Wild announce 2021 opening day roster

One anticipated player is ready to make his NHL debut for the Minnesota Wild while another will have to wait a while.

The Wild announced their 22-player opening day roster Wednesday and it includes Kirill Kaprizov, finally in a Minnesota uniform after being selected in the 2015 draft. However, Marco Rossi, the team’s 2020 first-round draft pick, was designated as an injured non-roster player.

Rossi suffered an upper-body injury in the recent World Junior Championship and there is no timetable for his return.

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Forward Nico Sturm, who appeared in 55 AHL games last season and six with the Wild, also made the opening roster.

Kaapo Kahkonen will be the backup goalie to Cam Talbot, who was signed as a free agent this past offseason.

The Wild open the season Thursday agains the Los Angeles Kings. Catch a special one-hour pregame starting at 8 p.m. on FOX Sports North.

WILD OPENING DAY ROSTER

Forwards

Nick Bjugstad, Nick Bonino, Joel Erickson Ek, Kevin Fiala, Marcus Foligno, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Hartman, Marcus Johansson, Karill Kaprizov, Gerald Mayhew, Zach Parise, Victor Rask, Nico Sturm.

Defensemen

Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba, Brad Hunt, Greg Pateryn, Carson Soucy, Jared Spurgeon, Ryan Suter.

Goalies

Kaapo Kahkonen, Cam Talbot

TAXI SQUAD

Forwards

Luke Johnson, Kyle Rau

Defensemen

Matt Bartkowski, Louie Belpedio, Dakota Mermis

Goalies

Andrew Hammond

INJURED