The Minnesota Wild are rolling into another three-game stretch with momentum, a healthier roster and a few clear themes worth watching.
They’ve already survived a demanding October at 9-3-3 despite the injuries and absences that kept several key players out. Last week brought a little bit of everything: a strong road win over the Utah Mammoth, a tough home loss to the New York Islanders and then another major road victory against the Washington Capitals. Now the schedule tightens again, with one road game before a home back-to-back on the weekend.
The biggest reason Minnesota has been able to keep piling up points is Kirill Kaprizov, who has been on a tear from the start. His new contract began this season, and so did the scoring surge.
Through 16 games, he has 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points. At the time of publication, he was leading the league in goals and sitting fourth in points.
He’s also riding a five-game point streak, with Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek helping drive that production alongside him.
Another thing that has helped the Wild stay on track is discipline. They’ve been one of the more controlled teams in the league over the last few seasons, and while they haven’t been quite as sharp in that area this year, they’ve still done better than plenty of clubs.
That matters because it feeds directly into their special teams. Fewer penalties mean fewer chances for opponents to cash in.
That showed up clearly in the win over Washington, where Minnesota took only two minutes in penalties while the Capitals were whistled for 20. The frustration built on the other side, but the Wild didn’t get pulled into it. They stayed with their game, and that kind of restraint has been part of their success so far.
Maxim Shabanov is another name worth tracking this week. The newcomer drew attention early in the season as a new Russian addition who might fit well with Kaprizov, but Minnesota has gone in a different direction on the top line and that has worked.
Shabanov has settled into a different role, and that has taken some pressure off him. He has started to find more success in recent games, and as he gets more comfortable, the Wild expect his scoring to keep climbing.
Here’s the schedule for Nov. 2 through Nov. 9:
- Tues. Nov. 3 at Philadelphia Flyers, 6:00 PM CT, Xfinity Mobile Arena - Watch the physicality
- Fri. Nov. 6 vs.
San Jose Sharks, 7:00 PM CT, Grand Casino Arena - Macklin Celebrini comes to town, first of back-to-back
- Sat.
Nov. 7 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, 7:00 PM CT, Grand Casino Arena - Kucherov in town, second half of back-to-back
In Other News...
Wild Unveil A New Look Built To Divide The State Of Hockey
The Wild are adding a fresh chapter to their identity with the rollout of their Hometown Remix uniforms, a look meant to tap into Minnesotas local culture, landmarks and hockey roots. Built around celestial and natural themes, the new set is part branding exercise and part tribute, with jerseys and related fan gear already available through Fanatics and the teams official retail channels.
For a franchise that sells itself on being deeply tied to the state of hockey, the design is likely to spark plenty of opinions the moment it hits the ice. Minnesota fans tend to notice every detail when it comes to sweaters, and this one comes with enough symbolism to invite debate long before the first game in which it appears. [Read more 🡒]
Wild Fans Should Be Watching Bill Guerin Closely Right Now
The Quinn Hughes situation around Minnesota has settled into the kind of holding pattern that keeps a front office on edge. Elliotte Friedman said there is no new information on the defensemans contract status, and Hughes still has not committed to an extension, leaving Bill Guerin with limited options as the Wild try to figure out what comes next.
For Minnesota, the uncertainty matters because it shapes everything from patience to timing to how aggressively the team can plan around the blue line. Friedman has floated the possibility of trade considerations, but with no concrete development and no extension clarity in sight, the Wild are left waiting for a signal that has not arrived. [Read more 🡒]