Charlie Stramel will walk into Minnesota Wild training camp this week with a hometown opportunity in front of him: earn an NHL job in the city where he was born.
SEO Title: Charlie Stramel enters Wild camp healthy and chasing NHL roster spot
SEO Description: St. Paul native Charlie Stramel arrives at Minnesota Wild camp fully recovered from an ankle injury after a breakout season at Michigan State.
Stramel brings hometown push to Wild camp
The 21-year-old St. Paul forward knows the route from prospect camp to an NHL opening-night roster is steep, especially in a shortened training camp. Minnesota begins practices Thursday and opens the season at the Nashville Predators on Oct. 1.
“Making the team is definitely one of my goals,” Stramel said. “I have to show what I can do in camp. If it doesn’t happen immediately, then it doesn’t happen immediately.”
Stramel, listed at 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds, was Minnesota’s first-round choice, 21st overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft. He signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Wild on April 6 and now gets his first major chance to show he can handle the professional game.
- Born in St. Paul, Minnesota
- Selected No. 21 overall by the Wild in 2023
- Signed his entry-level contract on April 6
- Wild practices begin Thursday
- Minnesota opens Oct. 1 at Nashville
Breakout at Michigan State followed by injury recovery
Stramel spent his first two college seasons at the University of Wisconsin, producing eight goals and 12 assists in 67 games. His transfer to Michigan State changed the trajectory of his development.
In his senior season with the Spartans, Stramel posted career-best totals of 19 goals, 25 assists and 44 points in 37 games. That performance earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team.
His season ended abruptly on March 28 in the NCAA regional final against Wisconsin. Stramel broke his ankle while blocking a shot as the Badgers erased a deficit and beat Michigan State 4-3 in overtime.
He said he has skated without restrictions for the past two months and enters Wild camp fully healthy. Most of his offseason was spent at home in Minnesota while he worked through the recovery, followed by three weeks of August training at Michigan State.
Once he was back at full strength, Stramel concentrated on the details that can make him effective as a power forward: quicker first steps, puck protection and small-area plays around the crease.
Wild see a more complete, confident forward
Minnesota senior director of player development Brad Bombardir believes Stramel is close to NHL-ready, but stressed that the forward will have to establish himself against the Wild’s regular roster players.
Bombardir said the organization will give prospects every chance to make an early impression, but noted that players must take ownership once they step onto the ice with NHL competition. He described the League as a formidable challenge.
Still, Bombardir sees a player who has taken substantial strides since arriving in the organization.
- Stramel’s skating and straight-line speed stand out as major strengths.
- The Wild want him to use that speed aggressively on the forecheck.
- Bombardir said he is playing quicker, moving better and carrying more confidence.
- His time at Michigan State helped him become a different player and person than he was two years ago.
Stramel said confidence was a problem early in his Wisconsin career and that it held back parts of his game. He rebuilt that belief at Michigan State and hopes to bring it with him into the Wild room.
“This is the biggest jump I’ve faced, going to the pro level,” Stramel said. “I’m excited for the challenge and the opportunity.”
His objective for camp is straightforward: find a way to help Minnesota win and make the decision difficult for the coaching staff before the Wild head to Nashville for the opener.
