Wild add Gustavsson in goal, hope Rossi can take next step in development

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is examining where each team stands in preparation for the 2022-23 regular season, which starts Oct. 7. Today, the Minnesota Wild:

2021-22 season: 53-22-7, second in Central Division; lost in first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

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Key arrivals

Filip Gustavsson, G:Gustavsson was acquired in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for goalie Cam Talbot on July 12. The 24-year-old was 5-12-1 with a 3.55 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in 18 games last season. He also was 11-6-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage in 20 games with Belleville of the American Hockey League.

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Key departures

Kevin Fiala, F:Traded to the Los Angeles Kings on June 29 for the No. 19 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft (forward Liam Ohgren) and defenseman prospect Brock Faber. Fiala had 85 points (33 goals, 42 assists) in 82 games last season. … Cam Talbot, G: Traded to the Senators on July 12. He was 32-12-4 with a 2.77 GAA, .911 save percentage and three shutouts in 49 games last season.

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On the cusp

Marco Rossi, F: The 20-year-old center made his NHL debut last season and had five shots on goal in two games. He had 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) in 63 games with Iowa of the American Hockey League, tying for the team lead. Rossi is expected to start this season in the NHL and potentially fill the void in the top six left by the Fiala trade. … Liam Ohgren, F: The No. 19 pick of the 2022 NHL Draft, Ohgren signed a three-year, entry level contract July 16. The 18-year-old had 58 points (33 goals, 25 assists) and was plus-41 in 30 games with Djurgarden's team in Sweden's junior league and had two points (one goal, one assist) for Djurgarden in the Swedish Hockey League, the top professional league in the country. He could return to Sweden for another season of development or play in the AHL. … Calen Addison, D: The 22-year-old had four points (two goals, two assists) in 15 games, and 34 points (seven goals, 27 assists) in 43 AHL games.

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What they still need

A true No. 1 center. Ryan Hartman found chemistry on the top line last season with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, scoring 34 goals after never having scored more than 19 in his first seven NHL seasons, and Joel Eriksson Ek has grown into a dependable defensive presence and had NHL career-bests with 26 goals and 49 points last season. But Minnesota lacks a true gamebreaker in the middle. The hope is Rossi could become that player, but at 20 years old and with two games of NHL experience, he's not there yet.

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They said it

"It'll be nice to get there from camp and start with everybody else. The team hasn't changed too much, so it'll be good to know everybody instead of starting from scratch. I'll know the guys already and it will be easier to get started. We have a good thing here in Minnesota and I think it's going to be another good season."-- goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who signed a two-year contract July 7 to stay with the Wild after being traded to Minnesota by the Chicago Blackhawks on March 21

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Fantasy focus

Trading Fiala to the Kings and Talbot to the Senators could allow the Wild to showcase their strong group of prospects as early as this season. Rossi, Addison and goalie
Jesper Wallstedt
are worth monitoring in keeper and dynasty leagues and have sneaky upside in standard fantasy formats, with Kaprizov and Fleury being elite options at their positions and attracting attention in early rounds. Forward Matt Boldy averaged 0.83 points per game (39 points in 47 games), first among NHL rookies to play more than 10 games last season, so this Wild rookie class should not be overlooked in fantasy. -- Pete Jensen

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Projected lineup

Kirill Kaprizov -- Ryan Hartman -- Mats Zuccarello
Jordan Greenway -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Marcus Foligno
Matt Boldy -- Frederick Gaudreau -- Tyson Jost
Brandon Duhaime -- Marco Rossi -- Connor Dewar
Jake Middleton -- Jared Spurgeon
Jonas Brodin -- Matt Dumba
Alex Goligoski -- Dmitry Kulikov
Marc-Andre Fleury
Filip Gustavsson