OCTOBER 8 • STARTRIBUNE.COM
MINNESOTA WILD 13-3-4 · 2ND IN WEST, CENTRAL
13-3-4 · 2ND IN WEST, CENTRAL
Next Game vs Jets · Tue 1:00AM
MIN +102 TOTAL 5.5
Getting Ready for Work: Brock Faber's preparation is predictable, until the jump shots start flying The Wild’s rising star has every minute of his gameday mapped out.
Matt Boldy - Full participant in practice Boldy (lower body) was a full participant in practice Monday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Boldy sustained a lower-body injury in late September and was labeled as week-to-week and missed preseason games. However, Wild owner Craig Leipold had said he was confident Boldy would be ready for the start of the regular season last week, the Pioneer Press also reported.
OCTOBER 8 • ROTOWIRE
Insider Reveals What It Will Take the Wild to Re-Sign Kirill Kaprizov The Minnesota Wild need more than money to keep Kirill Kaprizov-progress on the ice is key, according to Elliotte Friedman.
OCTOBER 8 • SACBEE.COM
Wild sign top goalie prospect Jesper Wallstedt to 2-year, $4.4 million extension
The Minnesota Wild signed goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to a two-year, $4.4 million contract extensionOCTOBER 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wild sign G Jesper Wallstedt to 2-year, $4.4M extension The Minnesota Wild signed goalie Jesper Wallstedt to a two-year, $4.4-million contract extension Monday, three days before the team begins i...
OCTOBER 7 • KANSASCITY.COM
Wallstedt signs 2-year, $4.4 million contract with Wild | NHL.com Deal begins next season; 21-year-old goalie made 24 saves for 1st NHL shutout April 7
OCTOBER 7 • NHL.COM
The Wild will start with three goalies. Now what? Rookie Jesper Wallstedt made the 23-man roster on Monday, and signed a two-year, $4.4 million extension that kicks in for 2025-26.
OCTOBER 7 • TWINCITIES.COM
Jesper Wallstedt - Lands contract extension Wallstedt signed a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension with the Wild on Monday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Impact Wallstedt made his NHL debut last year, as he made three appearances for Minnesota and posted a 2-1-0 record, 3.02 GAA and .897 save percentage. He's one of the top goaltending prospects in professional hockey and could see increased work for the Wild this year, although he'll likely begin the season behind Filip Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury. Wallstedt's deal will keep him under contract with the Wild through the 2026-27 season, as the agreement won't start until next season.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Wild's Brock Faber can go from Clark Kent to Superman in a hurry The young defenseman prefers wearing glasses, but when he takes them off, he's a rising star in the NHL.
OCTOBER 7 • STARTRIBUNE.COM
Graeme Clarke - Dealing with injury Clarke is expected to miss about a month with a lower-body injury, Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News reports Saturday.
Impact Clarke sustained his injury while blocking a shot during Minnesota's preseason game against the Stars on Sept. 29, and he'll begin the year on season-opening injured reserve. Once he's healthy, the 23-year-old will likely split time between the NHL and AHL clubs, which limits his fantasy value.
OCTOBER 7 • ROTOWIRE
Daemon Hunt - Put on waivers Hunt was placed on waivers by the Wild on Saturday.
Impact Over the course of the 2023-24 regular season, Hunt recorded three goals and 29 points in 51 contests with AHL Iowa as well as an assist in 12 appearances with Minnesota. The 22-year-old is expected to start the campaign in the AHL if he clears waivers, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him summoned to Minnesota at some point during 2024-25.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Ben Jones - Goes on waivers Jones was placed on waivers by the Wild on Saturday.
Impact Jones is expected to pass through waivers and be sent to AHL Iowa. The center had 21 goals, 22 assists and 59 PIM in 72 regular-season appearances with AHL Calgary in 2023-24.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Joel Eriksson Ek - Supplies two helpers Eriksson Ek recorded two assists, three hits, three blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 6-1 preseason win over the Blackhawks.
Impact Eriksson Ek was a force in the preseason with three goals and five assists over three games. The 27-year-old center's position in the lineup isn't certain yet -- he'll be an every-game player, but he could play anywhere from the first line to the third line. The Swede improved his point total for the fifth straight year in 2023-24, producing 30 goals, 64 points, 267 shots on net and 169 hits over 77 contests. If he can fend off Marco Rossi for the top-line gig between Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, Eriksson Ek would be a strong and consistent fantasy center.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Wild at Blackhawks | October 4, 2024 | NHL Full Game Highlights
OCTOBER 5 • YOUTUBE
Marcus Johansson - Buries goal Friday Johansson scored a goal on four shots in Friday's 6-1 preseason win over the Blackhawks.
