Paul Bissonnette isn’t buying the Minnesota Wild hype heading into the 2026-27 season.
On a recent Central Division preview episode of the Spittin' Chiclets podcast, the former NHL player and current TNT analyst made a blunt prediction: Minnesota will fall short of the postseason.
“You want my hot take of the century? I think the Wild are gonna miss the playoffs," Bissonnette said.
"I think that they're gonna get off to a little bit of a tough start. And I think that the Quinn Hughes noise is gonna get loud.
What are they gonna do? They have (Joel) Eriksson Ek at center ice.
Who the f*** are their other centermen? Hartman might play center.
"I just think it's a strong division, it's a strong conference, I think that they're riding the high of last year and now they've got this daunting storyline coming in that Quinn Hughes wants nothing to do with them."
Bissonnette’s read was backed up by Keith Yandle, while Ryan Whitney pushed back hard. “You're nuts (if) you think this team's missing (the) playoffs," Whitney said. "You guys are gonna look like idiots when they're 10-3 out of the gate and the city's rocking and Quinn Hughes signs an extension.”
Bissonnette doubled down on the idea that Hughes won’t extend with Minnesota and could end up traded, saying that early-season struggles would only add to the pressure and push the Wild toward missing the playoffs.
That’s a big swing, especially for a team that has been a regular in the postseason. Minnesota has reached the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons, with 2023-24 as the only miss in that stretch. The Wild also have Matt Boldy, Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Hughes, Faber and Jesper Wallstedt under contract this season.
With that kind of talent, it’s tough to see the Wild dropping out of the race. But Bissonnette clearly thinks the center depth questions and the Quinn Hughes situation could tilt things the wrong way. Time will tell.
In Other News...
Wild Roster Cuts Put Young Talent And Fringe Hopefuls On Notice
The first round of cuts around the Wilds camp has started to clarify who is still in the mix and who is headed back to the AHL to keep building. Minnesota assigned 15 players to the Iowa Wild, trimming the roster to 27 as the front office continues sorting through a crowded group of young players and depth hopefuls. Eight of those players now have a waiver hurdle to clear, a reminder that roster management at this stage is as much about protecting assets as it is about performance.
Among the names on waivers are Matt Kierstad, Carson Lambos, Roman Schmidt and Caedan Bankier, along with several veterans fighting for one last look in Dylan Gambrell, Justin Kirkland, Tyler Pitlick and Mason Shaw. Minnesota still needs four more moves to get to the 23-man limit, so the picture is not finished yet, but the latest round of decisions has already put a spotlight on which prospects are closest to breaking through and which bubble players are running out of time. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Pettersson Buzz Comes With One Massive Catch
Frank Seravallis comments have only added more heat to an already familiar NHL rumor cycle, and for teams like Minnesota, the intrigue is obvious. Elias Pettersson is still the kind of high-end center who would change the conversation for any club looking to deepen its top six, and the Wild have been mentioned in the same breath as Detroit and Dallas as part of the broader speculation around where he might fit if Vancouver ever decides to move him.
The catch, though, is the same one that has kept this from becoming anything more concrete: nothing official is out there, and Petterssons value is hard to pin down right now. His recent performance has complicated the market, his contract includes a no-movement clause, and even with buzz building, there is no sign yet of a deal or serious offer that would give Minnesota a real path to him. [Read more 🡒]
Kaprizov Faces A Huge Wild Test Without His Trusted Running Mate
Kirill Kaprizov came back to Minnesota for training camp facing a very different setup than the one that helped define so much of his Wild career. After six seasons alongside Mats Zuccarello, the winger is now adjusting to life without his longtime running mate following Zuccarellos move to the Los Angeles Kings, leaving Kaprizov to build chemistry with a new mix that includes Russian newcomer Maxim Shabanov and Ryan Hartman.
For the Wild, the change puts added attention on how quickly Kaprizov can settle in with fresh linemates and keep the offense humming. Kaprizov has already spoken positively about Shabanovs skill, and he also made clear he wants to keep his friendship with Zuccarello intact even as their paths split on the ice. The on-ice partnership is gone, but the personal bond remains a thread worth watching as Minnesota opens a new chapter around its star. [Read more 🡒]