2015–16 Minnesota Wild season

The 2015–16 Minnesota Wild season was the 16th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. Head coach Mike Yeo was relieved of his duties on February 13 after the teams thirteenth loss in fourteen games. He finished with a record of 173–132–44 in his four and a half years as head coach of the Wild. Iowa Wild head coach John Torchetti was promoted to interim head coach. Minnesota was the first team since the 2009–10 Philadelphia Flyers and the 2009–10 Montreal Canadiens and the first team to do so in the west since the Edmonton Oilers 1999–00 season and the San Jose Sharks 1999–00 season to make the playoffs with fewer than 90 points.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015–16 preseason game log: 4–2–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Buffalo 3–2 Minnesota Kuemper 17,217 0–1–0 2 September 22 Minnesota 1–0 Winnipeg OT Backstrom 15,294 1–1–0 3 September 24 Minnesota 5–2 Columbus Dubnyk 10,209 2–1–0 4 September 26(In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) Minnesota 0–3 Edmonton Kuemper 7,541 2–2–0 5 September 27 Winnipeg 1–8 Minnesota Dubnyk 17,710 3–2–0 6 October 1 Buffalo 1–6 Minnesota Dubnyk 17,214 4–2–0

Regular season 2015–16 game log October: 7–2–2 (Home: 5–0–0; Road: 2–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 8 Minnesota 5–4 Colorado Dubnyk 18,007 1–0–0 2 2 October 10 St. Louis 2–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,096 2–0–0 4 3 October 15 Minnesota 4–3 Arizona Dubnyk 12,029 3–0–0 6 4 October 16 Minnesota 1–2 Los Angeles OT Kuemper 18,230 3–0–1 7 5 October 18 Minnesota 1–4 Anaheim Dubnyk 16,784 3–1–1 7 6 October 22 Columbus 2–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,650 4–1–1 9 7 October 24 Anaheim 0–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,034 5–1–1 11 8 October 25 Minnesota 4–5 Winnipeg Dubnyk 15,294 5–2–1 11 9 October 27 Edmonton 3–4 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,936 6–2–1 13 10 October 30 Chicago 4–5 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,140 7–2–1 15 11 October 31 Minnesota 2–3 St. Louis OT Dubnyk 17,728 7–2–2 16 November: 4–5–2 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 1–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 5 Nashville 3–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,024 7–3–2 16 13 November 7 Tampa Bay 0–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,066 8–3–2 18 14 November 10 Winnipeg 3–5 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,153 9–3–2 20 15 November 12 Minnesota 3–2 Carolina OT Dubnyk 9,511 10–3–2 22 16 November 14 Minnesota 2–3 Dallas OT Dubnyk 18,532 10–3–3 23 17 November 17 Minnesota 3–4 Pittsburgh Dubnyk 18,495 10–4–3 23 18 November 19 Minnesota 2–4 Boston Dubnyk 17,565 10–5–3 23 19 November 21 Nashville 0–4 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,056 11–5–3 25 20 November 25 Vancouver 3–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,877 11–6–3 25 21 November 27 Winnipeg 3–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,055 11–7–3 25 22 November 28 Dallas 4–3 Minnesota OT Kuemper 19,024 11–7–4 26 December: 9–3–2 (Home: 6–2–0; Road: 3–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 1 Minnesota 2–1 Chicago Dubnyk 21,580 12–7–4 28 24 December 3 Toronto 0–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,880 13–7–4 30 25 December 5 Colorado 0–3 Minnesota Kuemper 19,173 14–7–4 32 26 December 7 Minnesota 1–2 Colorado OT Kuemper 16,589 14–7–5 33 27 December 11 Minnesota 1–2 Arizona OT Kuemper 14,404 14–7–6 34 28 December 12 Minnesota 2–0 San Jose Kuemper 16,766 15–7–6 36 29 December 15 Vancouver 2–6 Minnesota Kuemper 18,804 16–7–6 38 30 December 17 NY Rangers 2–5 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,090 17–7–6 40 31 December 19 Minnesota 2–3 Nashville Dubnyk 17,117 17–8–6 40 32 December 21 Dallas 6–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,047 17–9–6 40 33 December 22 Montreal 1–2 Minnesota Kuemper 19,105 18–9–6 42 34 December 26 Pittsburgh 3–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,234 18–10–6 42 35 December 28 Detroit 1–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,110 19–10–6 44 36 December 31 Minnesota 3–1 St. Louis Dubnyk 19,194 20–10–6 46 January: 3–7–3 (Home: 0–3–2; Road: 3–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 37 January 2 Minnesota 2–3 Tampa Bay SO Dubnyk 19,092 20–10–7 47 38 January 3 Minnesota 1–2 Florida Dubnyk 15,426 20–11–7 47 39 January 5 Minnesota 4–2 Columbus Dubnyk 12,411 21–11–7 49 40 January 7 Philadelphia 4–3 Minnesota OT Dubnyk 19,125 21–11–8 50 41 January 9 Minnesota 2–1 Dallas Dubnyk 18,532 22–11–8 52 42 January 10 New Jersey 2–1 Minnesota Kuemper 19,028 22–12–8 52 43 January 12 Buffalo 3–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,034 22–13–8 52 44 January 15 Winnipeg 1–0 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,222 22–14–8 52 45 January 16 Minnesota 0–3 Nashville Dubnyk 17,302 22–15–8 52 46 January 20 Minnesota 1–3 Anaheim Dubnyk 15,962 22–16–8 52 47 January 21 Minnesota 3–0 Los Angeles Kuemper 18,230 23–16–8 54 48 January 23 Minnesota 3–4 San Jose Kuemper 16,956 23–17–8 54 49 January 25 Arizona 2–1 Minnesota SO Dubnyk 19,020 23–17–9 55 February: 5–8–1 (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 3–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 2 Minnesota 3–5 NY Islanders Dubnyk 13,331 23–18–9 55 51 February 4 Minnesota 2–4 NY Rangers Dubnyk 18,006 23–19–9 55 52 February 6 Minnesota 1–4 St. Louis Dubnyk 19,318 23–20–9 55 53 February 9 Dallas 4–3 Minnesota OT Kuemper 19,087 23–20–10 56 54 February 11 Washington 4–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,213 23–21–10 56 55 February 13 Boston 4–2 Minnesota Kuemper 19,191 23–22–10 56 56 February 15 Minnesota 5–2 Vancouver Dubnyk 18,437 24–22–10 58 57 February 17 Minnesota 5–3 Calgary Dubnyk 19,289 25–22–10 60 58 February 18 Minnesota 5–2 Edmonton Kuemper 16,839 26–22–10 62 59 February 21(2016 NHL Stadium Series) Chicago 1–6 Minnesota(at TCF Bank Stadium) Dubnyk 50,426 27–22–10 64 60 February 23 NY Islanders 4–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,085 27–23–10 64 61 February 25 Minnesota 2–3 Philadelphia Dubnyk 18,631 27–24–10 64 62 February 26 Minnesota 2–3 Washington Kuemper 18,605 27–25–10 64 63 February 28 Florida 1–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,093 28–25–10 66 March: 10–4–1 (Home: 5–3–0; Road: 5–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 Colorado 3–6 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,107 29–25–10 68 65 March 3 Minnesota 2–1 Toronto Dubnyk 18,915 30–25–10 70 66 March 5 Minnesota 3–2 Buffalo SO Dubnyk 19,070 31–25–10 72 67 March 6 St. Louis 4–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,040 31–26–10 72 68 March 10 Edmonton 2–1 Minnesota Kuemper 19,058 31–27–10 72 69 March 12 Minnesota 4–1 Montreal Dubnyk 21,288 32–27–10 74 70 March 15 Minnesota 2–3 Ottawa OT Dubnyk 18,966 32–27–11 75 71 March 17 Minnesota 4–7 New Jersey Kuemper 15,114 32–28–11 75 72 March 19 Carolina 2–3 Minnesota SO Dubnyk 19,044 33–28–11 77 73 March 20 Minnesota 3–2 Chicago SO Dubnyk 22,059 34–28–11 79 74 March 22 Los Angeles 1–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,018 35–28–11 81 75 March 24 Calgary 2–6 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,032 36–28–11 83 76 March 26 Minnesota 4–0 Colorado Dubnyk 18,007 37–28–11 85 77 March 29 Chicago 1–4 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,190 38–28–11 87 78 March 31 Ottawa 3–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,032 38–29–11 87 April: 0–4–0 (Home: 0–2–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 1 Minnesota 2–3 Detroit Dubnyk 20,027 38–30–11 87 80 April 3 Minnesota 1–5 Winnipeg Dubnyk 15,294 38–31–11 87 81 April 5 San Jose 3–0 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,061 38–32–11 87 82 April 9 Calgary 2–1 Minnesota Kuemper 19,247 38–33–11 87 Legend:

Playoffs

2016 Stanley Cup playoffs Western Conference first round vs. (C1) Dallas Stars: Dallas wins 4–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 14 Minnesota 0–4 Dallas Dubnyk 18,532 0–1 Recap 2 April 16 Minnesota 1–2 Dallas Dubnyk 18,988 0–2 Recap 3 April 18 Dallas 3–5 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,038 1–2 Recap 4 April 20 Dallas 3–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,080 1–3 Recap 5 April 22 Minnesota 5–4 Dallas OT Dubnyk 18,889 2–3 Recap 6 April 24 Dallas 5–4 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,310 2–4 Recap Legend:

