The 2018–19 Minnesota Wild season was the 19th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. On April 2, 2019, the Wild were eliminated from playoff contention after the Colorado Avalanche's 6–2 victory against the Edmonton Oilers, marking the first time the Wild missed the postseason since the 2011–12 season.

Standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 13, 2018. 2018 preseason game log: 2–4–1 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 0–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 17 Minnesota 1–2 Winnipeg Hammond 15,321 0–1–0 2 September 19 St. Louis 3–2 Minnesota Stalock — 0–2–0 3 September 20 Dallas 3–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 16,117 0–3–0 4 September 22 Colorado 0–7 Minnesota Stalock 18,410 1–3–0 5 September 24 Minnesota 3–5 Dallas Dubnyk 11,332 1–4–0 6 September 26 Winnipeg 3–4 Minnesota Dubnyk 16,921 2–4–0 7 September 28 Minnesota 3–4 Colorado OT Hammond — 2–4–1 Notes: Game was played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018. 2018–19 game log: 37–36–9 (Home: 16–18–7; Away: 21–18–2) October: 7–3–2 (Home: 5–0–2; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 4 Minnesota 1–4 Colorado Dubnyk 18,086 0–1–0 0 2 October 6 Vegas 2–1 Minnesota SO Dubnyk 19,077 0–1–1 1 3 October 11 Chicago 3–4 Minnesota OT Dubnyk 18,652 1–1–1 3 4 October 13 Carolina 5–4 Minnesota OT Dubnyk 18,715 1–1–2 4 5 October 15 Minnesota 2–4 Nashville Stalock 17,165 1–2–2 4 6 October 16 Arizona 1–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,795 2–2–2 6 7 October 19 Minnesota 3–1 Dallas Dubnyk 18,346 3–2–2 8 8 October 20 Tampa Bay 4–5 Minnesota OT Stalock 19,080 4–2–2 10 9 October 25 Los Angeles 1–4 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,778 5–2–2 12 10 October 27 Colorado 2–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,093 6–2–2 14 11 October 29 Minnesota 2–5 Vancouver Dubnyk 16,546 6–3–2 14 12 October 30 Minnesota 4–3 Edmonton Stalock 18,347 7–3–2 16 November: 7–6–0 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 3 Minnesota 5–1 St. Louis Dubnyk 17,767 8–3–2 18 14 November 6 Minnesota 3–4 San Jose Dubnyk 15,853 8–4–2 18 15 November 8 Minnesota 3–1 Los Angeles Dubnyk 17,621 9–4–2 20 16 November 9 Minnesota 5–1 Anaheim Stalock 16,464 10–4–2 22 17 November 11 Minnesota 3–2 St. Louis Dubnyk 16,735 11–4–2 24 18 November 13 Washington 5–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,101 11–5–2 24 19 November 15 Vancouver 2–6 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,014 12–5–2 26 20 November 17 Buffalo 3–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,947 12–6–2 26 21 November 18 Minnesota 1–3 Chicago Stalock 21,373 12–7–2 26 22 November 21 Ottawa 4–6 Minnesota Stalock 19,035 13–7–2 28 23 November 23 Winnipeg 2–4 Minnesota Stalock 19,116 14–7–2 30 24 November 27 Arizona 4–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,706 14–8–2 30 25 November 29 Minnesota 2–4 Columbus Dubnyk 15,210 14–9–2 30 December: 4–8–1 (Home: 2–4–1; Road: 2–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Toronto 5–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,107 14–10–2 30 27 December 4 Minnesota 3–2 Vancouver Dubnyk 17,122 15–10–2 32 28 December 6 Minnesota 0–2 Calgary Stalock 17,690 15–11–2 32 29 December 7 Minnesota 2–7 Edmonton Dubnyk 18,347 15–12–2 32 30 December 11 Montreal 1–7 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,681 16–12–2 34 31 December 13 Florida 1–5 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,714 17–12–2 36 32 December 15 Calgary 2–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,882 17–13–2 36 33 December 18 San Jose 4–0 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,870 17–14–2 36 34 December 20 Minnesota 1–2 Pittsburgh