Louis Varland, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher and former Twin, bets his money on the Minnesota Wild to finally end the state’s 25-year championship drought — despite rooting for his current team and his old team battling for playoff spots. With a revamped roster, playoff breakthrough last season, and stars like Kirill Kaprizov, the Wild are poised for a run. Varland, who’s been stellar for the Jays, might be watching from the sidelines — but his pick says the Wild are the team to beat.

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NHL season kicks off with wild home opener news: Minnesota hosts Boston on Oct 3, while the league expands to 84 games. Meanwhile, Detroit’s Red Wings are in chaos — Dylan Larkin seeks a trade, and legend Steve Yzerman steps down as GM to become a senior advisor. The full schedule drops tomorrow — expect big moves and buzz.

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The Minnesota Wild made quiet but impactful moves in this year’s draft, landing three young talents — including a towering 6’8” 18-year-old goalie Filip Ruzicka, who’s already signed a three-year deal. Ruzicka, picked 137th overall, dazzled in the WHL with a .906 save percentage and turned heads in the playoffs with a .936 save rate. He’s returning to Brandon for another season before the Wild plot his pro path — a promising start for a future netminder.

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The Minnesota Wild just pulled off a smart move by signing Blake Coleman — a gritty, 20-goal scorer with speed and heart — to fill the void left by Matt Zuccarello. But while Coleman’s a solid addition, the real question remains: where’s their true top-tier center? Joel Eriksson Ek is reliable, but not game-changing. Are they still targeting someone like Dylan Larkin? Until they land that elite center, the Wild remain a roster with promise — but still missing that one crucial piece to truly compete.

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The Minnesota Wild just snagged a giant goalie, Filip Ruzicka, in the fifth round of the draft—yes, he’s 6’8” and only 18. Signed to a three-year deal, he’s already making waves with a 26-14 record in 42 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings. Ruzicka says his size is his secret weapon, naturally blocking more shots—and he even admits the coldest part of his Canadian move? Showing up in Birkenstocks, no socks. He’s sticking around in Brandon for another year to keep growing, then heading into the Wild’s minor league system. Teams are hunting for edge players like him—and we’ll be watching to see if he can translate that size into NHL success.

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The Minnesota Wild just inked a future goalie: 18-year-old phenom Filip Ruzicka, a towering 6’8”, 230-pound netminder signed to a three-year deal set to begin in 2026-27. After dominating the WHL with Brandon Wheat Kings—26 wins, 14 losses, .906 save percentage—and earlier tearing up the Czech U17 league with a 23-win, 1.80 GAA, .940 save percentage season, Ruzicka’s NHL future is already in motion. Drafted in the fifth round last year, he’ll return to Brandon this season but could be in the Wild’s sights at training camp this summer. With his size and stats, this one’s worth watching.

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The Minnesota Wild just inked a three-year deal with 18-year-old goalie Filip Ruzicka, a towering 6’8” netminder already lighting up the Western Hockey League with 26 wins and elite save percentages. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2026 NHL Draft, Ruzicka’s standout play — including playoff heroics — and even more dominant stats in the Czech Republic’s U17 league signal he’s a future cornerstone. The Wild are betting big on his development, making this a long-term play to build a sustainable goaltending foundation.

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The Minnesota Wild just pulled off a blockbuster trade for Quinn Hughes, but now they’re locked in a high-stakes contract battle that could reshape their roster. Hughes, entering the final year of his deal, is reportedly seeking a massive long-term contract—potentially $17M+ annually—while the Wild want security for 7-8 years. His camp pushes for a shorter 3-year deal, opening the door to future free agency and even a potential brotherhood with Jack Hughes. If Hughes signs at the top end, he and Kaprizov could gobble up nearly 30% of the cap, leaving little room to build a competitive depth. The Wild’s gamble on elite defense could backfire—or pay off big.

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