With unseasonably warm temperatures in the Twin Cities on Monday it really doesn’t feel like hockey is back in the air, but it is.
The Wild drop the puck on the 2013-14 regular season Thursday night with the season/home opener against the Los Angeles Kings.
The roster has some new names and faces, and Michael Russo of the Star Tribune did a fantastic job of breaking it all down.
FORWARDS
Line 1: Zach Parise-Mikko Koivu-Jason Pominville
Line 2: Nino Niederreiter-Charlie Coyle-Dany Heatley
Line 3: Matt Cooke-Kyle Brodziak-Mikael Granlund
Line 4: Justin Fontaine-Zenon Konopka-Torrey Mitchell
DEFENSEMAN
D-Pair 1: Ryan Suter-Jonas Brodin
D-Pair 2: Marco Scandella-Jared Spurgeon
D-Pair 3: Keith Ballard-Matt Dumba
Head coach Mike Yeo told Wild.com that there’s a good chance Dumba will be active for the opener. Dumba was the Wild’s first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
Notice anyone missing? Jason Zucker had plans to make the team but a poor preseason kept him off the roster.
Nobody to blame but myself.. Have to be better and will be better! See you soon Minnesota! #JustWait #MNWild
— Jason Zucker (@Jason_Zucker16) September 29, 2013
What’s the biggest concern for the Wild? Goaltending, according to Mike Halford of ProHockeyTalk.
Minnesota. Niklas Backstrom turns 36 in February and missed last year’s playoffs with a groin injury. If he falters, the gig falls to Josh Harding, who filled in admirably during the postseason but has significant health concerns of his own.
