1 - Jordan Greenway
Perhaps the Wild's best player in Traverse City didn't even suit up for the final two games, as Jordan Greenway accomplished everything team management was hoping he would.
Greenway was a force in Traverse City, displaying unmatched strength on his skates and with the puck on his stick He scored one goal and assisted on two others in the first two games of the tournament, before taking a seat for the final two days.
"Both games, he was very good," said Wild General Manager Paul Fenton. "He was impressive. I loved the way he played the game, thought the game. He used his size to his advantage, created scoring opportunities."
Greenway is expected to compete for an NHL roster spot once training camp commences in St. Paul on Friday.
"I think it was a good start for him to get these two games," Fenton said. "Now we'll see how he does in training camp."
2 - Kaapo Kahkonen
Goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen will play his first season of North American hockey and got off on the right foot in Traverse City, backstopping the Wild to a pair of wins.
Kahkonen finished the tournament with a 2.89 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage but his numbers don't tell the whole story.
In a 5-4 shootout win against Dallas on Monday, Kahkonen stoned the Stars on five separate breakaways during the third period and overtime, including one penalty shot, then closed the door on both shootout attempts to secure the win.
Overall, Kahkonen stopped 64 of the 70 shots he faced in two games.
"I really liked the way he met pucks and fought through, especially," Fenton said. "In these tournaments, there's so much traffic in between, and bodies and you can't find where pucks are. But he did a great job of fighting through, finding the puck and controlling his rebounds."
The Finnish netminder, selected by the Wild in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, is expected to compete for a job in Iowa, potentially as a backup, or get significant time with the Allen Americans of the ECHL.
3 - Gerry Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald was never a prodigious scorer in his four years at Bemidji State University -- he never tallied more than 26 points in four years with the Beavers -- but was outstanding in 16 games with Iowa late in the year last spring.
The 25-year-old centerman came to Traverse City with little to prove after signing an AHL contract over the summer, but was Minnesota's best offensive producer during the weekend.
Not only did Fitzgerald lead the Wild in points, he was consistently producing grade-A chances on a line with Greenway and Ivan Lodnia for the first two games, with Lodnia and Mason Shaw in the third game and with Shaw and Mathieu Foget in the third-place game.
"His smarts, his quickness, his vision ... I think he's shown very well for himself," Fenton said.
Fitzgerald's goal against Detroit on Friday ended up the game winner and he also had the primary assist on Fogut's goal against Dallas that tied the game with under a minute to play in the third period, forcing overtime. The Wild would go on to win in a shootout.
Iowa had success with diminutive forwards last season, as Sam Anas and Justin Kloos each had outstanding campaigns in Des Moines. Fitzgerald -- all 5-foot-8, 174 pounds of him -- appears primed to follow in their footsteps this season.
More from Traverse City:
- Greenway begins push for NHL job
- Shaw comes full circle in Traverse City return
- Q&A with Wild Assistant GM Tom Kurvers
- Army ready for another crack as head coach
