Minnesota Wild News

Apr 9, 2013; St. Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Mikael Granlund against the Chicago Blackhawks at the Xcel Energy Center.

Depending on your point of view, the Minnesota Wild had a season that either met or surpassed expectations.

The Minnesota Wild have made vast strides in their second year under coach Mike Yeo .

May 7, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Fans gather outside the Xcel Energy Center prior to game four of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center.

Dec 14, 2011; St. Paul, MN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville during the second period against the Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center.

The work begins with its own free agents. It has a decision to make on unrestricted free agent forwards Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Matt Cullen and Stephane Veilleux; unrestricted free agent defensemen Drew Bagnall, Brett Clark, Justin Falk; unrestricted free agent goaltender Niklas Backstrom; restricted free agent forwards Cody Almond, Joel Broda, Cal ... (more)

The team announced that Backstrom's operation went as planned on Thursday morning in Philadelphia.

Despite making the playoffs, something the team had not done since winning the Northwest Division in 2008, a five-game exit in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs to the President's Trophy winning Chicago Blackhawks feels unsatisfying for the Wild.

Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom underwent successful sports hernia surgery Thursday in Philadelphia and is expected to be ready for the 2013-14 season, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher announced.

The Minnesota Wild head into the summer with a lot of questions to answer, as they reached the playoff but made an early exit despite making some big offseason deals and an important trade deadline acquisition.

I'm sure the Minnesota Wild would have loved to have had their 2013 season extended by a few weeks.

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild goaltender Josh Harding and Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid have been named the finalists for the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Penguins star Sidney Crosby, Wild goaltender Josh Harding and Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid are this season's nominees for the NHL's Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

Chicago Blackhawks' Marian Hossa, right, celebrates after scoring his second goal as Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding and Jared Spurgeon react during the second period of Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Chicago, Thursday, May 9, 2013.

Table with Jersey, flowers and messages from fans. Derek Boogaard Memorial Service at the Xcel Energy Center.

The Wild took one game, but ultimately fell to the mighty Blackhawks, 4-1, in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I will be live-blogging today's floor debate at the Minnesota Senate on the same-sex marriage bill.

May 9, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Darcy Kuemper against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center.

Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher saw first-hand how hard it can be to score even-strength goals in the postseason.

July 9, 2012; St. Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher and head coach Mike Yeo speak to the media during a press conference at the Xcel Energy Center.