Minnesota Wild

The Minnesota Wild play in the heart of a state that treats hockey as a way of life, calling St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center home in front of one of the most devoted fan bases in the sport. Born to fill the void left by the departed North Stars, the Wild embody Minnesota's deep grassroots hockey culture, drawing heavily on homegrown talent and a disciplined, team-first style. The green-and-red jerseys and 'Minnesota Nice' fan reputation mask a hard-nosed, well-coached club that competes every season for a playoff spot. The Wild have become a fixture of the state's sports identity in just over two decades of existence.

The Wild were awarded to Minnesota as an NHL expansion franchise in 1997, filling the gap left when the North Stars relocated to Dallas in 1993, and began play in the 2000-01 season. The club reached the Western Conference Final in just its third year in 2003 behind head coach Jacques Lemaire's defense-first system. Since then, Minnesota has been a steady playoff participant, developing stars like Marian Gaborik, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, and Kirill Kaprizov. The Wild have not yet advanced to a Stanley Cup Final or won a championship.