Player statistics Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 82 17 39 56 6 40 70 25 28 53 −3 36 82 8 43 51 10 30 82 13 31 44 −12 20 82 20 23 43 9 36 82 21 21 42 1 16 74 18 23 41 −10 22 75 11 25 36 10 12 76 14 20 34 21 24 77 11 18 29 11 14 81 10 16 26 1 38 71 13 10 23 −4 20 73 5 16 21 6 22 60 5 11 16 3 20 60 7 5 12 −3 48 61 4 3 7 −6 6 68 2 5 7 −5 18 29 1 6 7 −4 8 † 51 3 3 6 −4 16 26 2 2 4 2 2 26 0 4 4 −1 11 † 16 2 1 3 1 0 54 0 3 3 1 39 2 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 −1 7 2 0 0 0 −1 0 3 0 0 0 1 10 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 ‡ 1 0 0 0 −1 0

Playoffs Player 6 4 3 7 0 6 6 1 5 6 1 4 6 3 2 5 0 2 6 2 3 5 1 4 5 1 3 4 0 2 6 1 2 3 −2 0 6 1 2 3 3 0 6 0 3 3 3 4 6 1 1 2 −4 6 6 0 2 2 −4 2 6 0 2 2 −2 6 6 1 0 1 0 0 6 1 0 1 −7 4 2 1 0 1 −1 0 6 0 1 1 −6 0 6 0 1 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 −1 4 2 0 0 0 −1 10 3 0 0 0 −1 0 4 0 0 0 −1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 67 66 3861 32 26 6 150 2.33 1829 .918 5 0 0 8 21 16 1063 6 7 5 43 2.43 507 .915 2 0 0 2 Playoffs Player 6 6 359 2 4 20 3.34 163 .877 0 0 0 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Wild. Stats reflect time with the Wild only. ‡Traded mid-season

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL Third Star of the Week December 21, 2015 NHL All-Star game selection January 6, 2016 NHL First Star of the Week March 28, 2016 NHL Second Star of the Month April 1, 2016

Milestones

Regular season Player Milestone Reached 300th Career NHL Assist October 8, 2015 3rd Career NHL Hat Trick October 8, 2015 100th Career NHL Game October 10, 2015 300th Career NHL Goal October 15, 2015 100th Career NHL Win October 15, 2015 200th Career NHL Game October 18, 2015 300th Career NHL Game October 18, 2015 700th Career NHL Game October 27, 2015 200th Career NHL Game October 31, 2015 1st Career NHL Game November 7, 2015 1st Career NHL Game November 17, 2015 1st Career NHL Game November 19, 2015 200th Career NHL Game November 19, 2015 700th Career NHL Game November 21, 2015 100th Career NHL Point November 25, 2015 200th Career NHL Game December 11, 2015 100th Career NHL Game December 15, 2015 300th Career NHL Assist December 15, 2015 100th Career NHL Loss December 21, 2015 100th Career NHL Point January 2, 2016 4th Career NHL Hat Trick January 5, 2016 1st Career NHL Game January 9, 2016 200th Career NHL Game January 10, 2016 800th Career NHL Game January 23, 2016 600th Career NHL Point February 2, 2016 100th Career NHL Point February 2, 2016 800th Career NHL Game February 4, 2016 1st Career NHL Goal1st Career NHL Point February 13, 2016 600th Career NHL Point February 17, 2016 800th Career NHL Game February 18, 2016 1st Career NHL Assist February 18, 2016 100th Career NHL Game March 19, 2016 5th Career NHL Hat Trick March 24, 2016 300th Career NHL Game March 24, 2016 100th Career NHL Assist March 26, 2016 400th Career NHL Point March 26, 2016 300th Career NHL Game April 3, 2016

Playoffs Player Milestone Reached 1st Career Playoff Game April 14, 2016 1st Career Playoff Game April 18, 2016 1st Career Playoff Goal1st Career Playoff Point April 22, 2016

Transactions The Wild have been involved in the following transactions during the 2015–16 season.

Trades DateRef To Boston Bruins 5th-round pick in 2016 To Minnesota Wild5th-round pick in 2015 To Calgary Flames Niklas Backstrom6th-round pick in 2016 To Minnesota WildDavid Jones To Ottawa Senators Michael Keranen To Minnesota WildConor Allen To Los Angeles Kings Brett Sutter To Minnesota WildScott Sabourin

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Mike Reilly Columbus Blue Jackets 2 years, entry-level contract Zac Dalpe Buffalo Sabres 1 year, $600,000 Ruslan Fedotenko Iowa Wild 1 year, $600,000 Marc Hagel Iowa Wild 2 years, $1.21 million Tyson Strachan Buffalo Sabres 1 year, $650,000 Jared Knight Iowa Wild 1 year, $761,250 Nick Seeler University of Minnesota 2 years, entry-level contract Mario Lucia University of Notre Dame 2 years, entry-level contract Sam Anas Quinnipiac University 2 years, entry-level contract Adam Vay Debreceni Hoki Klub 2 years, entry-level contract

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Kyle Brodziak St. Louis Blues 1 year, $900,000 Chris Stewart Anaheim Ducks 1 year, $1.7 million