Wilderness Walk: Doan’t Sweat It

There’s not a lot of updated news about Shane Doan from yesterday’s Walk, but I really wanted the chance to use a Doan name pun too. What is updated are the entire league’s sweaters as Adidas begins their seven year deal as the provider of the NHL’s gamewear.

There are some very sharp looking sweaters and some real duds. Unfortunately, I, at least, think the Wild’s new look is a misfire. It looks like a bad Stadium Series sweater and as if the designer took some of the things people liked about the Wild’s previous sweaters (the large logo of the visiting sweater, the cream accent color, horizontal laces) and slapped it all together. The Wild are not alone in suffering from a bad new look, however, as the Vegas Golden Knights new sweater is not what I would call an instant classic. All in all, I think several teams will likely be looking to change their looks as soon as they can, or at least that is what I’m hoping. What do you think of the new sweaters? Got any favorites in the bunch?

In other news, Pierre McGuire doesn’t think Wild fans have to sweat too much about the expansion draft as he believes there’s a good chance Erik Haula is taken by Vegas during its exclusive negotiation period with unprotected UFAs/RFAs. I’m skeptical of Vegas choosing to close a deal with Haula over getting to select Matt Dumba, Marco Scandella, or Eric Staal in the draft as all three of them represent a more valuable piece to a newly constructed team. I’m hoping some kind of deal has been made that we are not yet aware of, but we’ll all find out soon enough.

Here’s to you Shane Doan, you get to have a second Walk song dedication.

Wild News

Koivu, Granlund humbled being NHL award finalists in Vegas - StarTribune.com
The Wild's Mikko Koivu is up for the Selke Trophy, and Mikael Granlund for the Lady Byng. The awards will be revealed Wednesday night.

Wild RFA Haula could be headed to expansion Vegas Golden Knights - StarTribune.com
There have been ongoing talks between Golden Knights GM George McPhee and Erik Haula's agent Jay Grossman since Sunday, sources say.

Report: Golden Knights could take Wild's Erik Haula over Staal, Dumba - Sportsnet.ca
Erik Haula could be exposed Minnesota Wild player that ends up being selected by the Vegas Golden Knights instead of Eric Staal, Mathew Dumba or Marco Scandella.2017 THW Writer's Mock Draft: Picks 32-62
Our writers stayed together after round one and completed a second round. See who went in round two, as well as the mindset of our writers making the picks.

2017 Expansion Draft: Central Division Predictions
Predicting which players the Vegas Golden Knights will select through the expansion draft from teams within the Central Division.

Wild unveils new jersey for 2017-18 - StarTribune.com
The Wild's updated look is mostly green, with the team crest in the middle in front of a thick wheat-colored stripe.

NBC analyst Pierre McGuire: Wild shouldn't sweat expansion draft
NBC analyst Pierre McGuire thinks the MN Wild will be fine next season no matter the outcome of the NHL Expansion Draft.

Here are the Wild's new home uniforms. What do you think?
The MN Wild unveiled their new jerseys on Tuesday night -- a change that has been almost two years in the making. Perhaps the most notable change is that the Wild will no longer have an alternate uniform.

Giles & The Goalie Review The NHL Adidas Takeover | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
At long last, the day of sweater reckoning was upon us. Adidas has taken over the NHL jerseys in full, and some redesigns and otherwise tweaks were promised

On Frozen Pond

Minnesota sisters headed to 2018 Olympic Winter Games | KARE11.com
Two Minnesota sisters are headed to the 2018 Winter Olympics, but playing for two different countries.

Off the Trail

30 Thoughts: Marian Hossa might have played his final NHL game - Sportsnet.ca
An allergy might force Marian Hossa out of the NHL, while trade rumours continue to swirl ahead of the NHL Expansion Draft. All that and more in Elliotte Friedman's 30 Thoughts.

NHL unveils new uniforms, including for Vegas Golden Knights
The unveiling of the Golden Knights' uniform in Las Vegas on Tuesday night was among the most highly anticipated moments as the NHL celebrated its new partnership with Adidas.

Adjusted for Era: Ray Bourque vs. Erik Karlsson - Sportsnet.ca
He might not be a lock just yet, but the way he's playing, Erik Karlsson is en route to the Hall of Fame.

2017 Expansion Draft: Central Division Predictions
Predicting which players the Vegas Golden Knights will select through the expansion draft from teams within the Central Division.

2017 THW Writer's Mock Draft: Picks 32-62
Our writers stayed together after round one and completed a second round. See who went in round two, as well as the mindset of our writers making the picks.

Golden Knights should aim for, and embrace, immediate success on the ice | The Hockey News
The Golden Knights have the option of putting together a competitive NHL roster and stocking up picks and players for future use, and it's the best way for an expansion team to go.

Introducing the Spreadsheet Knights: The best team Vegas can build by the numbers | The Hockey News
If Vegas was built on advanced stats and without any side deals, the breadth of talent available to the Golden Knights might allow them to build a playoff contending squad right out the gates.

Emotion aside, timing was right for Coyotes, Doan to part ways | The Hockey News
The Coyotes informed Shane Doan that he won't be offered a contract, bringing to an end his 21-season stay with the franchise. But it was the right move for Arizona and could work out for Doan, too.