Wildcat Prospects to Watch in 2024 Tom Kurvers Showcase – Hockey Writers –

While many Minnesota Wild fans are looking forward to the start of training camp next week, it's important not to forget about the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase this weekend. The Wild's hopes will go on the road to St. Louis, where they will face prospects from the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues.

This is a great opportunity to see some young Wild talent. Depending on injuries and cap space, some of these players may crack the NHL line at different times throughout the season. The weekend will feature three games, starting on Friday, September 13 with the Blues and Blackhawks.

The Wild will play their first game on Saturday evening, September 14 against the Blackhawks at 6 pm CT. They will close out the weekend on Sunday, September 15 at 2 pm CT against the Blues. In this article, we'll take a quick look at a few prospects that fans should watch, as they could wear a Wildcat jersey in the future.

Heidt Makes People Notice

Riley Heidt has been one of the Wild's most talked about prospects lately in the fact that he could crack the roster if there is room behind Liam Ohgren and Marat Khusnutdinov. He is a great player with a knack for looking up the ice that allows him to find open teammates no matter where they are. He can pass straight to his opponents despite looking like he's going to shoot, and vice versa; he can shoot looking like he's going to pass.

He knows how to score goals but he helps a lot as he is a hockey player who knows exactly how the game will be played. He is only 19 years old, so if the Wild call him up, they will have to be ready for any rookie nerves, and of course, his scoring success will probably not pass quickly.

One area everyone will have to watch on this show is Heidt's defensive abilities. He obviously has the ability to score goals and is good in attack but can he be successful in defence? In the NHL players have to be able to do both and hopefully Heidt can too.

Peart Defense Skills Exhibition

Jack Peart has been quietly honing his defensive skills at the NCAA St. Cloud State Huskies for the past few seasons and will be able to put those skills on display. He doesn't score many points as a defender, but he prioritizes his defense. He always tries to get himself between his opponents and the puck, and when he gets the puck in the defensive zone, he tries to get it out of the zone as quickly as possible.

As for the attacking position, he doesn't jump unless he gets a good chance, but he's not afraid to shoot when he has the chance. He is a powerful puck mover who can swing past defenders when given the chance. When his teammates jump into the zone, he stays back and keeps himself between his opponents and the puck.

While Peart has proven he can play on both sides of the puck, he is one of the promising young defensemen the Wild will turn to over the next few seasons. Of course, they have the permanent Brock Faber, but then there is also their new draft pick, Zeev Buium. He may be a season or two away from the NHL, but he has a promising future, just like Peart. All three honed their skills in the NCAA.

Ritchie Talk of the Town

Like Heidt, Ryder Ritchie has been making waves since the Wild snagged him in the second round earlier this summer. He, like Heidt, likes to record assists, but he also has a lethal shot at passing the ball's assists. He likes to rush his way to the offensive zone, get past defenders, and pass the puck to open teammates all over the place.

Ritchie likes to take low dot shots near the goal line and it works for him. He is a defender who likes to work on the floor, and most of his goals come from that area. He's not afraid to shoot no matter where he is on the ice, and the Wild need more of that on their roster. He may not be added to the roster this coming season, but they will need him in the future.

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Also, like Heidt, the Wild should look at his defensive skills. It's good that he can score and assist in goals, but he has to help defend them. If he can block a few shots and break the puck, he will be exactly what the Wild need in the future.

Talented Prospects in the Wild

The Wild are very fortunate with the depth of their roster and how talented their prospects are. They have a strong core in their team now, but the future is very bright. They have solid goals, talented defenders, and a promising goalkeeper, all of which are the makings of a great team. Hopefully, the Wild can make it this coming season, but if not, they have a secure future ahead of them.