Dubnyk 18,435 17–15–2 36 35 December 22 Dallas 2–1 Minnesota OT Dubnyk 19,074 17–15–3 37 36 December 27 Minnesota 2–5 Chicago Dubnyk 21,735 17–16–3 37 37 December 29 Minnesota 3–1 Winnipeg Dubnyk 15,321 18–16–3 39 38 December 31 Pittsburgh 3–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,163 18–17–3 39 January: 8–4–0 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 5–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 3 Minnesota 4–3 Toronto Dubnyk 19,244 19–17–3 41 40 January 5 Minnesota 4–3 Ottawa Dubnyk 14,124 20–17–3 43 41 January 7 Minnesota 1–0 Montreal Dubnyk 20,601 21–17–3 45 42 January 8 Minnesota 0–4 Boston Stalock 17,565 21–18–3 45 43 January 10 Winnipeg 2–3 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,072 22–18–3 47 44 January 12 Detroit 5–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,087 22–19–3 47 45 January 14 Minnesota 4–7 Philadelphia Dubnyk 19,123 22–20–3 47 46 January 15 Los Angeles 2–3 Minnesota SO Stalock 19,017 23–20–3 49 47 January 17 Anaheim 3–0 Minnesota Stalock 18,907 23–21–3 49 48 January 19 Columbus 1–2 Minnesota Dubnyk 19,054 24–21–3 51 49 January 21 Minnesota 4–2 Vegas Dubnyk 18,328 25–21–3 53 50 January 23 Minnesota 5–2 Colorado Dubnyk 17,310 26–21–3 55 February: 5–6–3 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Minnesota 1–3 Dallas Dubnyk 18,124 26–22–3 55 52 February 2 Chicago 4–3 Minnesota OT Stalock 19,114 26–22–4 56 53 February 5 Minnesota 4–5 Buffalo SO Dubnyk 16,847 26–22–5 57 54 February 7 Edmonton 4–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,904 26–23–5 57 55 February 9 Minnesota 4–2 New Jersey Dubnyk 15,783 27–23–5 59 56 February 10 Minnesota 1–2 NY Islanders Dubnyk 13,825 27–24–5 59 57 February 12 Philadelphia 5–4 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,607 27–25–5 59 58 February 15 New Jersey 5–4 Minnesota OT Dubnyk 19,041 27–25–6 60 59 February 17 St. Louis 4–0 Minnesota Stalock 19,102 27–26–6 60 60 February 19 Anaheim 4–0 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,533 27–27–6 60 61 February 21 Minnesota 4–1 NY Rangers Dubnyk 17,271 28–27–6 62 62 February 22 Minnesota 3–2 Detroit Dubnyk 19,515 29–27–6 64 63 February 24 St. Louis 1–2 Minnesota OT Dubnyk 18,645 30–27–6 66 64 February 26 Minnesota 3–2 Winnipeg Dubnyk 15,321 31–27–6 68 March: 5–7–3 (Home: 1–4–2; Road: 4–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 2 Minnesota 4–2 Calgary Dubnyk 19,289 32–27–6 70 66 March 3 Nashville 3–2 Minnesota SO Stalock 18,885 32–27–7 71 67 March 5 Minnesota 4–5 Nashville SO Dubnyk 17,668 32–27–8 72 68 March 7 Minnesota 3–0 Tampa Bay Dubnyk 19,092 33–27–8 74 69 March 8 Minnesota 2–6 Florida Dubnyk 12,388 33–28–8 74 70 March 11 San Jose 3–0 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,907 33–29–8 74 71 March 14 Dallas 4–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,919 33–30–8 74 72 March 16 NY Rangers 2–5 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,844 34–30–8 76 73 March 17 NY Islanders 3–2 Minnesota OT Stalock 18,696 34–30–9 77 74 March 19 Colorado 3–1 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,785 34–31–9 77 75 March 22 Minnesota 2–1 Washington Dubnyk 18,506 35–31–9 79 76 March 23 Minnesota 1–5 Carolina Dubnyk 16,571 35–32–9 79 77 March 25 Nashville 1–0 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,833 35–33–9 79 78 March 29 Minnesota 3–2 Vegas Dubnyk 18,492 36–33–9 81 79 March 31 Minnesota 0–4 Arizona Dubnyk 17,431 36–34–9 81 April: 1–2–0 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 0–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 2 Winnipeg 1–5 Minnesota Dubnyk 18,590 37–34–9 83 81 April 4 Boston 3–0 Minnesota Stalock 19,074 37–35–9 83 82 April 6 Minnesota 0–3 Dallas Stalock 18,532 37–36–9 83 Legend:

