On Saturday, the Minnesota Wild moved a whole lot closer to naming its final starting roster. The Wild sent defensemen John Scott and Shawn Belle and forwards Benoit Pouliot and Petr Kalus to the Houston Aeros.  I have to admit I was mostly surprised to see Petr Kalus, the winger who came from Boston in the Manny Fernandez trade, to go. Kalus played in four exhibitions and played well, but he didn’t score a goal and that may have been the deciding factor weighing on Coach Lemaire’s clipboard. I was also surprised to see Benoit Pouliot go because I had already inked him in on the Demitra – Gaborik line. Due to the number of returning defensemen, the Belle and Scott demotions were less surprising.

The moves leave 25 players in camp including Erik Reitz, Matt Foy and 2006 first round draft pick, James Sheppard.  Sheppard is definitely on the nice list and either the Wild will sign him or he will return to his QMJHL team in Cape Breton.