [Sportsnet]
• World-ranked players of NHL 94 are ready for another round of 16-bit glory as the "King of 94" tournament begins in Toronto. [CBC]
• Jakob Markstrom certainly has something to prove after being the New Jersey Devils' top acquisition in the offseason and the player that can make or break their season. [NHL.com]