The Minnesota Wild don’t have much margin for error this season. After losing 150 points from their top six forwards over the offseason, they need fresh production fast if the Stanley Cup talk is going to mean anything. Monday night’s preseason game against the Chicago Blackhawks offered an encouraging glimpse of where some of that help might come from.
The most eye-catching performance belonged to Bobby Brink, who scored twice and, as The Athletic’s Michael Russo put it, looked like “a gamebreaker.” Maxim Shabanov chipped in a goal of his own while playing “fast” and “with grit,” and Danila Yurov turned in a strong two-way showing, including winning 11-of-16 faceoffs.
The Wild still lost 4-3, and it came against a Blackhawks team projected to land near the bottom of the Central Division. But preseason results aside, the game gave Minnesota something it badly needs right now: a reason to believe its younger players can help close the gap left by the departures of several veterans.
That gap is the real issue facing this roster. Minnesota entered last spring with legitimate championship aspirations, only for those hopes to unravel in its second playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche. The Wild had handled a banged-up Dallas Stars team in the first round, but Colorado exposed the difference with more speed, more skill and a more aggressive attacking style.
That “East-West” style of play pushed general manager Bill Guerin to make changes. Mats Zuccarello, Marcus Johansson and Vladimir Tarasenko were among the veterans sent packing, and while there were reasonable arguments for those moves, the bottom line remains the same: someone has to replace that production.
Yurov may be the most established of the three. He has a chance to push into the top six if he can improve in the faceoff circle, though Russo noted that of the 120 centers who took at least 500 faceoffs last season, Yurov ranked last at 39.2 percent. That makes Ryan Hartman a more likely bet for the top center role, but Yurov’s defensive game gives him a path to become either a useful impact piece or a valuable trade chip, possibly in a larger move involving Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin.
Brink also deserves a close watch. Minnesota acquired him for David Jiricek at last year’s trade deadline, and he appeared in 17 games, scoring twice and finishing with five points across the regular season and playoffs. His speed and defensive reliability could make him a useful fit in the bottom six, where balance matters just as much as flash.
Then there’s Shabanov, who may be the biggest swing of the group. His first NHL season with the New York Islanders was derailed by injuries, and he finished with five goals and 18 points in 44 games. The Islanders chose not to tender him at season’s end, but the Wild see enough in his speed, playmaking and intelligence to think he could fill Zuccarello’s spot on the top line.
Minnesota will still depend on its established core to set the tone. Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy, Kirill Kaprizov and Brock Faber give the Wild a solid floor. But Shabanov, Brink and Yurov are the names carrying the upside, and in a season where the Wild need answers from somewhere, that matters.
They may not be the players fans are used to circling on the lineup card. But right now, they’re the ones with the clearest path to changing the story. If Monday was any indication, Minnesota may have found a young trio worth watching closely.
In Other News...
Bobby Brink Just Made Minnesotas Roster Decision Much Harder
Bobby Brink gave the Wild plenty to think about in a preseason matchup with the Blackhawks, scoring twice and even dropping the gloves in a 4-3 overtime loss. For a team still sorting out its lineup decisions before the regular season, that kind of night tends to carry a little extra weight. Brink did more than just fill the box score - he showed the kind of edge and urgency that can make a coaching staff pause when it starts narrowing roles.
Minnesotas preseason is still about evaluation, but Brinks performance added another layer to a competition that was already worth watching. The Wild will keep sorting through options as camp moves forward, and nights like this can change the conversation quickly. Even in a game that ended without a win, Brink made a strong case for keeping himself in the picture when those final decisions come due. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Hughes Just Put Pressure On The Wilds Long-Term Plan
Quinn Hughes has not rushed into the kind of contract-extension conversation that can shape a franchises future, saying those talks have not started and that he is comfortable taking his time. For the Wild, that matters because any long-term planning around a player of his caliber has to account for more than just on-ice fit. Hughes also acknowledged the appeal of playing with his brothers, but made clear he would not give up his current situation just to force that family reunion.
Minnesota has spent plenty of time thinking about its long-range blueprint, and Hughes stance adds another layer to it. He is not treating the calendar like a deadline, which leaves the Wild waiting to see whether the relationship grows into something more permanent or stays in the present tense for a while longer. For now, the only certainty is that the decision will not be driven by outside pressure, and that is the part Minnesota has to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Verbeek Put The Ducks In A Tough Spot Before Opening Night
As opening night approaches, the Ducks are already being pulled into the broader NHL conversation about how aggressive teams will get with their rosters. Around the league, the chatter has centered on possible trade talk involving names like Dylan Larkin and Connor Hellebuyck, along with questions about Quinn Hughes contract future, but Anaheims situation stands out because it is tied to how Pat Verbeek has handled the summer and what that means for the roster he is bringing into the season.
For a team still being judged on its long-term direction, that leaves Verbeek in a tricky spot. Evaluations of the offseason have ranged from praise to skepticism, with the Ducks being weighed against clubs like the Red Wings, and the market for major moves only adds to the pressure. Whether Anaheim ultimately stays patient or finds a way to shift course, the uncertainty around management decisions is already hanging over the start of the year. [Read more 🡒]