Noah Dobson Is Big Fan of Wild's Jared Spurgeon

That's Wild

• Minnesota Wild captain Jared Spurgeon is overseas playing with Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championships and while his team just got eliminated by Denmark in the quarterfinals, he did get to meet a big-time fan.

New York Islanders top defenseman Noah Dobson recently sang a whole lot of praises for Spurgeon and really wants what he thinks of the Wild veteran, to be known.

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"I see him twice a year, but just watching him up close so far this tournament, he's so smart," Dobson said. "For an undersized guy he's just so smart and makes the right play every time, always in the right position. As a d-man, he's a guy you can watch a lot and learn from, just being around him day to day.

"Definitely underrated. I think that's safe to say."

 

For more praises of Spurgeon while he is representing his country: [NHL.com]

• Ryder Ritchie is the last Wild prospect standing as the Medicine Hat Tigers are busy playing in the Memorial Cup, and no one else drafted by the Wild is still playing hockey. [Hockey Wilderness]
• Will the projected Gustavsson-Wallstedt goaltending tandem for next season be a partnership or just too competitive to handle? [The Athletic]

Off the trail...

• After 11 years in charge, Brendan Shanahan is no longer running the Toronto Maple Leafs. His entire era is defined by comfort, no Cups. [Sportsnet]
• The Florida Panthers might just repeat. For the second game in a row to open up the Eastern Conference Final, they just dominated the Carolina Hurricanes on the score line. [NHL.com]