The Minnesota Wild are an ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They compete in the National Hockey League as part of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at the Xcel Energy Center. Niklas Backstrom currently holds the franchise record for wins with 154. Darcy Kuemper could be a timeshare candidate with either Josh Harding or Niklas Backstrom. If you’re looking for a great place to watch the mnwild, you’ll have plenty of options.
Justin Fontaine re-signs with the mnwild
The Wild have given the franchise’s underperforming forward another chance to prove himself. Despite an underwhelming sophomore campaign, Fontaine re-signed with the Wild in the summer. He signed a two-year, $2 million deal that will give him a seven-figure salary and higher expectations from the Wild organization. While Fontaine improved his scoring by ten points after signing his new contract, he also struggled in his second season with Minnesota.
While the Wild had high expectations for Fontaine during his time in the AHL and college, he failed to meet those expectations. His lackluster performance last season was a result of his role in the AHL. In his first NHL season, Fontaine had 21 points and helped the Bulldogs win the national championship in 2011. He also played in the AHL with the Houston Aeros, scoring 55 points in two seasons.
Niklas Backstrom holds the franchise record for most wins
A center, Nicklas Backstrom has played for the Washington Capitals since 2006, when he was drafted fourth overall by the team. He announced he would wait a year before entering the NHL, and he’s been a great addition to the team ever since. Backstrom is also a family man. His father was a professional ice hockey player and won a championship with the Brynas in Finland. Backstrom’s mother was a handball player in Finland, and she was also an avid ice hockey fan.
Though the Wild never made the playoffs during his time with the team, Backstrom’s regular-season numbers are still impressive. He leads the franchise in wins and shutouts with a total of 194. His dominance lasted seven seasons before injuries began to affect his game. He played in at least 41 games in each of his first seven seasons, and had at least twenty-two victories in all but one.
Darcy Kuemper is a time share candidate with Josh Harding or Niklas Backstrom
If the Wild are looking to improve their goaltending depth, Darcy Kuemper is an excellent time share candidate. After taking over the starting role last season from Niklas Backstrom, the Wild may need a backup goalie. Kuemper has been under the microscope for a bit now, but he might be able to shake off some emotional demons and get back on track.
Although the Wild were hoping to develop Kuemper before signing him to a long-term deal, their desire to win right away did not allow for the necessary growing pains. Backstrom was a top-shelf goalie prior to his diagnosis, and the Wild wanted to take advantage of that before Harding was ready. In the end, it worked out well for everyone.
Eric Staal signed to a three-year contract with the mnwild
In a surprising move, center Eric Staal signed a three-year contract with the Minnesota-based Wild on Monday. The contract is a cap-friendly one with a cap hit of $3.5 million per year. The deal is reasonable considering the production Staal put up last season and will allow the Wild to add more free agents or make trades. This signing is genius for the Wild, which could be a huge coup to contend for the Stanley Cup.
After splitting the past season with the Rangers and Hurricanes, Staal was free agent in 2021 and had dreams of representing Canada at the Winter Olympics. On January 13, 2022, Staal signed a professional tryout deal with the Iowa Wild of the AHL. On January 13, 2022, Staal scored a goal and an assist in his first AHL game in 16 years. He played four more games in Iowa, before being released from his tryout contract on January 23, 2022.
Connor Dewar named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
The first Big Ten defensive player of the year was awarded to Wisconsin’s Connor Delaney in 2014. This year, the honor went to a different person, Connor “Dewar,” of Minnesota. Dewar was nominated for the award after being named the conference’s top defenseman for the last two seasons. He was selected 93rd overall in the draft and was named the team’s captain entering the 2018-19 season.
Connor was a four-year starter for the Badgers last season, averaging 2.15 points per game. He led the conference in points with 43 and 22 and also led the Big Ten in goals with five. He was also a valuable asset on the power play, with 12 points in nine games. While he was not able to make the playoffs, he did earn the honor.
Jacques Lemaire resigns as head coach of the mnwild
The Wild have a new head coach after Jacques Lemaire resigns. Jacques Lemaire is a former teammate of Wild President/General Manager Doug Risebrough and Assistant Coach Mario Tremblay. Lemaire finished his career with 835 points and scored at least 20 goals in each of his 12 seasons. Lemaire was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984. He and his wife Mychele have three children and five grandchildren.
The Minnesota Wild had a turbulent year when Lemaire resigned as head coach, ending his tenure as the team’s coach. After the team lost six of their last seven games, fans lost faith in Lemaire. The Wild’s discontent grew with Lemaire’s departure. After a season-ending loss to the Predators, Lemaire’s resignation came as a surprise to many. General manager Doug Reisbrough was also fired. Jacques Lemaire bounced back well when he was hired as head coach of the New Jersey Devils in July. Lou Lamoriello wanted a proven veteran.
