MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minnesota Wild have unveiled their 2024-25 regular season schedule, with the team set to kick off their campaign at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 10 at the Xcel Energy Center.
The announcement was made through an engaging social media video featuring players Brock Faber and Jake Middleton enjoying a day at Valleyfair in Shakopee, generating excitement among fans for the upcoming season.
Highlights of the Schedule:
Home Opener: October 10 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets at Xcel Energy Center.
Home Games: The Wild will host 17 home weekend games, including three on Fridays, nine on Saturdays, and six on Sundays. March will be a busy month with 11 home games, featuring their longest homestand of the season from March 9-22, spanning seven games.
Road Trips: The team’s longest road trip is set for October 13-29, encompassing seven games.
Divisional Matchups: Minnesota will face Central Division rivals in 26 games, including two home and two road games each against the Blackhawks, Avalanche, Blues, and Stars. They will play the Predators in two home games and one road game, and the Jets in one home game and two road games.
Pacific Division Games: The Wild will compete in 24 games against Pacific Division teams, with one home and two road games against the Ducks, Flames, Sharks, and Canucks. They will have two home games and one road game against the Oilers, Kings, Kraken, and Golden Knights.
Western Conference: Minnesota will face each Western Conference team twice, once at home and once on the road.
Special Events:
4 Nations Face-Off: New this year, the NHL is introducing the 4 Nations Face-Off featuring players from the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Sweden from February 12-20, 2025. Wild GM Bill Guerin will serve as the general manager for Team USA, with John Hynes as the head coach for the Americans.
Outlook:
The Wild finished the previous season with a 39-34-9 record, amassing 87 points and placing 10th in the Western Conference, narrowly missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in five seasons. However, General Manager Bill Guerin expressed confidence in the team’s potential for a Stanley Cup run in a recent interview with Jim Rich on FOX 9 Sports Now, stating that the Wild “have the pieces” necessary for success.
As the new season approaches, fans are hopeful that the blend of seasoned players and fresh talent will propel the Wild back into playoff contention and possibly towards their first Stanley Cup victory.