Wilderness Walk: Let’s have some fun

Happy Friyay Hockey Wilderness readers!

Today, we are going to shake it up and do the Walk a little differently considering it’s the dog days of the NHL summer. Today we are going to have a couple of videos, some hockey related and some not, Enjoy!

The first video includes none other than the likes of early 2000’s Minnesota Wild legend Mark Parrish joining Nickelback on stage playing guitar for Nickelback’s hit song, Animals. Yes you read that correctly...

Who doesn’t like to see Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn get chirped?! Well I know I do. Watch to see why players around the league think Jamie Benn’s tape job is the worst in the NHL. “I don’t know how he plays hockey.” - TJ Oshie

Next up, we get a look at what some NHLer’s first jobs were before they were making the big bucks playing in the show. I wouldn’t skip this one as you might miss out on Joe Pavelski talking about where his love for chaco tacos started...

Ahh don’t worry I won’t take up much more of your Friyay morning. Finally, is a scene from my favorite movie, Happy Gilmore (1996), “Cut and Dumped”.

Wild News

ICYMI: Feeling Minnesota: Zucker signs on for five more years
Since becoming a regular with the Wild nearly five years ago, Jason Zucker has considered Minnesota like a second home. That second home is about to become his first.

NHL debut motivates Belpedio ahead of first pro season
Louie Belpedio took part in his fourth Wild development camp at Xcel Energy Center earlier this month. The second-round pick of the club in the 2014 Draft, Belpedio will embark on his first full professional season this fall after graduating from Miami University in the spring.

Wild reward Jason Zucker’s career season with five-year, $27.5 million deal – The Athletic
ICYMI: The new deal extends the speedy winger coming off a career year through 2022-23.

Updated 2018-19 Wild depth chart – The Athletic
A look at the Wild's roster, updated throughout the season as transactions go down.

On Frozen Pond

Washington Capitals trainer brings Stanley Cup home to Minnesota | Grand Forks Herald
BIRD ISLAND, Minn. — Hockey was supposed to be a one-year venture for Jason Serbus....

Americans announce affiliation with Minnesota Wild - The ECHL - Premier 'AA' Hockey League
The Minnesota Wild have a new ECHL affiliate!

Kendall Coyne Schofield signs with the Minnesota Whitecaps - The Ice Garden
The Whitecaps have their superstar.

How a friendship between Jon Cooper, Jeff Blashill and Derek Lalonde impacted the Lightning bench – The Athletic
New assistant coach Derek Lalonde (former Iowa Wild head coach) has been part of Jon Cooper's inner circle for decades and will be a trusted voice who is unafraid to speak up.

Islanders’ Minnesota core readies for a future with no John Tavares or beards – The Athletic
Anders Lee, Nick Leddy and Brock Nelson talk about the future without John Tavares and moving on with a new coach and GM.

Off The Trail

Gotta See It: Mario Lemieux's 50-room chateau listed for $22M - Sportsnet.ca
Hockey great Mario Lemieux has put his massive Quebec summer home on the market.

Interesting Read: Jake Virtanen of Vancouver Canucks works with YouTube star Pavel Barber
Jake Virtanen wants to be a top-six forward on the Vancouver Canucks in 2018-19 and he's taking some extra steps this off-season to get there.

NHL stars take turns chirping Jamie Benn, worst tape jobs in hockey - Sportsnet.ca
A select group of NHL stars were recently asked about tape jobs, which resulted in Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn getting chirped. A lot.

NHL increasingly reliant on young defencemen - Article - TSN
The National Hockey League is getting younger, and that’s increasingly obvious on the blueline.

Hamhuis signs two-year contract with Predators
Dan Hamhuis signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators on Wednesday. It has an average annual value of $1.25 million.

Linden leaves the Canucks better off than when he found them – TheHockeyNews
His tenure as team president wasn’t perfect and included some mixed messages, but the Canucks eventually committed to a rebuild under Linden’s watch, and their future has brightened thanks to him.

JvR thankful for Leafs' clarity before July 1 - Article - TSN
When introduced as a Flyer on Wednesday, van Riemsdyk said he was grateful for the Maple Leafs' transparency ahead of July 1.

Coyotes' Strome wants to justify draft position - Article - TSN
Dylan Strome has appeared in just 28 NHL games since the Arizona Coyotes picked him third overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft and is hoping he can find justify the Coyotes faith in him long-term.

Q&A with Glen Metropolit: On his journey from Toronto public housing to the NHL – The Athletic
Catching up with the former NHLer as he begins the next chapter after hockey.