As the preseason schedule winds down there are a few positions that need to be settled.

On defense the Wild are basically set with the top seven being Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba, Nick Seeler, Greg Pateryn, and Brad Hunt. The one question mark is if Pateryn who has been hampered by a lower body injury will be healthy to start the season.

Louie Belpedio and Carson Soucy have both had strong camps and are pushing to replace Pateryn if he is not ready to begin the season next week. Either way they are both in position for recall should the need arise.

At the forward position the players vying for the last one or two roster positions depending on how Guerin chooses to go, are Victor Rask, JT Brown, Drew Stafford, and Gerry Mayhew.

There are of course factors at play with each player beginning with the $4+ million that Rask is due to be paid regardless of which Wild team he suits up for. JT Brown and Rask both came to camp and failed coach Boudreau's skating test which sends the wrong message from the start for both players.

Stafford has had a good solid camp and the Edina, MN native would be a good fit on the fourth line, if Guerin sees fit to offering him a contract.

Mayhew is the wild card as he has nothing left to prove in the AHL and offers the Wild a right shot who can score goals. The question is has he shown enough to earn that spot?

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