* Hodgman update: Forward Justin Hodgman has signed an amateur tryout contract with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild during their recent development camp in St. Paul, Minn. The club holds his rights until Oct. 1, which means Hodgman can’t speak with any other clubs or attend any other training camps.
Hodgman will represent the Wild at the Traverse City Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich., in September. With a strong showing, Hodgman could be invited to his first NHL main camp. Yet, he will report to Otters’ training camp on Aug. 25 at Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena in Jamestown, N.Y.
* Better late than never: Left wing Luke Gazdic was unable to participate in full-contact workouts and take slap shots at the Stars’ development camp in Frisco, Texas, two weeks ago. He continues to rehabilitate a surgically repaired labrum in his shoulder. But he expects medical clearance in time for Otters’ camp and his first main camp with the Stars in September. “I’m extremely happy about that. It’s been a long haul here,” said Gazdic, who has undergone daily physiotherapy and workouts this summer.
* Kidd moving closer?: Defenseman Josh Kidd said “there’s been a little bit of conversation back and forth” about a professional contract between his agent and Los Angeles Kings’ officials. Unlike last summer, he was injury free for the Kings’ development camp in El Segundo, Calif., earlier this month.
He missed the 2007 camp while recovering from shoulder surgery, injured his groin at main camp and suffered a concussion before Manchester, the Kings’ AHL affiliate, began the playoffs last spring. He will attend main camp in September. “We’ll see what happens,” Kidd said.
* Toughest workouts ever: Hodgman has spent three days at Overkill Peak Potential Hockey Camp, a five-week camp run by Brian O’Reilly, father of Otters forward Ryan O’Reilly, in Varna, Ontario.
“I’ve never really trained this hard in my life,” Hodgman said Wednesday. “It’s a whole new aspect of training that I’ve never been introduced to. It takes a lot out of you, but it makes better players.”
The camp focuses on fast-paced, high-intensity workouts, Ryan O’Reilly said, including running hills, long-distance runs and balance drills done on beams. “It’s getting all the muscles you need for hockey, not just bodybuilding muscles,” said O’Reilly, who heads to Calgary, Alberta, next week for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team camp. “I can tell by skating that my fitness is ready to go and my body is ready to play again.” Right wing Shawn Szydlowski spent last week at the camp.
* Tough workouts, Part II: Center Greg McKegg, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 OHL Priority Selection, has trained seven days a week this off-season. Here’s his weightlifting routine: Mondays (legs), Tuesdays (chest), Wednesdays (back), Thursdays (shoulders) and Fridays (legs). In between, he skates on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and runs on a track on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
* Around the rink: Right wing Nick Palmieri is attending New Jersey’s conditioning camp in Newark, N.J., this week. … The Otters held their latest off-season workouts in Welland, Ontario, last week.

– Victor Fernandes