In the wee hours of Thursday night, after the Wild wrapped up their exhibition schedule with a 6-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, the team's brass met in the bowels of Xcel Energy Center and began discussions about trimming the team's opening night roster.
And on Friday morning, they placed forward Brett Bulmer and defenseman Tyler Strachan on waivers, and also sent Zac Dalpe back to their minor-league franchise in Iowa.
Now only a decision or two remain for the Wild to trim the roster to 23 players by Tuesday.
If Justin Fontaine begins the season on injured reserve (he has an oblique injury), the Wild would need to make only one more cut, likely either forward Jordan Schroeder or defenseman Mike Reilly.