Minnesota Wild {11th overall} Western Conference, Central Division
The Wild finished the 2022-23 NHL regular season with over 100 points, a positive goal differential, strong on the road and at home with the seventh-best goals against in the League, and in the first round took a 2-1 series lead before succumbing.
Head coach Dean Evason celebrating his birthday today, the former 20-goal scorer for the Hartford Whalers has made the playoffs each of his past three seasons behind the bench for Minnesota.
Minnesota interestingly dealt a seventh-round draft pick for the financial convenience of paying 80 percent of a contract to acquire forward Patrick {MaGoon} Maroon and his hostile head-slamming style of play, possibly more importantly the Wild signed goaltender Filip Gustavsson for three seasons.
In Nashville, the Minnesota Wild selected 21st overall in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft Charlie Stramel a solid 6’ 3” 200-pound center that plays a physical two-way style that fits into Minnesota’s successful approach to Hockey.
Buffalo Winter 