After bolstering their prospect pool at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas, then adding to their roster in free agency, the Wild will host their annual development camp this week at TRIA Rink in St. Paul, starting on Tuesday. It will be the last thing the Wild do before heading on summer vacation.

Not only is this an opportunity for prospects to learn valuable skills on the ice, it’s also an opportunity to build relationships off the ice.

More than 30 prospects are expected to make the pilgrimage to St. Paul. The journeys range from some on the verge of making the NHL roster to some getting a first taste of what the organization has to offer.

Here are a handful of players worth keeping an eye on this week:

Liam Ohgren

After a cup of coffee in the NHL with the Wild toward the end of last season, Liam Ohgren is in position to make the team out of training camp this year. He will be among the most talented players at development camp, and thus, Ohgren, 20, likely be thrust into a leadership role right off the bat. It will be interesting to see how much he stands out on the ice this week in comparison to his peers. He was selected in the first round back in 2022 NHL draft, and if he’s able to put forth a strong showing at development camp, it could give him an advantage when training camp rolls around in a couple of months.

Riley Heidt

No player in the farm system has risen up the ranks faster than Riley Heidt. After being selected in the second round of the 2023 draft, Heidt dazzled with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. He finished with 117 points (37 goals and 80 assists) in 66 games and signed his entry-level contract with the Wild toward the end of last season. Though he already has a legitimate shot to make the team out of training camp, Heidt, 19, could benefit from turning some heads this week with members of the front office looking on.

Zeev Buium

The hype surrounding Zeev Buium is palpable after he was selected in the first round of the 2024 draft. He has tremendous upside offensively and is a player who could develop into a top pair defenseman in the future. That won’t happen just yet since Buium, 18, already has made the decision to return to Denver University this fall. Nonetheless, his performance this week, assuming he’s on his game, could help him establish him as a foundational piece for the Wild moving forward.

Carson Lambos

Never mind that the Wild recently went heavy on the blue line in the draft. They still have a number of prospects looking to play that position, and that includes Carson Lambos. He played for the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey last season, recording 14 points (4 goals, 10 assist) in 69 games while playing regular minutes on the back end. He has a chance to prove himself this week with the Wild already in the process of searching for the next wave of prospects on the blue line.

Samuel Hlavaj

After signing an entry-level contract with the Wild toward the end of last season, goaltender Samuel Hlavaj appears to be a part of the plans between the pipes. As of right now, Hlavaj is squarely behind top prospect Jesper Wallstedt in the pecking order a the position. That said, Hlavaj clearly has some skill, which he showcased while playing for Slovakia at the most recent World Championships. Maybe he can grow into a role as a backup for the time being with potential to become even more as his career progresses.

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