The Aporia · The Wild are aiming higher after clearing a big hurdle last spring with a playoff series win

The Wild are aiming higher after clearing a big hurdle last spring with a playoff series win

Read the original at Toronto Star ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Campbell, D. (2026, September 23). The Wild are aiming higher after clearing a big hurdle last spring with a playoff series win. Toronto Star. https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/the-wild-are-aiming-higher-after-clearing-a-big-hurdle-last-spring-with-a-playoff-series-win/article_eb060f19-fd7f-580a-9759-f7246a9b5125.html

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Quick Summary

The Minnesota Wild, having cleared a significant playoff hurdle last season by defeating the Dallas Stars for their first series win in 11 years, look to build on that success this year. Led by coach John Hynes and star forward Kirill Kaprizov, they have bolstered their defense with the addition of Quinn Hughes but face challenges due to tough divisional competition from Colorado and Dallas. The team's power play was a strength last season, ranking third in the NHL, while improvements are needed on the penalty kill and addressing potential injury concerns for key players like Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin.

Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The Minnesota Wild have set their sights on higher achievements after finally breaking through to win a playoff series last season. They defeated the Dallas Stars in six games, marking the franchise's first such victory since 2014 and only its second ever beyond the opening round in its 25-year history. Owner Craig Leipold and general manager Bill Guerin bolstered this potential with a significant trade for star defenseman Quinn Hughes last winter, signaling confidence in their team's capabilities despite tough competition from heavyweights like Colorado and Dallas. The Wild aim to start a new era of success, potentially culminating in a Stanley Cup within the next quarter-century.

Written for “Nhl Playoffs Ambitions” on 2026-10-31, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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1 of 11 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

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64/100

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Who wrote this

Dave Campbell

23 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Minnesota's late-arriving kicker Luke Drzewiecki quickly made a new home and a strong impression

🔮 With the season skidding away and the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching, there’s no certainty Taylor will be around after it passes.

2026-10-26 · assertive framing · Jonathan Taylor and struggling Colts try to tune out trade deadline noise after another loss

🔮 Will Reichard made three field goals for the Vikings, including a 52-yarder with 1:39 left after his 59-yard try was blocked by Grover Stewart earlier in the fourth quarter.

2026-10-25 · assertive framing · Vikings defense clamps down on Daniel Jones and the Colts for a 16-10 victory to stay undefeated

🔮 The Vikings and their league-leading pass rush will present a significant challenge for Jones and the struggling Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon, with the crowd noise at U.S. Bank Stadium as an added inconvenience.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · Unbeaten Vikings' dominant defense presents an untimely test for Daniel Jones and the reeling Colts

🔮 He also revived his ground game with 10 rushes for 51 yards, one of the assets that gave the Vikings confidence they would be able to restore a productive offense with Murray after McCarthy’s inconsistency and injuries contributed to the rough 2025 performance.

2026-10-15 · assertive framing · Vikings' passing attack appears to be moving back on track with Kyler Murray finding his footing

🔮 Addison, Hockenson, left tackle Christian Darrisaw (concussion) and running back Jordan Mason (thumb) could all return when the Vikings host the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 25.

2026-10-13 · assertive framing · Vikings playing keen game of keep-away, with hefty possession time and NFL's top turnover rate

🔮 Rasmus Andersson had a goal in the second and William Karlsson scored midway through the third period to bring Vegas within one, but the Wild defense locked in after that.

2026-10-13 · assertive framing · Wild beat the Golden Knights 4-2 behind another stellar special teams performance

🔮 Maybe it’ll prove to be a mirage.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Murray and the Vikings might've found some momentum for a lagging offense, late in their latest win

🔮 Minnesota Vikings left guard Donovan Jackson likely will miss the rest of the regular season because of a torn meniscus in his knee that will require surgery, after the promising second-year player was injured in the first quarter during a 15-10 win over Miami.

2026-10-05 · mixed framing · Vikings likely lose left guard Donovan Jackson for the rest of the regular season with a knee injury

🔮 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kyler Murray and the Minnesota Vikings ’ offense would’ve appreciated a touchdown for their progress down the stretch, but there was only one way to truly secure this victory.

2026-10-05 · assertive framing · Unbeaten Vikings keep Dolphins winless with dominant defense, Reichard's kicks, Hockenson's catches

Also by Dave Campbell

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Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 23 articles by Dave Campbell →

Topics

Minn. Minnesota Wild NHL ST. Wild

Subjects

Wild ORG · 4× NHL ORG · 3× Hughes PERSON · 2× Kaprizov PERSON · 2× John Hynes PERSON · 1× Minn. GPE · 1× Minnesota GPE · 1× Minnesota Wild ORG · 1× Nashville ORG · 1× ST. GPE · 1×

Narrative

The blockbuster trade last winter for star defenseman Quinn Hughes signaled the confidence from owner Craig Leipold and general manager Bill Guerin that this group can get there, even though the NHL’s divisional playoff format puts the Wild in a tough spot with heavyweights Colorado and Dallas ready to challenge them again.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-23

🔮 After advancing past the second round only once (2003) in the franchise’s first 25 seasons, perhaps the next quarter-century of Wild history will commence with a Stanley Cup.

2026-09-23 · Toronto Star

The Wild are aiming higher after clearing a big hurdle last spring with a playoff series win · assertive framing

Claims (11 extracted, 1 hedged)

What to expect The Wild cleared an important hurdle last season by winning a playoff series for the first time in 11 years, dispatching the Dallas Stars in six games, and have plenty of potential to go further yet next spring. asserted

Wild → expect → potential

After advancing past the second round only once (2003) in the franchise’s first 25 seasons, perhaps the next quarter-century of Wild history will commence with a Stanley Cup. asserted

century → advance → Cup

Colorado → signal → them

Hughes has begun the final year of his current contract without an extension in place yet, but he will form again a dashing duo with U.S. Olympic team buddy Brock Faber as the top blue line pair. asserted

he → begin → pair

Hynes, who recently signed a contract extension, will be tasked with finding the right linemates for star left wing Kirill Kaprizov after Zuccarello’s departure in free agency. asserted

who → sign → agency

The Wild ranked third in the league in power play conversion rate last season and will present opponents all kinds of defensive problems at even strength, too, with Kaprizov and fellow 40-goal scorer Matt Boldy skating up front and Hughes and Faber creating plays behind them. asserted

Hughes → rank → them

The penalty kill was a middle-of-the-pack unit during the regular season before falling apart in the playoffs and ranking as the second-worst in the NHL among the 16 teams that qualified (15 goals allowed on 38 power plays over 11 postseason games). asserted

that → fall → games

The injury absences of center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin loomed large during the Avalanche series after they each suffered a broken foot in the first round. asserted

they → loom → round

Players to watch Kaprizov, who has 475 points in 397 career regular season games, is fully in his prime and a thrill to watch with the puck. asserted

who → watch → puck

The newcomer Shabanov might work well as a linemate for the fellow Russian, after signing as a free agent following his 2025-26 debut in the NHL with the New York Islanders. uncertain

Shabanov → work → Islanders

Wallstedt took over as the primary goalie in the playoffs and will continue to carry a heavy load while Gustavsson recovers from hip surgery. asserted

Gustavsson → take → surgery