Wild release 2021-22 preseason schedule

The NHL still has the expansion draft and the actual 2021 NHL Draft to worry about this week, but before any transaction takes place, the Minnesota Wild announced their 2021-22 preseason schedule.

In the comfy seating arrangements of Armchair GM, we now need to think about rosters and lineups and score sheets and goals and red lights, and all those wonderful things yet again.

Full preseason schedule:

Sept. 25 — @ St. Louis Blues — 7:00 PM
Sept. 30 — @ Colorado Avalanche — 8:00 PM
Oct. 4 — vs. Colorado Avalanche — 7:00 PM
Oct. 6 — vs. St. Louis Blues — 7:00 PM
Oct. 7 — vs. Chicago Blackhawks — 7:00 PM
Oct. 9 — @ Chicago Blackhawks — 7:30 PM

Starting on the road, the Wild will have to face some familiar rivals in the Avalanche and the Blues, while their other opponent waits for them at the end of their preseason schedule to meet for the firs time in a very long time. While St. Louis and Colorado were placed within the same division for the Wild during the wacky and wild 2020-21 season, the Blackhawks were in the 2021 version of the Central Division, meaning that they haven’t played one another since February 4, 2020.

Before the chaos of a summer filled with contract negotiations, trades, free agent signings, and draft picks made, we get to think about actual hockey being played once again. We’re already counting down the days.