Last season Jiricek suffered a spleen injury that ended his season early. The MN Wild envisioned a scenario in which they improved upon Jiricek’s skating and got him to a place where he could be a top contributor on the ice.

Expert recap and game analysis of the Minnesota Wild vs. Ottawa Senators NHL game from December 13, 2025 on ESPN.

This season has been chaos and brilliance, but the quietest twist might be the most telling: the Art Ross race has tilted almost entirely westward, with 14 of the top 15 scorers coming from one conference.

After a lousy start, the Wild turned around their fortunes, and now they have added a franchise player for a Stanley Cup run.

Bill Guerin was wrist deep in a bowl of meatballs when he completed one of the biggest trades in Minnesota Wild history.

The Wild have become one of the toughest teams to play against, gaining points and climbing up the standings. The Wild have earned 30 standings points since Nov. 1, a number topped only by the Avalanche and Stars, each of whom has earned 33. Amazingly, each of the three teams sit in the loaded Central Division.