Howie: Wild facing a tipping point next season

ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Wild enter the 2025-26 season with a familiar mix of anticipation and apprehension. The roster still carries the battle scars of playoff disappointments, but underneath the surface, something different is brewing this fall in St. Paul. The buyout penalties that once hogtied the club’s cap flexibility are finally easing. The young core is maturing. And for the first time in years, the Wild are skating toward an identity that feels sustainable — and maybe even dangerous.

At the center of it all, of course, is Kirill Kaprizov. Still dazzling, still decisive, and now staring at the final year of his contract. Whether the club can convince him to stay long-term will likely depend on what unfolds between now and April. If the Wild are a legitimate contender by spring, the chances of re-signing their superstar improve dramatically. If not, the whispers will grow louder.

But Kaprizov’s brilliance isn’t enough on its own. Minnesota is counting on a wave of young talent to carry more of the weight. Zeev Buium, the prized 2024 first-round pick, arrives with serious hype on the blue line. Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi — still just 24 and 23 — are expected to be tone-setters, not passengers.

With Marc-André Fleury riding off into the sunset, the goaltending situation gets a spotlight of its own. Filip Gustavsson is now the clear No. 1, and Jesper Wallstedt slides in as backup. That’s a gamble, no doubt — young goalies come with volatility — but it also opens the door for upside this team desperately needs.

The front office, finally free from $14 million-plus in cap pain inflicted by the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts, has already started flexing new spending muscle. Vladimir Tarasenko’s one-year deal adds veteran scoring and postseason pedigree. It’s a low-risk bet, especially for a club that’s lacked proven playoff finishers. Whether Tarasenko has enough left in the tank to justify the ice time remains to be seen.

That said, it’s not all sunshine and breakaways. There are still question marks about roster depth, defensive consistency, and whether Minnesota can hang with the Central Division’s big dogs — Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, and St. Louis, in particular. And until the Wild prove they can win in the postseason, those doubts are earned.

But there’s a different kind of energy this time. The pressure’s no longer about hanging onto past veterans or preserving a middling identity. The rebuild is over. The window is cracked open.

Now it’s about whether this roster — a blend of hungry youth and hardened leaders — can break through the ceiling that’s held the franchise in place for nearly a decade.

If they do, Kaprizov stays. If they don’t, buckle up.

. . .

The Wild will open their 2025-26 regular season on the road Oct. 9 against the St. Louis Blues, the team announced Thursday with the release of its full schedule, which includes a six-game preseason slate and a compressed regular season bracketed by a Winter Olympic break in February.

The Wild’s home opener at Xcel Energy Center is set for Oct. 11 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, followed by a visit from the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 13.

Minnesota’s preseason begins Sept. 21 in Winnipeg and features three home games — Sept. 25 vs. Dallas, Sept. 28 vs. Chicago and Sept. 30 vs. Winnipeg — before wrapping up Oct. 3 in Chicago.

The regular-season schedule features a heavy early dose of road games, with eight of the Wild's first 10 contests played away from St. Paul. Notable road stops include a four-game East Coast swing through Washington (Oct. 17), Philadelphia (Oct. 18), the New York Rangers (Oct. 20) and New Jersey (Oct. 22).

The Wild will also welcome the NHL’s newest franchise, Utah, to Xcel Energy Center on Oct. 25 and again on March 10. Their first visit to Utah is scheduled for Feb. 27.

Other marquee home games include matchups against Pittsburgh (Oct. 30), Vegas (Nov. 16), Colorado (Nov. 28 and Dec. 21), Boston (Dec. 14), New York Rangers (March 14), and Toronto (March 15).

A grueling seven-game road trip looms from Dec. 2-8, taking the Wild through Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver and Seattle, and another six-game stretch arrives from Jan. 2-8 out west, including back-to-back games against the Kings.

Following a league-wide Olympic pause from early February through Feb. 25, Minnesota will resume play Feb. 26 at Colorado. The final month of the season features a balanced mix of road and home games, with the regular-season finale set for April 14 vs. Anaheim in St. Paul.

