MN Wild Make Sneaky Depth Signing as Camp Creeps Closer

Today is September 5. For local football fans, that means the first double dose of Gophers and Vikings this year. But for hockey fans, it means we are exactly two weeks away from the start of Minnesota Wild training camp.

With Marco Rossi now under contract for the next three years and ready to report for camp, all eyes have turned to his superstar teammate, Kirill Kaprizov, who’s entering the final year of a five-year contract he signed back in September of 2021.

At some point before September 19, the first official day of MN Wild training camp, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin has one mission, and one mission only: Get Kaprizov back under a long-term contract, and the lengthier the better.

If worst-case scenario becomes reality and they can’t get a deal done with their 28-year-old star winger by the start of training camp, there’s a belief the Wild will start to gauge trade interest in Kirill and even entertain offers leading up to the trade deadline, or worse, early next offseason.

Minnesota Wild sign intriguing young forward, Brett Leason

So with that nightmare chilling in the back of Bill Guerin’s mind, he and Minnesota’s front office continue to work the roster, leading up to the start of training camp. And on Friday, they made a sneaky little move, signing 26-year-old NHL winger, Brett Leason.

Hearing the #mnwild are bringing in former Caps and Ducks right wing Brett Leason on a PTO. Right-shot who can kill penalties. Will bring more competition in camp for a bottom-six role.

220 career games, 25 goals, 54 points

— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 5, 2025

Related: Infamous MN Wild Superstar Makes U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame

Selected in the 2nd round of the 2019 draft by the Washington Capitals, Leason made his NHL debut in 2021-22, at just 22 years old. After 36 games with the Caps, he was waived that next offseason, and quickly claimed by the Anaheim Ducks, where he’s played the past three years and 184 games.

Leason was a pretty prolific scorer, as a junior hockey player in the WHL, where he put up 89 points (36 goals) for the Prince Albert Raiders back in 2018-19, right before he was drafted. And for a guy in his mid-20s, his 220 games played (11:49 average TOI) the past four seasons jump off his Hockey-Reference page.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to show off the incredible hands and impressive maneuverability in tight spaces that got teenage Brett Leason selected as high as he was in the NHL Draft six years ago, as he has accumulated just 54 points (25 goals) with all that experience, even while averaging legitimate third line minutes.

Leason’s highlights, profile are worth keeping an eye on

Leason, however, is coming off arguably the best two years of his young career, averaging 13 minutes per night in Anaheim, where last season he posted his best +/- (-2) since he was a rookie in 2021-22.

Watching back some of the Canadian’s career highlights, though, you can see what made him such a prolific juniors player and why Guerin likely jumped on the opportunity to bring him in on a camp try-out contract.

BRETT LEASON TIES IT LATE FOR THE DUCKS

It was 4-1 Utah 😱 pic.twitter.com/XJlZbj18P1

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) December 23, 2024

Brett Leason gives the Ducks the lead
3-2 pic.twitter.com/8SiyFnmMNS

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) September 25, 2024

But before he can have a 26-year-old career resurgence in St. Paul… Brett Leason has to make the team, which won’t be easy, given some of the proven depth the Minnesota Wild have on roster at wing, entering camp.