Wilderness Walk: Draft Day

Happy Friyay! Today is the day! The NHL Draft starts tonight, which will bring all sorts of news. Besides the fact that teams will be adding players via draft, many trades do end up happening draft weekend, so anticipate them. As for the Wild, they are expected to select 24th overall, assuming the team chooses to stick with that selection.

Draft Start: 6:30 p.m. CT

Where to Watch: NBCSN, SN, TVAS

Wild News

Sources: Zucker, Niederreiter, Coyle all in the middle of ongoing Wild trade talk – The Athletic
DALLAS — With the first round of the NHL draft approaching Friday night, all Wild fan eyes will be on Paul Fenton to see if he has anything up his sleeve.

2018 NHL Draft Central | Minnesota Wild
Pick by pick, complete Wild coverage of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas.

Zucker comes full circle in latest return to Vegas
ICYMI: Jason Zucker wouldn't be here this week if not for a snap decision he made one night three years ago.

Downloadable Schedule | Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild Downloadable Schedule for the 2018-2019 regular season.

Reviewing the Wild’s nine NHL drafts during the Chuck Fletcher era – The Athletic
The good, the bad and the ugly from the picks the Wild made, the players they missed on, and the fates still to be determined.

Russo: Possible Wild trade partners and the players they might deal – The Athletic
With the Wild set for tweak season and draft week upon us, we look at the potential fits for a deal for new GM Paul Fenton.

On Frozen Pond

FSN’s Kevin Gorg to emcee Hockey Day announcement | Bemidji Pioneer
Fox Sports North reporter Kevin Gorg will be the master of ceremonies and will interview representatives from the Minnesota Wild, local dignitaries and participating coaches.

Whitecaps Add Two More Gopher Alums :: University of Minnesota :: Official Athletic Site
Hannah Brandt and Lee Stecklein have signed contracts to play with the Minnesota Whitecaps for the 2018-19 season.

Off the Trail

2018 NHL Draft ready to roll in Dallas
DALLAS -- The Detroit Red Wings will be the busiest team at the 2018 NHL Draft, with a League-high 11 picks.They have the No. 6 and No. 30 selections in the first round, which will be held at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 are Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS).

Sources: Zucker, Niederreiter, Coyle all in the middle of ongoing Wild trade talk – The Athletic
DALLAS — With the first round of the NHL draft approaching Friday night, all Wild fan eyes will be on Paul Fenton to see if he has anything up his sleeve.

Stanley Cup-winning coach Trotz joins Islanders days after resigning from Capitals | The Hockey News
The New York Islanders have signed Stanley Cup-winning coach Barry Trotz to a five-year contract. Trotz resigned from the Washington Capitals earlier this week.

The brainpower behind Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall’s success – The Athletic
A look at how Taylor Hall got here...

How did the winners take home hardware at NHL Awards? A look at public voting results | The Hockey News
The voting results, made public by the NHL following Wednesday's awards, give us insight into how the night's big winners walked away with their hardware.

LeBrun Notebook: Does adding Trotz seal the deal for Tavares? When’s the best time to trade Karlsson? – The Athletic
If the New York Islanders don’t end up re-signing John Tavares, nobody will able to say they didn’t do everything they could to convince him of the club’s new direction.

5 Questions entering 2018 NHL Draft
Canadiens' selection with No. 3 pick, defense prospects to be taken after Dahlin highlight intrigue, and more.

Trade Bait: Keep an eye on Max Pacioretty - Article - TSN
Minnesota Wild??....

Oilers open to moving No. 10 overall pick - Article - TSN
A chance for teams to move into the top 10.

8 big questions heading into the 2018 NHL Draft - Sportsnet.ca
Who will be traded? Will any picks move? Where will the prospects end up? We look at eight big questions heading towards the 2018 NHL Draft.