The Minnesota Wild will open their 2026-27 NHL season on Thursday night in Nashville as they aim to build on last year’s first playoff series win in over a decade. The team faces several pressing questions, particularly surrounding the contract situation of star defenseman Quinn Hughes and the impact of injuries on their blue line.
Hughes enters the season with one year left on his contract after being acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in a major trade last December. As of now, he has not signed an extension, and no deal appears imminent. Hughes has publicly maintained a professional attitude and said he won’t let contract talks affect his play. Still, if the Wild start slowly, the unresolved status could become a distraction. Trade speculation around Hughes could grow as the season progresses without a resolution.
Minnesota’s defense will also be tested without Brock Faber, who is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured skull in the preseason. Faber, 24, had a 51-point season and contributed 10 points in 11 playoff games last year, making his absence a significant blow. Jared Spurgeon, the veteran captain, is expected to move up to the top pairing with Hughes. The rest of the projected defense corps includes Jonas Brodin, new arrival Olli Maatta replacing Jake Middleton, Zach Bogosian, and Daemon Hunt, with David Spacek available if needed. The group is somewhat uncertain but could hold together if Brodin stays healthy and Hunt or Spacek step up.
The center position remains an area of focus for the Wild. General manager Bill Guerin has a reputation for being active in the trade market, and Minnesota’s interest in Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin continues to attract attention. Insider Frank Seravalli recently predicted that Larkin might be traded to Minnesota before Christmas, which would create a formidable offensive combination alongside Kirill Kaprizov.
The forward group has undergone several changes from last season. The Wild lost Mats Zuccarello to the Kings, Marcus Johansson left for Sweden, and Vladimir Tarasenko is now a free agent. Their replacements are Maxim Shabanov from the Islanders, Blake Coleman from the Flames, and Bobby Brink. Zuccarello’s departure is notable, as he had been Kaprizov’s frequent linemate for seven seasons. Kaprizov will start the season alongside two fellow Russians, Danila Yurov and Shabanov, who showed promise despite a quiet rookie NHL season.
Coleman, an 11-year veteran, will join Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek on what appears to be the Wild’s most competitive line, blending skill and physicality. Brink, who finished last season with Minnesota, will skate on the third line with Ryan Hartman and Yakov Trenin, offering potential for a breakout year. The fourth line remains unchanged, featuring the Foligno brothers Marcus and Nick, along with Michael McCarron.
In goal, Jesper Wallstedt will be Minnesota’s clear starter with Filip Gustavsson sidelined on injured reserve. Wallstedt, known as the “Wall of St. Paul,” had a 2.61 goals-against average in 35 games last season and finished sixth in Calder Trophy voting. After an impressive start and a tough midseason patch, he performed well in the playoffs before struggling against Colorado in the second round. The Wild will lean on Wallstedt to continue developing into a reliable No. 1 goalie, with Calvin Pickard available to share starts if necessary.
As the puck drops in Nashville, the Wild will look to answer these questions on and off the ice. The unresolved Hughes contract and Faber’s injury cast uncertainty, while the team’s new forwards and Wallstedt’s development offer hope. Bill Guerin and coach John Hynes aim to steer the team back into the playoffs and beyond.
According to Yahoo Sports.
