Petr Kalus

A journeyman who will most likely spend another season in Europe rather than his wheels in the AHL once again, Kalus likely won't see NHL ice this coming season.

Minor league depth forward.

The Wild convinced Kalus to come over from Europe last season, but he's been stuck in Houston of the AHL. It wouldn't be a shock if he got frustrated and played overseas again.

Kalus began the season in Houston of the AHL last year before jumping ship and heading to Europe in October. He plans to return to play for Minnesota this year, but there's not guarantee that he'll stick around if he doesn't make the NHL roster right out of camp. In 58 games for Houston two years ago, Kalus had 18 points.

Playing for AHL’S Houston Aeros, Kalus disappointed with a meager 18 points in 58 games (8G, 10A). The lackluster season is a concern since he recorded 30 points for the Providence Bruins in 15 fewer games. Still, Kalus has immense potential as a highly skilled speedster with a knack for scoring goals. It’s normal for minor leaguers to endure growing pains and Kalus’ case is no exception. Even if he doesn’t make the opening day roster, Kalus could make a splash with the Wild by mid-season.

Kalus was acquired by Minnesota in the trade for Manny Fernandez in the offseason. Boston's 2005 second-round pick is an offensive-minded forward with above average skating and stick handling skills. His defense will need to improve to get playing time with the defensive-minded Wild, but he's a nice sleeper or keeper pick if continues to develop.

Kalus is electricity on ice. He notched 34 goals as a rookie in the Western Hockey League and may someday find himself lined up with Phil Kessel. That alone should put him on your long-range radar.

Kalus is an agile, offensive-minded forward who can skate and stickhandle better than most. The knock on this talented player is his attention span -- if he gets bored (which happens a bit too much), he ignores his defensive responsibilities and plays cherry picker in the neutral zone. To his credit, he's very coachable and works hard, so it's expected his defensive game will take shape soon. He has the offensive talent to be a top-six forward in the NHL, although his slapper could use a little more muscle. His wrist show has a quick release and is strong, and he's great one-on-one. He was eligible for the CHL Import Draft this year and was selected by Regina, where this young Czech will ply his trade for a couple of seasons.