Impact Johansson stretched the Wild's lead to 5-1 by finishing a give-and-go with Liam Ohgren in the third period. Johansson is set to reprise his role as a middle-six forward for the Wild this season. In 2023-24, he put up a poor 30 points over 78 contests, and he adds very little in the way of physical play, making him a tough sell as a depth option in fantasy.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Brock Faber - Records pair of points Faber scored a goal on four shots and added an assist in Friday's 6-1 preseason win over the Blackhawks.
Impact Faber set up a Mats Zuccarello power-play goal late in the second period before scoring at even strength just 13 seconds into the third. With five points (three on the power play) over three preseason outings, Faber looks ready to turn the page to his second full NHL campaign. The 22-year-old defenseman had 47 points, including 16 on the power play, over 82 games last year, and he could show significant growth in 2024-25.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Jonas Brodin - Strikes from long range Brodin scored a goal on three shots, added an assist, went plus-3 and blocked two shots in Friday's 6-1 preseason win over the Blackhawks.
Impact Brodin caught Petr Mrazek napping at 7:05 of the first period, scoring on a shot from the neutral zone. This was Brodin's lone preseason appearance, but that shouldn't be any trouble for the 31-year-old blueliner. He's expected to serve in a shutdown role alongside Brock Faber on the top pairing. Brodin had 27 points, 142 blocked shots and a plus-22 rating in 62 appearances last season -- his best chance of generating more offense will come from staying healthy.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Marco Rossi - Pair of points in win Rossi scored a goal on four shots and added an assist in Friday's 6-1 preseason win over the Blackhawks.
Impact Rossi began the game as the first line center, but Joel Eriksson Ek also saw time in that role. However, it was on the power play where Rossi made his impact. He scored the opening goal late in a double-minor to Patrick Maroon in the first period, then helped out on a Mats Zuccarello tally late in the second. Regardless of which line he's on, Rossi is poised to be a major contributor for the Wild this year after generating 40 points in 82 regular-season contests as a rookie last season.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Mats Zuccarello - Makes splash in preseason finale Zuccarello scored a power-play goal on three shots, dished two assists and added two PIM in Friday's 6-1 preseason win over the Blackhawks.
Impact Zuccarello restored a two-goal lead for the Wild late in the second period. He also helped out on goals by Brock Faber and Kirill Kaprizov in the third. Zuccarello looks ready to go for 2024-25 after accumulating two goals and five assists over three preseason contests. The 37-year-old winger is set to begin the campaign in his usual role on the top line and first power-play unit, with Kaprizov on the opposite wing, but the center spot is still up for grabs between Joel Eriksson Ek, Marco Rossi and Ryan Hartman.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Marc-Andre Fleury - Cruises to preseason win Fleury allowed one goal on 22 shots in Friday's 6-1 preseason win over the Blackhawks.
Impact The Wild scored twice in a four-second span in the first period, giving Fleury all the support he needed in the win. He wasn't tested heavily by one of his former teams, but it was still an encouraging start after he allowed five goals in his first preseason outing. Fleury and the Wild will turn their attention to the regular season, with their first game set for Thursday at home versus the Blue Jackets.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Marc-Andre Fleury returns to net as Wild close preseason slate at Chicago Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury donned a disguise and joined the ice crew for Tuesday’s preseason game but was back in the team’s final tuneup...
OCTOBER 5 • STARTRIBUNE.COM
At least it's still preseason... 😬🫣
OCTOBER 5 • YOUTUBE
Marc-Andre Fleury - Tending twine Friday Fleury will be in goal for Friday's road preseason game versus the Blackhawks, Greg Boysen of ALL CHGO Sports reports.
Impact Fleury will make his second start of the preseason. He allowed five goals on 41 shots in his first outing versus the Jets. The 39-year-old goalie, who is in his final NHL season, is expected to share the crease with Filip Gustavsson in 2024-25.
OCTOBER 5 • ROTOWIRE
Jake Middleton - Not playing Friday Middleton (bruise) will not play Friday in Chicago, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Impact Middleton should be ready for Opening Night on Oct. 10 versus Columbus. He had seven goals and 18 assists in 80 regular-season games in 2023-24, setting career-highs in both categories. Look for a similar type season in 2024-25.
OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE
Matt Boldy - Ruled out for preseason finale Boldy (lower body) won't play in Friday's preseason finale against Chicago, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Impact Boldy sustained a lower-body injury in late September and was labeled as week-to-week, but he skated this week and said that he was feeling better. While he'll be held out for Friday's preseason finale, the 23-year-old should still be in the mix to play on Opening Night against Columbus on Oct. 10. Over 75 regular-season appearances last year, he logged 29 goals and 69 points while averaging 18:55 of ice time.
OCTOBER 3 • ROTOWIRE
