Wilderness Walk: Some news is good news

That’s Wild

• A question that will not be answered until the puck drops on opening night, but one that will be asked constantly. Is Marco Rossi going to play for the Wild? Let’s take a look. [Hockey Wilderness]
• Minnesota sports figures around the state and country shared their memories of legend Sid Hartman after his passing earlier this week at the age of 100. The Athletic’s Michael Russo shared his own personal experiences of the all-time great. [The Athletic]
• Hey, a transaction! To solidify some organizational defensive depth, the Minnesota Wild signed Ian McCoshen to a one-year, two-way deal. The 25-year-old has 60 games of NHL experience under his belt, over the last three seasons in the Florida Panthers organization. [Hockey Wilderness]

Off the trail...

• A legend steps away from the game as broadcaster Doc Emrick retires after 47 years in the business. Over 3,700 games and 22 Stanley Cup Finals called later, he will hang up the mic.

• One day closer to arbitration hearings mean a handful of RFAs signing to short-term deals. Colorado Avalanche forward Tyson Jost, Vancouver Canucks forward Adam Gaudette, and Arizona Coyotes forward Christian Fischer are some recognizable names that have signed one-year deals recently.
• Hindsight is often hilarious and boy, the Pittsburgh Penguins get fed a heaping pile of it. According to New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban, the Penguins were seriously thinking of selecting him with their 20th-overall selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Hmm...

• Nate Thompson, who signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets earlier, is going to be wearing No. 11 this upcoming season for his new team, in honor of the late Rick Rypien. No one has donned that number in Winnipeg, but Rypien would have, if he hadn’t lost his battle with depression the summer before the Jets returned to Manitoba. Thompson, who is open about his own struggles with addiction and mental health, is a great candidate to bring the number back. [NHL dot com]