Rau, Kloos and Bartkowski continue roster push

ST. PAUL -- For more than a week, returning players and newcomers have worked hard in training camp fighting for a spot on the opening night roster.
Kyle Rau, who skated in four games for the Wild last season, is ready to get the season going. The Eden Prairie native is one of the Wild's swiftest skaters, a skill he's relying on as he jockeys for a position in the Wild's forward pecking order.

"I think I've tried to use my speed and get in on the forecheck. That's something I really pride myself on," Rau said. "Then I try to get to the net and if there's a play there I try to make it if I can."
Getting back into the routine is a key factor for players like Rau.

"I feel good, It's always hard coming off a five month layoff," Rau said. "You just try to get better everyday and your legs start coming back, then your hands start coming back, your lungs start coming back and so once that starts rolling and starts to feel good that you're getting back to the person that you think you should be. You just try to keep building day by day."
Getting through training is not only physically tough but also mentally. Sometimes it helps to get away and get out of the routine, especially during the dog days of camp.
"It's flying really but it's also really boring because you're just sitting in a hotel all day," Rau said. "So I] just try to get out of the hotel, do something fun. The other day I went to the Mall of America."
Like Rau, in the midst of training camp, Justin Kloos finds himself coming off a busy week. Another former Golden Gopher, Kloos has had a terrific training camp, including a goal in Wednesday's preseason game against St. Louis in Des Moines.
Having played in his first NHL game last October, Kloos is taking in all the opportunities he can this offseason to better himself as a player. That includes getting plenty of chances to shine early in camp, including the game in Iowa. No stranger to the crowd down there, Kloos enjoyed his time being back in the city.
"It was fun, obviously we don't pull a crowd that big very often so it was good to see them very enthused in the game," Kloos said.
Newly signed this season, Matt Bartkowski, says he tries to be a "steady Eddie" defenseman. With the demanding schedule of training camp, Bartkowski aims to keep things as simple as possible and focus the task at hand.
"I'm just trying to focus on what I need get ready for the season and that's about it," Bartkowski said.
Bartkowski says his goal this season is making the big team, playing in every game and helping the team make it back to the playoffs. He's ready to jump in whenever the Wild needs him.
"Staying ready isn't hard, you just practice hard," Bartkowski said. "Work out a little bit more, so physically it's not that difficult."
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