Locked On Wild - Your Daily Minnesota Wild Podcast

The Central Division power rankings shake up in week two, with the Colorado Avalanche maintaining their top spot and the Utah Mammoth surging to second. Spencer Knight's stellar performance propels the Chicago Blackhawks to fourth, while the Dallas Stars tumble to fifth. The Minnesota Wild struggle offensively, dropping to sixth with just 21 goals in 8 games. Host Seth Toupal breaks down each team...

The Minnesota Wild's struggles continue as they fall to the New Jersey Devils. Roster construction and coaching decisions come under scrutiny as the team's 5-on-5 play falters. Vladimir Tarasenko's underwhelming performance raises questions about Bill Guerin's offseason moves. Injuries to key players like Matt Zuccarello and Nico Sturm further complicate the Wild's lineup woes. Host Seth Toupal an...

The Minnesota Wild end their 6 game road trip with a listless 4-1 loss to New Jersey, to finish the trip 1-3-1. The Wild are now 3-4-1 on the season, and managed just 1 goal from Matt Boldy against Devils goaltender Nico Daws. The Devils took a 3-0 lead at the start of the 3rd period before Matt Boldy scored just over 10 minutes into the period. But the Wild were 0/3 on the Power Play and could no...

The Minnesota Wild's dynamic duo of Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy continue to shine, boasting impressive Corsi numbers and goal-sharing percentages. Vladimir Tarasenko's slow start raises questions about his fit on the second line. Are the Wild eyeing Artemi Panarin as a potential trade target?  Host Seth Toupal breaks down shot rates, line combinations, and potential roster moves. Tarasenko's sh...

The Minnesota Wild snapped a 3 game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the New York Rangers Monday in New York. Danila Yurov scored his first career NHL goal, Jonas Brodin scored his first goal of the season and Kirill Kaprizov scored an empty net goal to lead the Wild, who trailed 1-0 on an Artemi Panarin goal in the first minute of the game. The Wild were 1/1 on the Penalty Kill, and Filip Gustav...

The Minnesota Wild fell 5-1 to Washington Friday night in DC to drop to 2-3 on the season. The Wild struggled mightily to generate offense all night long, finishing with a season low 15 shots on goal. The Capitals scored once in the first and second period, and 3 goals in the 3rd. The Wild scored their lone goal courtesy of Marcus Johansson, but were mostly dominated in every single facet the rest...

The Minnesota Wild's power play sizzles at 47%, but can it sustain this hot streak? Jessi Pierce of the Bardown Beauties Podcast joins to dissect Matt Boldy's scorching start and the Wild's second line struggles. Central Division power rankings debut, with surprising early-season performances shaking up the standings.  Host Seth Toupal and Jessi Pierce dive into a "Buy or Sell" segment, analyzing...

The Minnesota Wild's special teams show promise and pitfalls. Power play shines with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy's chemistry, while penalty kill struggles persist. Jesper Wallstedt's NHL debut marks a mental turning point. Dallas Stars' lineup deployment offers lessons in creating depth. Wild experiment with line combinations to spark 5-on-5 scoring. Host Seth Toupal breaks down the Wild's earl...

The Minnesota Wild fell to 2-2 after a 5-2 loss to Dallas on the second night of a back to back. The Wild fell behind on first period goals by Esa Lindell and Wyatt Johnston. Matt Duchene added a Power Play goal in the second to make it 3-0. Krill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy scored Power Play goals, their 4th goals of the season, before Dallas scored 2 Empty Net goals to cap the scoring. Filip Gustavs...

The Minnesota Wild improved to 2-1 after a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night at Grand Casino Arena. The Wild led 3-0 after 1 period on the strength of Power Play goals by Jared Spurgeon, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy. But the Kings answered back with 3 goals in the 3rd period from Kevin Fiala, Quinton Byfield and Adrian Kempe. After the Wild killed off a penalty in Overtime, Jes...

The Minnesota Wild's season opener showcases a rollercoaster start with a 5-0 win against St. Louis and a 7-4 loss to Columbus. Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy shine on the top line, but the second line struggles to find its footing. John Hynes faces tough decisions balancing veteran experience with young talent as the Wild aim to break through their playoff ceiling. Seth Toupal and Alex Micheletti...

The Minnesota Wild gear up for the 2025-2026 NHL season with bold predictions and high expectations. Kirill Kaprizov emerges as a Hart Trophy favorite, with ESPN analysts John Tortorella and P.K. Subban picking the Wild to win the Central Division. Matt Boldy eyes a potential 40-goal, 85-point season, while rookie defenseman Zeev Buium aims to outperform Brock Faber offensively.  Host Seth Toupal...

