The Minnesota Wild already won the summer of 2026 while still in the summer of 2025 after they re-signed star Kirill Kaprizov to a record-breaking eight-year, $136 million contract extension. Sure, it came at a high price, but the team couldn't afford letting Kaprizov hitting free agency next summer. That already gave the Wild a huge win entering the season. After that, it was a matter of the team actually winning the games on the ice.
Through 20 games this season, the Wild are 9-7-4 on the year, good enough for 22 points. However, the Wild sit in sixth place in the Central Division entering Wednesday night.