Welcome to the 2023-24 NHL season. After a fairly uneventful off season the Wild will ice mostly the same roster that we saw skate off the XCEL Energy Center ice last Spring.
The only new addition is Patrick Maroon to replace Ryan Reaves. Marco Rossi is a year more acclimated to the North American game along with some the added physical conditioning he experienced remaining in Minnesota through the Summer.
The big subtraction from the Wild roster is Matt Dumba who will be replaced by Brock Faber, alongside Jonas Brodin. The bigger issue on the Wild blueline may be on the third pair where Calen Addison and or Alex Goligoski slot in, once Jared Spurgeon returns from his upper body injury.
Addison is a key player for the Wild powerplay, but has yet to show that he can be trusted at 5-on-5, while Goligoski has seen his game slip in each of the last two seasons.
There are definitely question marks about the Wild defense which is something we have not had to worry about for most of the last decade.
Kirill Kaprizov enters his fourth NHL season poised to take another leap in his progression up the league's elite ladder. He will now where the "A" that was previously worn by Dumba. Kaprizov is fired up and ready to just get this whole thing going again. He was not happy about how it all ended last year and is a man on a mission. His fire runs deep and his embracing of the whole opportunity is a treat to witness.
Kaprizov has spent numerous hours learning English to make himself better understood. He is a leader and demands nothing but excellence from himself first. He is a great teammate and the franchise leader without question.
Joel Eriksson Ek is back healthy and ready to assert himself up the ranks as well and with Patrice Bergeron retired, JEE should be recognized as the premier shutdown pivot in the NHL.
Filip Gustavsson is re-signed and ready to backstop the Wild crease along with future Hall of Famer, Marc-Andre Fleury to provide a fabulous 1-1A tandem. Jesper Wallstedt will get some time in the Wild net I am sure this season as he projects as the goalie of the future in Minnesota.
We have to wait to see the boys until Thursday, but the NHL season is here with 3 games tonight!!!
Enjoy the ride!!!
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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