The Minnesota Wild's October schedule presents a mix of challenges and opportunities. Can they maintain their road dominance from last season? With Kirill Kaprizov locked in long-term and Filip Gustavsson back in net, the Wild aim for a strong start. Key matchups against Central Division rivals St. Louis, Dallas, and Winnipeg could set the tone for the season.  Host Seth Toupal and guest Zach Zema...

The Minnesota Wild gear up for the 2025-2026 NHL season with key contract extensions and roster moves. Kirill Kaprizov's eight-year deal solidifies him as the franchise cornerstone, while Filip Gustavsson's team-friendly extension locks in a top-tier goaltender. Kevin Gorg joins host Seth Toupal to break down the Wild's offseason, Central Division landscape, and potential impact of young players....

The Minnesota Wild set their opening night roster with surprising line combinations. Filip Gustavsson signs a 5-year, $6.8 million AAV extension, solidifying the Wild's goaltending future. Connor McDavid's two-year deal with Edmonton raises questions about his long-term commitment. Damon Hunt returns to the Wild as the seventh defenseman, while Hunter Hate heads to Iowa for more playing time. Host...

Filip Gustavsson signs a 5-year, $34 million extension with the Minnesota Wild. The deal solidifies Gustavsson as the Wild's starting goaltender through 2031. His .914 save percentage over the last three seasons ranks third in the NHL, tied with Ilya Sorokin and behind only Linus Ullmark and Connor Hellebuyck. Seth Toupal breaks down Gustavsson's stats, comparing him to other top NHL netminders. T...

The Locked on NHL top 100 players list is out, and the Minnesota Wild have made their mark. Kirill Kaprizov lands at #8, solidifying his status as a league elite. But is Matt Boldy underrated at #52? A deep dive into stats reveals Kaprizov's true impact, with his points-per-game putting him among the NHL's best. Seth Toupal, host of Locked On Wild, breaks down the rankings, questioning goalie plac...

*RECORDED BEFORE KIRILL KAPRIZOV SIGNED THE LARGEST CONTRACT IN NHL HISTORY Can the Winnipeg Jets repeat as President’s Trophy winners despite major offseason losses? Are the Colorado Avalanche under pressure to make a deep playoff run? Will the Dallas Stars finally make a Stanley Cup Final after three-straight Conference Final exits? And what about the Minnesota Wild, who are finally free from sa...

Bill Guerin's Minnesota Wild face crucial depth challenges this season. Injuries and underwhelming trade acquisitions have plagued the team, but improved roster flexibility and $5.1 million in cap space offer hope. The Wild's depth chart, featuring Tyler Pitlick, Nicholas Abe Kubel, and Hunter Haight, looks stronger than previous years. Liam Ohgren and Danila Yurov could step into top-six roles if...

The Minnesota Wild face a pivotal season with Kirill Kaprizov's new contract. John Hynes must balance security and opportunity, especially on the second line and penalty kill. Marcus Johansson's role is questioned as Liam Ohgren emerges. The Wild's special teams woes, particularly their penalty kill, have hampered playoff success. Can they fix these issues to contend? Seth Toupal, host of Locked O...

Kirill Kaprizov signs record-breaking $136 million contract with Minnesota Wild. What's next for the franchise? The easy part is done, but turning the Wild into a Cup contender is the real challenge. Seth Toupal breaks down the contract structure, including signing bonuses and salary cap implications. How will this impact the Wild's roster construction and future trades? Locked On Wild host Seth T...

The Minnesota Wild face injury challenges as training camp winds down. Jonas Brodin's return timeline looks promising, potentially missing only a game or two. Matt Zuccarello remains sidelined indefinitely, opening opportunities for Liam Ohgren or Marcus Johansson on the second line. Nico Sturm's back issues create fourth-line uncertainty, with Hunter Haight impressing in camp. Host Seth Toupal br...

The Minnesota Wild face potential setbacks in the 2025-2026 season. Special teams woes persist, with the penalty kill struggling for four consecutive years. The power play's inconsistency and perimeter-focused approach raise concerns. An unchanged roster from previous seasons sparks pessimism about the team's ability to evolve. Seth Toupal and Alex Micheletti dissect reasons for caution, including...

Could a youth movement lead to a better 2025-26 season for the Minnesota Wild? Marco Rossi and Matt Boldy's potential breakout performances on the top line with Kirill Kaprizov could spark offensive firepower. Brock Faber's defensive resurgence and Philip Gustafson's stability in net may provide a solid foundation. Host Seth Toupal explores how young talents like Liam Ohgren and Jesper Wallstedt c...

Vladimir Tarasenko's potential resurgence with the Minnesota Wild takes center stage. Can he rediscover his scoring touch after a disappointing stint in Detroit? The Wild's second line of Tarasenko, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Liam Ohgren could be a game-changer. Host Seth Toupal breaks down Tarasenko's struggles last season, analyzing shot attempts, shooting percentages, and line combinations. He explo...