Wilderness Walk: Hockey is Here

That’s Wild

• We’re less than 24 hours away from the Minnesota Wild’s first gameday and I can not handle it. There’s not even a link here, it’s just crazy that the season is here.
• To get our hopes in check, the Wild extended forward Marcus Foligno to a three-year deal, keeping him in Minnesota for the next four seasons at least for a cap hit of $3.1-million. [Hockey Wilderness]
• For more on the Foligno front, we turn to Michael Russo’s story of the 29-year-old defensive freak that will be in the green and wheat for a little bit longer. [The Athletic]
• Don’t you fret, even if the Wild get to an unfavorable start against the lowly Californian teams, everything will be alright. [10K Rinks]
• The Wild are entering this season unlike any other. [StarTribune]
• Everyone loves to make fun of defensive metrics until they’re useful in getting a bigger contract, eh Marcus?

Off the trail...

• The NHL is back and in this horrible, odd, insane time, and with that, comes COVID-19 updates from the league itself. As of Tuesday, a total of 27 confirmed cases among the players, 17 of which are with the Dallas Stars, but luckily those cases are asymptomatic. [ProHockeyTalk]
• Sometimes, you just figure when they mention that you’re playing at Lake Tahoe, it would be on the actual lake.

• Vancouver Canucks players J.T. Miller and Jordie Benn, will not be available to start the season, due to COVID-19 testing and the league’s travel protocols. [Sportsnet]
• Some hockey has already been going on with the PWHPA playing the USPHL’s Jr. Bruins yesterday and something completely unforeseen happened.

• The Winnipeg Jets are going to eventually trade some dudes and we’re here for it. [TSN]
• Speaking of the Jets, they lost two of the players yesterday, as defenseman Luca Sbisa and goaltender Eric Comrie were claimed off waivers. Sbisa is now a member of the Nashville Predators, while Comrie will be the likely Corey Crawford replacement with the New Jersey Devils. [TSN]