Set to begin training camp on Thursday, the Minnesota Wild added veteran center David Steckel on a tryout invitation for training camp. Steckel, 31, has played eight NHL seasons and adds to the depth for Minnesota at the center position after losing Matt Cullen in the offseason. Steckel had one goal and six assists in 34 games last season split between Anaheim and Toronto. A Milwaukee, Wis. native, Steckel has 33 goals and 46 assists in his career and has won .583 percent of his faceoffs. With salary cap constraints facing many teams, veteran players were left to accept tryouts. The Wild, who open camp with a 36-man roster, list Mikko Koivu, Kyle Brodziak, Jake Dowell, Mikael Granlund, Zenon Konopka and Chad Rau along with Steckel at center on the training camp roster released Monday. Charlie Coyle is also expected to compete for the No. 2 center spot behind Koivu after spending most of last season playing right wing on the first line. Minnesota opens training camp on Thursday. Practices on Saturday (9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.) are open to the public. On Sunday, the team will hold a intrasquad scrimmage. The Wild open the preseason schedule on Sept. 17 at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets at 7 p.m. Home preseason games follow against Winnipeg on Sept. 21 and St. Louis on Sept. 25.
Follow Brian Hall on Twitter
