Bill Guerin names 5 young players who could make the Wild roster

The Wild officially opened training camp for the 2024-25 season Thursday and there are plenty of exciting prospects who could push to make the final roster.

All eyes are on 2023 second-round pick Riley Heidt , who continues to look like one of the best prospects in the system. General manager Bill Guerin identified five young players — during an interview with Paul Allen on KFAN — who could push for a roster spot.

"Riley Heidt and Hunter Haight are two kids that we'd like to see push for a spot. Obviously Liam Ohgren," said Guerin. "Daemon Hunt is in the mix and Carson Lambos, we'd really love to see him take another step this year."

Heidt has looked like a big-league player in the WHL with 37 goals and 80 assists in only 66 games last season. Haight was Minnesota's second-round pick in 2022 and he's been developing in the OHL since 2021-22. Last season he had 25 goals and 42 assists in 68 games.

Ohgren was the team's first-round pick in 2022 and he debuted last season in late-season stint that got him four games of NHL experience.

As for Hunt and Lambos, Guerin mentioned that it would be difficult for any defensemen to sneak onto the roster. Hunt was a third-round pick in 2020 and Lambos was a first-round pick in 2021. If they don't make the roster, they could be the first defensemen called up in the event of an injury to any of the top six blue-liners.

The Wild have 18 days until they're required to submit the opening night roster on Oct. 7, which is just three days before they open the regular season against ex-Wild coach Dean Evason and the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Xcel Energy Center.