Minnesota Wild is an ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota. The team was founded in late 1990’s but played their first NHL season in 2000-01, when they were awarded expansion spots with Columbus Blue Jackets. Before Wild, there was another NHL team in Minnesota, but it was relocated to Dallas in 1993. Wild has not won any Stanley Cup during the history – the only noteworthy achievement is their Division championship in season 2007-08.

Basic information

The team colours of Minnesota Wild are iron range red, forest green, harvest gold and Minnesota wheat. The General manager of wild is Bill Guerin and for time being, their interim head coach is Dean Evason. The home arena of Wild is Xcel Energy Center, which has appr. 18 000 seat capacity for ice hockey matches. Minnesota Wild has two minor affiliate teams: Iowa Wild in AHL league and Allen Americans in ECHL league.

Seven years without NHL team

After North Stars departure, there was a failed attempt to relocate Winnipeg Jets franchise to Minnesota. The expansion was awarded in 1997, but it took three years before Wild played their first NHL season. Wild made it to the play offs in the third regular season 2002-03. The team won their only Division championship in season 2007-08. Wïld has made it to the play offs quite a few times during the 2010’s but have been defeated latest in the 2nd round of play offs.

Marian Gaborik – one of the fastest

The offensive-minded winger from Slovakia is one of the best skaters around. The Slovak did not play too long for the Wild, but definitely made his mark. Gaborik also played for Slovakia national team when it had the best spell in the history. Off the ice, Gaborik has done great job in helping Slovakian ice hockey and player development in his home country.

Mikko Koivu – long-time captain

Mikko Koivu, the brother of another Finnish legend Saku Koivu, is longest-serving captain of Minnesota Wild. He never gives up and is doing the utmost on the ice. Koivu was the captain of the Finnish national ice hockey team, which won the World championship in spring 2011 games. Koivu is a minor owner of Finnish ice hockey team TPS Turku.

Zach Parise – an alternative captain

American-born Zach Parise has been an alternative captain for Wild since season 2012-13. Before joining Wild, Parise played in Stanley Cup finals with New Jersey Devils. Parise is an American citizen, no matter that his father, Jean-Paul Parise played for Canadian national team. Parise is Junior World Champion from 2004 games that were played in Finland.

Other noteworthy players

Solid defenceman Ryan Suter is still active and playing for Wild. He is a member of famous Suter hockey family. Brent Burns is another great defender who spent six seasons in Minnesota. Andrew Burnette has served the team for a long time: first as a player, later as assistant coach and assistant General manager. Finnish Mikael Granlund played almost seven seasons for Wild before being traded to Nashville Predators.