ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The healthy return of three key players for the Minnesota Wild has helped solidify some depth in important places.

If Guillaume Latendresse, Pierre-Marc Bouchard and Josh Harding perform at their pre-injury levels, the Wild will feel a lot better about the team that emerges in Mike Yeo’s first year as coach.

General manager Chuck Fletcher says “from a physical standpoint, there’s a lot of optimism” heading into the home opener on Saturday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Latendresse showed up to training camp overweight and out of condition and wound up needing surgeries on two different midsection injuries. This year he’s back in shape and eager to produce like the player he was two seasons ago when he scored 25 goals in 55 games.

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