Hockey Wilderness 4 hours ago
Wilderness Walk: It is Wednesday, my dudes
Photo by Jeff Vinnick/ Your daily dose of Wild news, along with other interesting stories from around the NHL. Let’s go over some news and notes: - An article grading Ryan Suter’s playoff performance? Surely this won’t cause any heated debates on Wild Twitter. [Hockey Wilderness] - Bill Guerin made it clear that he wants the Wild to get younger, faster and better. Thus far, zero of those things have happened. [Zone Coverage] Off the trail... - It’s official. Bob Boughner will be returning to the Sharks as their full-time head coach next season. [Fear The Fin] - Bill Armstrong is...
Hockey Wilderness Sep 22, 2020
Play-In Report Card: Ryan Suter had up-and-down, injury-shortened series
Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via The top pairing defenseman suffered a foot injury that clearly cost the Wild defensively in Game 4. Like the song Big Yellow Taxi says, “don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone?” For two games in the play-in series between the Minnesota Wild and the Vancouver Canucks, Ryan Suter had an up and down performance, eating minutes and limiting chances, but also suffering some mental breakdowns that led to devastating Canucks goals. Then, with 6:51 left in the third period of Game 3, Suter disappeared down the...
Hockey Wilderness Sep 22, 2020
Wilderness Walk: Awards, baby, awards!
Photo by Derek Leung/ Your daily dose of Wild news, along with other interesting stories from around the NHL. Let’s go over some news and notes: - Nico Sturm only played two games for the Wild in the play-in series, but he still found a way to show encouraging flashes. [Hockey Wilderness] - Centers, centers, centers. That’s all Wild fans talk about these days. But next season is going to be all about the wingers! [Zone Coverage] Off the trail... - Leon Draisaitl is the league’s MVP for the 2019-20 season. Must’ve been hard playing alongside Connor McDavid all year. [Copper And...
Hockey Wilderness Sep 21, 2020
Play-In Report Card: In small sample size, Sturm showed promise
Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via The German youngster replaced Ryan Donato in the lineup and picked up his first NHL goal in the process. It sure seems like a while ago since the Minnesota Wild were in the Edmonton bubble and squared off against the Vancouver Canucks in the play-in round. The playoffs are now one game into the Stanley Cup Final, and one might forget some of the players who even suited up for the Wild over a month ago. If you can recall back to the first week of August, you might remember a certain Minnesota rookie and Clarkson grad getting his first action of NHL...
Hockey Wilderness Sep 21, 2020
Wilderness Walk: The Stars are really going for it
Photo by Bruce Bennett/ Your daily dose of Wild news, along with other interesting stories from around the NHL. Let’s go over some news and notes: - In case you missed it, Mikko Koivu will not be returning to the Wild next season. It’s the end of an era in the State of Hockey. [Hockey Wilderness] - The NWHL never finished the Isobel Cup Final. What does this mean for women’s hockey and the start of next season? [Hockey Wilderness] - Someone chopping onions in here? 15 years. 1,028 games. #CapFinn. A true icon with the #mnwild. Thank you, Mikko. pic.twitter.com/RSb6RYdikN—...
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Sep 18, 2020
Family man Eric Staal shocked at timing of Wild trade to Buffalo
The 35-year-old NHL veteran was sent east as GM Bill Guerin shakes up the team.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Sep 18, 2020
Wild captain Koivu's long run comes to an end in Minnesota
Mikko Koivu's extraordinary career with the Minnesota Wild is over.
Hockey Wilderness Sep 18, 2020
Wild announce Koivu will not be re-signed
Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via An end of an era in Minnesota. For the first time since in 15 years, the Minnesota Wild will be preparing to embark on a campaign without Mikko Koivu in the fold. On Friday, the Wild released a statement from general manager Bill Guerin stating that the first and only full-time captain in franchise history will not be returning to Minnesota for a 16th season. Mikko Koivu was a true leader both on and off the ice during his 15-year career with the Wild. From being drafted sixth overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, making his NHL debut on...
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Sep 18, 2020
Mikko Koivu won't be returning to Wild next season
The Wild is moving on from longtime captain and franchise scoring leader Mikko Koivu, announcing Friday he won't be re-signed after 15 seasons.
Hockey Wilderness Sep 18, 2020
Wilderness Walk: The stage is set
Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Your daily dose of Wild news, along with other interesting stories from around the NHL. Let’s go over some news and notes: - You probably would like to get to know Marcus Johansson a little better, so here’s everything you need to know about the newest member of the Wild. [Hockey Wilderness] - You know how the Canadiens traded for Jake Allen not too long ago? Well, it turns out they thought about trading for Devan Dubnyk instead! [Hockey Wilderness] - Here’s an updated look at the Wild’s depth chart following the moves we’ve seen Bill...
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Sep 17, 2020
Marcus Johansson center of attention after joining Wild
The 29-year-old NHL veteran was acquired from Buffalo for Eric Staal in a surprise trade Wednesday.
Hockey Wilderness Sep 17, 2020
Habs reportedly considered trading for Dubnyk
Photo by Christian Petersen/ This would’ve been spicy. For now, Devan Dubnyk remains a member of the Minnesota Wild. But according to a report from Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Montreal Canadiens apparently had their eye on the Wild netminder before acquiring Jake Allen from the St. Louis Blues earlier this month. You can read Friedman’s report here, which also details Matt Dumba’s uncertain future in Minnesota: In a new 31 Thoughts blog, @FriedgeHNIC touches on Matt Dumba's future with the Wild, how the Canucks blue line could be overhauled this off-season and that...
Minneapolis Star-Tribune Sep 17, 2020
What on earth are GM Bill Guerin and the Wild doing?
Wednesday's news that the Wild sent Eric Staal to Buffalo in exchange for Marcus Johansson was enough of a head-scratching moment that it requires the exploration of a bigger question: What exactly are Bill Guerin and the Wild doing here? The Wild is in need of centers and doesn't have a ton of financial flexibility. And so Minnesota … traded its popular top-line center for someone less productive and more expensive ($4.5 million cap hit next year vs. $3.25 million for Staal, with both on the final year of their deals). What in the name of Nino Niederreiter for Victor Rask is happening?...
Hockey Wilderness Sep 17, 2020
Meet the New Guy: Get to know more about Marcus Johansson
Photo by Sara Schmidle/NHLI via Here’s what you need to know about Marcus Johansson. It sure has been an eventful week for the Minnesota Wild, eh? Just a few days ago, the Wild acquired Nick Bjugstad from the Pittsburgh Penguins for virtually nothing. On Tuesday, defenseman Jonas Brodin agreed to a seven-year contract extension. And, of course, the Wild made another trade on Wednesday, shipping top-line center Eric Staal to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Marcus Johansson. Fans aren’t quite as thrilled with Minnesota’s latest transaction nearly as much as they were with the...
Hockey Wilderness Sep 17, 2020
Wilderness Walk: Blink twice if you’re alright, Bill
Your daily dose of Wild news, along with other interesting stories from around the NHL. Let’s go over some news and notes: - The Wild made another trade yesterday! Unfortunately, the trade was a one-for-one deal — Eric Staal for Marcus Johansson. Interesting. [Hockey Wilderness] - If you think this is the end of the trades we’ll see Bill Guerin and company make this offseason, you are out of your skull. [The Athletic] Off the trail... - The Canadiens signed Joel Edmundson to a contract extension yesterday, so that’s interesting. [Eyes On The Prize] - It’s sounding like Brayden...
