Minnesota Wild
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Minnesota Wild, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Blake Coleman, Olli Maatta, Maxim Shabanov, Calvin Pickard
Key Departures: Mats Zuccarello, Jake Middleton, Marcus Johansson, Vladimir Tarasenko
Overview
For the first time since 2015, the Minnesota Wild won a playoff series, taking out the Dallas Stars in six games before being eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in round two in just five games. Just before the season began, general manager Bill Guerin got franchise forward Kirill Kaprizov to sign an eight-year contract extension ($17 million AAV) that kicks in this season. Then in December, Guerin engineered a blockbuster trade that brought defenseman Quinn Hughes to Minnesota.
Offense
The Wild were tied for 10th in goals for last season (268) and were one of three teams with a pair of 40-goal scorers. Kirill Kaprizov (45 goals, 44 assists) topped the 40-goal mark for the fourth time in five seasons and Matt Boldy (42 goals, 85 points) reached the 40-goal mark for the first time in his career. Seventeen of Boldy’s 42 goals opened the scoring for Minnesota.
But the offense has raised some concerns heading into the season. The long-rumored trade for Dylan Larkin, which would give the Wild the center depth they need to be considered a legit Stanley Cup contender, has yet to happen. To create the salary cap space to sign Quinn Hughes, Minnesota said goodbye to forwards Vladimir Tarasenko (23), Marcus Johansson (15), and Mats Zuccarello (15), three of their top seven goal scorers last season. The Wild will need Blake Coleman, who scored 20 goals in Calgary last season, to repeat those numbers. Minnesota signed free agent Maxim Shabanov (five goals, 18 points, 44 games), who came over from Russia last season but struggled with the Islanders. Maybe he can find his way playing with countryman Kirill Kaprizov. Shabanov twice cracked the 20-goal mark in the KHL.
Defense
The Wild’s strength comes from the blueline back. Their 235 goals surrendered were the fourth fewest in the league. Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber are as good a top pair as any in the league. Hughes averaged more than a point a game (53 points, 48 games) following his trade to Minnesota, and Faber, who was also a member of the USA Men’s Hockey team that won Gold in Italy, erupted for 15 goals and 51 points last season after just 29 points the season prior. Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, Zach Bogosian and Olli Maatta are all good defenders and can take on penalty killing and shutdown roles.
Goaltending
The Minnesota Wild have one of the NHL’s better goaltending tandems in Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt. Their eight combined shutouts (four each) were second only to the nine registered by the Islanders goalies, Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich. With Gustavsson likely to miss at least the first five weeks of the season, the result of offseason hip surgery, the Wild signed free agent goalie Calvin Pickard. Gustavsson struggled at the end of the regular season, giving up at least four goals in five of his last six starts and lost the starter’s net for the playoffs to Wallstedt, who started 10 of the 11 playoff games.
Gustavsson is entering year one of a new five-year deal ($6.8 million AAV) that includes a No Movement Clause for the first two years of the deal. The Gustavsson injury takes Wallstedt out of the mix to be included as a trade chip in the Wild’s quest to acquire a number one center.
Player to Watch
A lot is going to be expected of second-year center Danila Yurov, who for now is slotted as the team’s number one center. Yurov put up 12 goals and 27 points in his rookie season and averaged just over 13 minutes of ice time a night. His offensive production will need to increase if he is going to drive the Wild’s number one line, and can he handle 17-18 minutes a night against top competition? Wild fans are hoping the answer is yes to both questions, especially to start the season. If Yurov gets off to a strong start, it could entice the Red Wings to acquire the young center in a Dylan Larkin deal.
Outlook
The future of Quinn Hughes in Minnesota will be an ongoing story until Hughes decides one way or another. I believe Hughes is holding off on signing a contract extension with the Wild while he waits for them to upgrade the center position. Minnesota’s point projection is 101.5 (under, -130). Last season, they finished at 104, and I expect a decline, but I am not crazy on laying the “juice.” I can get behind Matt Boldy to score 40+ goals (+140).
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 101.5 (Over, +100, Under -130)
To Make the Playoffs: (-475)
To Miss the Playoffs: (+350)
To Win the Division: (+300)
To Win the Western Conference: (+650)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+1300)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 46-24-12 (104 points, 3rd Central Division)
Over/Under: 46-34-4
Home Favorite: 15-15 // Home Dog: 6-5
Road Favorite: 10-6 // Road Dog: 12-13
Win Score 4 or more: 33 of 46 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 27 of 36
Puck Line Wins: 25 of 46 // Puck Line Losses: 20 of 36
Front End Back-to-Back: 8-5 // Back End Back-to-Back: 5-8
Points Leader: Kirill Kaprizov – 89
Goal Leader: Kirill Kaprizov – 45
Teams First Goal Leader: Matt Boldy – 17, Kirill Kaprizov – 13
Assist Leader: Quinn Hughes – 48
Shots on Goal Leader: Kirill Kaprizov – 269
Blocked Shots: Brock Faber – 148
Depth Chart
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov / Danila Yurov / Maxim Shabanov
Blake Coleman / Joel Eriksson Ek/ Matt Boldy
Yakov Trenin / Ryan Hartman / Bobby Brink
Marcus Foligno/ Michael McCarron / Nick Foligno
Defense
Quinn Hughes / Brock Faber
Jonas Brodin / Jared Spurgeon
Olli Maatta / Zach Bogosian
Goalies
Jesper Wallstedt / Calvin Pickard
Filip Gustavsson (injured)
