LAS VEGAS – Liam Ogren is not in the NHL for the Wild and was expected to play until the end of the season.
His Swedish team finished first in the standings, and Øgren thought the team would be active until the end of the playoffs in May. Instead, Feriestad BK was swept out of the gate, catapulting Ogren to an opportunity he never thought would happen at this point in his career, but a milestone he had long coveted.
“It's been my dream since I started playing hockey,” he said.
Ogren made his NHL debut Friday during the Wild's 7-2 loss to the Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. The winger became the first draft pick to arrive from the team's 2022 class and the latest prospect to earn a spot in the lineup. Wild eyes are looking to the future after missing the playoffs.
“Obviously it wasn't the result we wanted,'' said Øgren, who wore No. 28 and attended the match with his father Andreas, mother Theresia, stepfather Linus, brother Noel and girlfriend Juni. “But it was a special night for me and my family. It was great to warm up and do rookie laps, and to get that first game on record is a special moment.”
It's already been an eventful season for Ogren.
After missing nearly three months with a stress fracture in his back, Ågren returned in time to prepare for the World Junior Championships, where he captained Sweden to a silver medal.
He then scored 12 goals and provided 7 assists in 26 games for Feriestad BK.
“We are really happy that we chose Ferrystad as a team,” said Ågren. “They helped me so much and it was so great for me. I came back for the World Juniors and it was an incredible experience playing at home.” [in Sweden]. He then finished the season at Fergestad. I think we played very well in the end, but unfortunately we were eliminated from the playoffs quite early on. But overall it was a great season. ”
After Feriestad BK was eliminated, Ågren moved to the American Hockey League.
The 20-year-old played in three games against Iowa before the Wild added him to the roster, and Ogren learned the news after Tuesday's game against Rockford.
“They said they think I'm ready to take this step and they want me to go to Las Vegas,” said the 2022 No. 19 pick, immediately signed to an entry-level contract. said Ogren, who signed. “That was pretty insane.”
Touted as a smooth skater who is good with the puck, Ogren has earned more than a once-in-a-lifetime memory with this promotion.
This is a chance for him to adjust to the NHL, which has smaller rinks than Europe, ahead of training camp in September. Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who is scheduled to start Saturday against San Jose, was promoted from the minors last week to play the same position, and Marat Husnutdinov has been acclimating to the Wild for a month since leaving Russia.
Coach John Hynes said, “You get a real sense of your true position and how tough the league is and how good the league is. It gives the players the motivation to train and get to the next level. I think we can raise it to .''
In his 13th game against Vegas, Husnudinov scored his first NHL goal at 7:42 of the second period, deflecting a shot from Brock Faber on the power play.
“It feels good,” said Husnudinov, who described the goal, in which Markus Johansson scooped the puck, as “a dream.” “Guys, please help. Good shot of Faves. Lucky tip.”
However, the Golden Knights had the upper hand in the game, and with this victory they clinched the last remaining playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Box score: Vegas 7, Wild 2
NHL standings
They took advantage of 2:57 shorthanded in the first period (Nicolas Roy), 6:21 at 5-on-5 (Pavel Dorofeev) and 8:35 on the power play (Jack Eichel). Vegas scored again on the power play (2 of 4) in the second period and then scored three more goals in the third period.
Ryan Hartman reached his 20th goal at 7:13 of the third, and Marc-Andre Fleury made 23 saves.
“We’re talking about Marratt and Ogren…they played well,” Hines said. “But my focus is on the veterans. Where were you tonight — some of them.”
After taking the traditional rookie lap without a helmet and tossing his warm-up puck to his brother, Ogren skated 14:07, including 3:10 on the Wild's 1-on-3 power play. He also tested goaltender Logan Thompson (25 saves) twice and recorded two hits.
“He's competitive,” Hines said. “He's got speed, he's got good hockey sense. I was impressed with him in a tough game to play. I think there's a lot there. It was a bad night, so I was impressed with him. , that's an encouraging sign.”
Ogren hopes what he's been through so far will be enough to continue with the Wild forever.
“I want to do my best to build next year's team,'' he said. “I think I've improved a lot this year and I feel like I'm stepping up every time. So I'm going to do everything I can.”
