Minnesota Wild Roster 2022-2023
The Daily Goal Horn
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The Minnesota Wild roster is a mix of young up-and-coming prospects and seasoned veterans, the current Minnesota Wild roster boasts a talented group of players that are capable of competing at the highest level. Find out more about the Wild roster below:
Related: Minnesota Wild Schedule 2022-2023
Who is the Minnesota Wild captain?
Jared Spurgeon is the Minnesota Wilds’ captain. Born on November 29, 1989, in Edmonton, Alberta, Spurgeon was not drafted by an NHL team, but he signed as a free agent with the Wild in 2010.
He made his NHL debut that season and has since become a key player on the Wild’s defense. Spurgeon is known for his strong two-way play, as well as his speed, agility, and offensive abilities. He has also been praised for his leadership skills.
During his NHL career, Spurgeon has been named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and has been a finalist for the NHL’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. He has also represented Canada in international competitions, winning a gold medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship.
Who is the Minnesota Wild’s best all-time captain?
The Minnesota Wild player that stands out as their best all-time captain is Mikko Koivu.
Koivu was named the Wild’s captain in 2009 and held the role for over a decade, serving as a strong leader on and off the ice. He was known for his work ethic, his defensive abilities, and his ability to create scoring chances for his teammates.
During his time as captain, Koivu led the Wild to several playoff appearances and helped the team become a consistent contender in the Western Conference. He also set several franchise records, including for career points, assists, and games played.
Forwards
- 12, LW, Matt Boldy (Milford, MA, USA)
- 26, C, Connor Dewar (The Pas, MB, CAN)
- 21, RW, Brandon Duhaime (Coral Springs, FL, USA)
- 14, C, Joel Eriksson Ek (Karlstad, SWE)
- 17, LW, Marcus Foligno (A) (Buffalo, NY, USA)
- 89, C, Frederick Gaudreau (Bromont, QC, CAN)
- 38, RW, Ryan Hartman (Hilton Head Island, SC, USA)
- 90, LW, Marcus Johansson (Landskrona, SWE)
- 97, LW, Kirill Kaprizov (Novokuznetsk, RUS)
- 28, C, Gustav Nyquist (Halmstad, SWE)
- 75, RW, Ryan Reaves (Winnipeg, MB, CAN)
- 15, C, Mason Shaw (Lloydminster, AB, CAN)
- 13, C, Sam Steel (Ardrossan, AB, CAN)
- 70, C, Oskar Sundqvist (Boden, SWE)
- 36, RW, Mats Zuccarello (Oslo, NOR)
Defensemen
- 2, D, Calen Addison (Brandon, MB, CAN)
- 25, D, Jonas Brodin (Karlstad, SWE)
- 24, D, Matt Dumba (A) (Regina, SK, CAN)
- 33, L, Alex Goligoski (Grand Rapids, MN, USA)
- 3, D, John Klingberg (Gothenberg, SWE)
- 4, D, Jon Merrill (Oklahoma City, OK, USA)
- 5, D, Jake Middleton (Wainwright, AB, CAN)
- 46, D, Jared Spurgeon (C) (Edmonton, AB, CAN)
Who is the starting goaltender for the Minnesota Wild?
Currently, veteran Marc-Andre Fleury is considered the starting goaltender for the Wild although he will soon make way for Filip Gustavsson to take the role. Gustavsson was born on June 7, 1998, in Skelleftea, Sweden. Gustavsson was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round, 55th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He played junior hockey in Sweden before coming to North America to play in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Gustavsson made his NHL debut in the 2018-2019 season, appearing in one game for the Penguins. He was traded to the Ottawa Senators in 2019 as part of the deal that sent forward Derick Brassard to the Penguins. In 2021 he joined the Minnesota Wild.
Goaltenders
- 29, G, Marc-Andre Fluery (Sorel, QC, CAN)
- 32, G, Filip Gustavsson (Skelleftea, SWE)
Who is the Minnesota Wild’ best all-time goaltender?
The Minnesota Wild’s best all-time goaltender is likely Devan Dubnyk.
