Wilderness Walk: The Pre-pre-pre-season is over

It's going to be a slow couple of days without any World Cup games until Saturday. Hope everyone is enjoying the not-quite-NHL-hockey-but-still-hockey. It's like a good cover of NHL hockey. In that spirit, here's a good cover of Kavinsky's "Nightcall".

Wild News

Minnesota Wild: Porter Could Have Had a Place on the Wild
"Could have" and "should have" are not the same thing, but best of luck to Chris Porter.

Mailbag: Non-country Teams in World Cup, UFAs Left - NHL.com

Dan Rosen discusses Eric Staal's possible production among other questions in this week's Mail Bag.

Tending the Fields

University of Wisconsin Badgers Men's Hockey Team Captains Announced - UWBadgers.com

Luke Kunin, aka #NotKiefferBellows, has been named captain of Badgers hockey team (thanks NoCoast for catching the announcement).

WCOH

Lundqvist chased as Europe hammers Sweden - Article - TSN

Leon Draisaitl is good at hockey and some guy named Thomas Vanek scored a goal too.

Getzlaf overtime winner sends Canada past Russia - Article - TSN

Russia keeping this game so close makes me think Team USA might not be using the best strategy to #BeatCanada.

Czech Republic tops N.A. in final warm-up - Article - TSN

The Czech Republic took the kids to school with this game. McJesus is still scoreless.

Off the Trail

Minnesota Wild: Central Division Preview; Winnipeg Jets
Last season, the Minnesota Wild were to the Winnipeg Jets like the Chicago Blackhawks were to the Minnesota Wild. The first team did better overall, but the second crushed the first during the regular season.

Hockey players, family members lobby Congress on issue of head injuries - StarTribune.com
Former players seek research, protections and NHL recognition of links between sports and brain injury.