2025 Preseason Schedule

Sept. 21 – at Winnipeg, 4 p.m.
Sept. 23 – at Dallas, 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 – Dallas, 7 p.m.
Sept. 28 – Chicago, 5 p.m.
Sept. 30 – Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 – at Chicago, 7 p.m.

2025-26 Regular Season Schedule

Oct. 9 – at St. Louis, 7 p.m.
Oct. 11 – Columbus, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 – Los Angeles, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 – at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Oct. 17 – at Washington, 6 p.m.
Oct. 18 – at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.
Oct. 20 – at N.Y. Rangers, 6 p.m.
Oct. 22 – at New Jersey, 6 p.m.
Oct. 25 – Utah, 5 p.m.
Oct. 26 – San Jose, 5 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Nov. 1 – Vancouver, 6 p.m.
Nov. 4 – Nashville, 7 p.m.
Nov. 6 – at Carolina, 6 p.m.
Nov. 7 – at N.Y. Islanders, 6 p.m.
Nov. 9 – Calgary, 7 p.m.
Nov. 11 – San Jose, 7 p.m.
Nov. 15 – Anaheim, 5 p.m.
Nov. 16 – Vegas, 5 p.m.
Nov. 19 – Carolina, 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 21 – at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m.
Nov. 23 – at Winnipeg, 3 p.m.
Nov. 26 – at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 28 – Colorado, 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 29 – Buffalo, 7 p.m.
Dec. 2 – at Edmonton, 8 p.m.
Dec. 4 – at Calgary, 8 p.m.
Dec. 6 – at Vancouver, 9 p.m.
Dec. 8 – at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Dec. 11 – Dallas, 7 p.m.
Dec. 13 – Ottawa, 1 p.m.
Dec. 14 – Boston, 5 p.m.
Dec. 16 – Washington, 7 p.m.
Dec. 18 – at Columbus, 6 p.m.
Dec. 20 – Edmonton, 2 p.m.
Dec. 21 – Colorado, 5 p.m.
Dec. 23 – Nashville, 7 p.m.
Dec. 27 – at Winnipeg, 6 p.m.
Dec. 29 – at Vegas, 9 p.m.
Dec. 31 – at San Jose, 3 p.m.
Jan. 2 – at Anaheim, 9:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 – at Los Angeles, 8 p.m.
Jan. 5 – at Los Angeles, 9:30 p.m.
Jan. 8 – at Seattle, 9 p.m.
Jan. 10 – N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.
Jan. 12 – New Jersey, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 – Winnipeg, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 – at Buffalo, 11:30 a.m.
Jan. 19 – at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 20 – at Montreal, 6 p.m.
Jan. 22 – Detroit, 8:30 p.m.
Jan. 24 – Florida, 8 p.m.
Jan. 27 – Chicago, 7 p.m.
Jan. 29 – Calgary, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31 – at Edmonton, 9 p.m.
Feb. 2 – Montreal, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 4 – at Nashville, 7 p.m.

(Winter Olympic Break)

Feb. 26 – at Colorado, 8 p.m.
Feb. 27 – at Utah, 8 p.m.
March 1 – St. Louis, 5:30 p.m.
March 3 – Tampa Bay, 8:30 p.m.
March 6 – at Vegas, 9 p.m.
March 8 – at Colorado, 1 p.m.
March 10 – Utah, 7 p.m.
March 12 – Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
March 14 – N.Y. Rangers, 5 p.m.
March 15 – Toronto, 6:30 p.m.
March 17 – at Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
March 19 – Chicago, 7 p.m.
March 21 – Dallas, 3 p.m.
March 24 – at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m.
March 26 – at Florida, 6 p.m.
March 28 – at Boston, 4 p.m.
April 2 – Vancouver, 7 p.m.
April 4 – at Ottawa, noon
April 5 – at Detroit, noon
April 7 – Seattle, 7 p.m.
April 9 – at Dallas, 7 p.m.
April 11 – at Nashville, 4 p.m.
April 13 – at St. Louis, 7 p.m.
April 14 – Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Note: Home games listed in boldface