Hockey is officially back in Minnesota.

The Wild opened training camp Thursday at TRIA Rink with 48 players as preparations begin for the 2026–27 season.

Preseason results won’t mean much, but the next couple of weeks should start answering some important questions.

Here are five I’m watching.

1. Can Charlie Stramel Force His Way Onto the Roster?

Charlie Stramel might be the most interesting player in camp.

The 21-year-old former first-round pick is healthy again after breaking his ankle during the NCAA Tournament in March, and he’s made it clear that earning an NHL roster spot is his goal.

After producing 44 points in 37 games during his final college season, Stramel has an opportunity to show Minnesota he’s ready for the next step.

He doesn’t necessarily have to make the opening-night roster for camp to be successful.

But if he makes the decision difficult for the Wild?

2. What Can a Full Season of Quinn Hughes Look Like?

That’s a good problem to have.

Wild fans already know what Quinn Hughes can bring to Minnesota.

Now they get to see what it looks like when he’s part of the plan from Day 1.

Instead of joining the Wild in the middle of a season, Hughes enters training camp with the opportunity to work through systems, defensive pairings, and special teams from the beginning.

That should give John Hynes considerably more flexibility in determining how to get the most out of one of the NHL’s best defensemen.

3. Which Young Player Makes the Biggest Push?

The question isn’t whether Hughes fits in Minnesota.

We already saw that.

The question is just how good the Wild can become with Hughes playing a full season in Minnesota.

Stramel won’t be the only prospect worth watching.

Training camp is always filled with players who aren’t necessarily expected to make the NHL roster but suddenly force themselves into the conversation.

4. How Does John Hynes Build on Last Season?

Those are some of the most interesting stories of September.

Minnesota doesn’t need every prospect to be NHL-ready today.

It does need the next wave of players to start pushing for jobs.

The Wild rewarded Hynes with a multiyear contract extension this week after Minnesota won its first playoff series since 2015 last season.

Now expectations rise.

5. Can Minnesota Stay Healthy?

Simply making the playoffs isn’t the ultimate goal anymore.

Training camp is where Minnesota begins figuring out how to take another step.

Every team asks this question in September.

The Wild know better than most how quickly injuries can change a season.

Camp isn’t about proving you’re ready to win the Stanley Cup.

It’s about getting ready for October without losing important players along the way.

Minnesota’s first preseason game comes Saturday against Chicago.

The results won’t matter much.

The competition for roster spots certainly will.

Hockey season is back, and the next chapter for the Wild starts now.