Wilderness Walk: Mark Your Calendars

It is officially the pre-pre-pre-season. The Minnesota Wild’s preseason schedule has been announced, and they’re keeping it in the family so to speak. All seven games will be against Central Division foes, with pairs of games against the Winnipeg Jets, the Colorado Avalanche, the Dallas Stars, and a single road game against their playoff opponents the St. Louis Blues. It ultimately doesn’t matter, and I’m not sure what goes into making the preseason schedule, but I find it interesting that the Wild are 1) staying entirely within the Central Division for these games and 2) playing six of the seven against the non-playoff teams from last season. Normally they have had at least one brace of games against a non-divisional foe, like the Florida Panthers who inspired today’s music.

Wild News

Minnesota Wild announce 2017-18 preseason schedule
With the 2017-18 regular season still more than four months away, the MN Wild announced its seven-game preseason schedule on Tuesday afternoon.

GatG Ep. 108: An Otherwise Fine Podcast | Zone Coverage - Cold Omaha
Giles and Ben head to the Cold Omaha Studios, where they let Tom Schreier (@tschreier3) run the sound board, and are joined by KARE 11's Dave Schwartz (@Dave

Four trades that could happen before the NHL Expansion Draft - Sportsnet.ca
There is expected to be a lot of player movement ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft. Jonathan Willis comes up with four hypothetical trades that would solve roster problems for a few teams.

On Fronzen Pond

Minnesota Hockey: Scott Bell Named Gopher Assistant Coach - The Daily Gopher
The Gopher alum returns to the U

Off the Trail

Failings of video replay in the NHL on full display in Stanley Cup final | The Hockey News
There should be video review for one thing and one thing only in the NHL -- and that is whether or not the puck fully crossed the goal line. Offside reviews are hurting the game.

Why the Predators will contend for the Stanley Cup again next year | The Hockey News
Don't get fooled into believing Nashville just closed the book on an unlikely underdog tale. This team is legit – and will contend again next season.

2017 THW Mock Draft: Picks 1 - 15 | The Hockey Writers

So was Woodbury native Jake Guentzel robbed of the Conn Smythe?
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie Jake Guentzel led the NHL playoffs with 13 goals and consistently seemed to rise to the occasion when the moment called for it, netting the game-winning goals in Game 1 and Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is given annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the playoffs.

NHL No-Movement Clause Rumour Roundup: Phaneuf, Fleury asked to waive - Sportsnet.ca
Teams have until Saturday to submit their protection list for the NHL Expansion Draft, but the deadline to request that a player waive his no-movement clause was Monday at 5:00 p.m. ET.