Wild
A preview of the 2025-26 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: Vladimir Tarasenko, Nico Sturm, Danila Yurov, Jack Johnson (PTO)
Key Departures: Marc-Andre Fleury, Gustav Nyquist, Freddie Gaudreau
Overview
The Wild came out of the gate by winning 18 of their first 26 games and looked like one of the NHL’s best teams. They survived the loss of franchise player Kirill Kaprizov for 41 games, along with No. 1 center Joel Eriksson-Ek for 36 games, yet still found a way to make the playoffs for the eighth time in 10 years. What still eludes the Wild is getting past the opening round, as they have not won a playoff round since 2015.
Offense
The Wild’s 225 goals scored had them ranked 25th overall. The loss of Kaprizov for half the season played a major role in not being able to generate more offense. Minnesota’s 47 games going Under the total were the second-most last season in the NHL and the 5.70 combined goals per game were the third-fewest in the league. Matt Boldy has had three consecutive seasons scoring 27 goals or more. His 271 shots on goal led the team. Boldy had five shots on goal or more 20 times last season and he had four or more shots on goal 39 times.
Marco Rossi eclipsed the 20-goal mark for the second consecutive season and finished second on the team in points, but when it came time for the playoffs, Rossi was demoted to the fourth line and saw his average ice time drop from 18 minutes a game to just over 11 per game.
Defense
The Wild were middle of the pack when it came to team defense. Their 236 goals surrendered ranked 16th, but their shorthanded play was an area for concern. Minnesota had the 30th-ranked penalty kill at 72.4%.
Zeev Buium became the first Wild player to make his NHL debut in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The 12th overall pick in the 2024 draft grew up in San Diego and looks like the real deal. He joins a solid group that includes Jake Middleton, Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin, David Jiricek and Brock Faber. Faber should find himself a Norris Trophy finalist one day at the very least. His average ice time of 25:32 was fourth-highest in the league. Brodin, however, will miss the start of the season due to injury.
Goaltending
With the retirement of Marc-Andre Fleury, the door opens for former first-round pick Jesper Wallstedt to become a full-time NHLer this season. The 22-year-old Wallstedt only has five NHL games on his resume and will serve as the backup to fellow Swede, Filip Gustavsson. Gustavsson is coming off career-highs in wins (31) and games started (58) and his five shutouts last season were one fewer than he had in his previous 111 NHL games. In 33 of his 58 starts, the Wild and their opponents combined for five goals or less.
Player to Watch
The Wild are hoping that 21-year-old Danila Yurov, the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is ready to make the jump from the KHL to the NHL. Yurov had 13 goals and 12 assists last season in the KHL. The big question will be how long it will take him to adapt to the NHL game.
Outlook
The question surrounding the Wild is the future of their best player, Kirill Kaprizov, has been answer. He turned down the largest contract in league history, an eight-year, $128 million deal (16 million AAV), but did sign an eight-year, $136 million deal a week before the start of the season.
Sportsbooks have Kaprizov’s point total at 100.5 with the Under at (-125). Kaprizov has hit the century mark in points just once in his career (106) as staying injury-free has been a constant issue for one of the league’s best players. I am going Under 100.5 (-125).
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 94.5
To Make the Playoffs: -150
To Miss the Playoffs: +120
To Win the Central Division: +800
To Win the Western Conference: +1800
To Win the Stanley Cup: +4000
2024-25 Recap
Record: 45-30-7, 97 points (4th Central, #1 Wild Card)
Over/Under: 33-47-2
Home Favorite: 17-9 // Home Dog: 5-9
Road Favorite: 11-4 // Road Dog: 12-14
Win Score 4 or more: 26 of 45 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 21 of 37
Puck Line Wins: 26 of 45 // Puck Line Losses: 23 of 37
Front End Back-to-Back: 6-6 // Back End Back-to-Back: 5-7
Points Leader: Matt Boldy – 73
Goal Leader: Matt Boldy -27
Assist Leader: Matt Boldy – 46
Shots on Goal Leader: Matt Boldy – 271
Blocked Shots Leader: Jake Middleton – 157
Depth Chart
Forwards
Kirill Kaprizov / Joel Eriksson-Ek / Mats Zuccarello
Matt Boldy / Marco Rossi / Vladimir Tarasenko
Marcus Foligno / Danila Yurov / Ryan Hartman
Marcus Johansson / Nico Sturm / Yakov Trenin
Defense
Jake Middleton / Brock Faber
Zeev Buium / Jared Spurgeon
David Jiricek / Zach Bogosian
Goalies
Filip Gustavsson / Jesper Wallstedt
Power Play Unit 1
Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson-Ek, Mats Zuccarello, Zeev Buium, Kirill Kaprizov