Dubnyk joined the Wild in a trade in January 2015 and quickly established himself as the team’s starting goaltender. He had a remarkable second half of the 2014-2015 season, posting a 27-9-2 record with a .936 save percentage and five shutouts. Dubnyk’s play helped the Wild make the playoffs that season, and he was named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender.
Dubnyk continued to be a key player for the Wild over the next several seasons, earning two more trips to the NHL All-Star Game and setting several franchise records for goaltenders. During his time with the Wild, Dubnyk posted a .918 save percentage and 2.41 goals against average in 253 games played.
Other notable Wild goaltenders include Niklas Backstrom, who holds several franchise records and helped lead the team to its first-ever playoff appearance in 2003, and Manny Fernandez, who had several strong seasons with the Wild in the early 2000s.
Who is the best player for the Minnesota Wild?
Kirill Kaprizov is the best player for the Minnesota Wild. Born on April 26, 1997, in Novokuznetsk, Russia, Kaprizov was selected by the Wild in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, but he did not make his NHL debut until the 2020-2021 season.
He quickly established himself as one of the league’s most exciting young players, showcasing his impressive speed, agility, and offensive skills. In his rookie season, Kaprizov led all NHL rookies in scoring with 51 points in 55 games played, earning him the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. He also helped lead the Wild to the playoffs, where he continued to shine with five goals and five assists in seven games.
Kaprizov is known for his dynamic skating ability, his quick release on his shot, and his ability to create scoring chances for himself and his teammates.
Minnesota Wild Prospects
- Jesper Wallstedt: Considered one of the top goaltending prospects in the world, he was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 20th overall, of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
- Marco Rossi: Rossi was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 9th overall, of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. For the Ottawa 67’s. In the 2019-2020 season, he had an outstanding campaign, scoring 120 points in just 56 games and earning the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player award.
- Carson Lambos: Lambos was selected by the Minnesota Wild in the first round, 26th overall, of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He continues to be a top prospect despite the fact he missed most of the 2020-2021 season due to injury,
Has a Minnesota Wild player ever won an MVP?
Sadly, no Minnesota Wild player has even won an NHL MVP award. However, Marian Gaborik came the closest in 2007-2008.
Gaborik played for the Wild from 2000 to 2009 and was one of the team’s most dominant offensive players during his tenure. In the 2007-2008 season, he had a career year, scoring 42 goals and 41 assists for 83 points in just 77 games played. Gaborik’s strong play helped lead the Wild to a playoff appearance that season, and he was named a finalist for the Hart Trophy.
While Gaborik did not win the Hart Trophy that season, he did receive the NHL First All-Star Team honors, which recognizes the league’s top players at each position.
Minnesota Wild Recaps
Related: See More Minnesota Wild Recaps
Who was the oldest-ever Minnesota Wild player?
The oldest player to ever suit up for the Minnesota Wild is Matt Cullen. Cullen was born on November 2, 1976, and played for the Wild in three separate stints throughout his career: from 2010 to 2013, from 2017 to 2018, and during the 2018-2019 season.
Cullen played in the NHL for 21 seasons, spending time with eight different teams over the course of his career. He was known for his versatility, his ability to play both center and wing positions, and for his leadership skills, having won three Stanley Cup championships during his career.
Cullen retired from professional hockey following the 2018-2019 season, finishing his career with 1,516 regular-season games played, 266 goals, and 465 assists for 731 points. He was 42 when he retired.
Who is the most famous Minnesota Wilds player of all time?
The Minnesota Wild have had several notable players throughout their history, but one player who stands out as their most famous player of all time is Marian Gaborik.
Gaborik was the Wild’s first-ever draft pick, selected third overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. He played for the Wild for nine seasons. During his time with the Wild, Gaborik set several franchise records, including for career goals, assists, and points. He was also named to the NHL All-Star Game three times and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP in 2008.
Gaborik’s exciting style of play, speed, and offensive abilities made him a fan favorite in Minnesota, and he helped put the Wild on the map as a competitive NHL franchise. While he went on to play for several other teams after leaving the Wild, his contributions to the franchise remain significant, and he is widely considered to be the team’s most famous player of all time.