Player statistics As of April 6, 2019

Skaters Regular season Player 74 28 33 61 −2 26 81 22 30 52 −7 34 ‡ 63 15 34 49 −2 20 82 7 40 47 −8 41 82 14 29 43 −1 20 81 21 21 42 −9 28 48 8 21 29 −2 22 ‡ 60 10 18 28 1 16 81 12 12 24 −12 29 ‡ 46 9 14 23 −11 10 32 12 10 22 −5 21 82 7 12 19 −1 55 82 4 14 18 −15 30 49 6 11 17 −9 27 † 22 4 12 16 −4 4 72 7 8 15 −8 30 58 7 7 14 −7 20 56 3 5 8 0 29 † 19 3 4 7 −12 10 71 2 5 7 −4 64 80 1 6 7 −11 41 † 22 1 5 6 −4 6 29 3 2 5 −5 6 † 23 2 1 3 −1 4 ‡ 22 0 2 2 −2 19 2 1 0 1 2 0 12 1 0 1 −2 2 6 0 1 1 0 0 † 2 0 0 0 1 0 † 18 0 0 0 −8 4 15 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 67 66 3,855:16 31 28 6 163 2.54 1,877 .913 2 0 2 2 21 16 1,065:06 6 8 3 53 2.99 525 .899 0 0 2 4 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Wild. Stats reflect time with the Wild only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Wild only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and honours

Milestones

Regular season Player MilestoneReached 400th career NHL game October 6, 2018 100th career NHL goal October 13, 2018 1,100th career NHL game October 19, 2018 500th career NHL point October 19, 2018 1,000th career NHL game October 25, 2018

Transactions The Wild have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Montreal CanadiensGustav OlofssonTo Minnesota WildWilliam Bitten To Los Angeles KingsPavel JenysTo Minnesota WildStepan Falkovsky To Anaheim DucksJustin KloosTo Minnesota WildPontus Aberg To Carolina HurricanesNino NiederreiterTo Minnesota WildVictor Rask To Vegas Golden KnightsConditional 5th-round pick in 2019To Minnesota WildBrad Hunt6th-round pick in 2019 To New Jersey DevilsRyan MurphyTo Minnesota WildMichael Kapla To Boston BruinsCharlie CoyleTo Minnesota WildRyan DonatoConditional 5th-round pick in 2019 To Nashville PredatorsMikael GranlundTo Minnesota WildKevin Fiala To Winnipeg JetsMatt HendricksTo Minnesota Wild7th-round pick in 2020 To Toronto Maple LeafsConditional 7th-round pick in 2020To Minnesota WildFedor Gordeev

Free agents Date Player Team Contract term Ref Steve Michalek to Red Bull Salzburg (EBEL) Unknown Matt Bartkowski from Calgary Flames 1-year J. T. Brown from Anaheim Ducks 2-year Matt Cullen to Pittsburgh Penguins 1-year Eric Fehr from San Jose Sharks 1-year Kurtis Gabriel to New Jersey Devils 1-year Andrew Hammond from Colorado Avalanche 1-year Matt Hendricks from Winnipeg Jets 1-year Mike Liambas from Anaheim Ducks 2-year Greg Pateryn from Dallas Stars 3-year Tyler Ennis to Toronto Maple Leafs 1-year Zack Mitchell to Los Angeles Kings 1-year Pat Cannone to ERC Ingolstadt (DEL) 1-year Matt Read from Philadelphia Flyers 1-year Dylan Labbe to Wichita Thunder (ECHL) 1-year Kyle Quincey to HIFK (Liiga) 1-year Zach Palmquist to Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AHL) 1-year Colton Beck from Iowa Wild (AHL) 2-year Mat Robson from Minnesota Golden Gophers (Big Ten) 2-year Nico Sturm from Clarkson Golden Knights (ECAC Hockey) 1-year Gerald Mayhew from Iowa Wild (AHL) 2-year

Waivers Date Player Team Ref Anthony Bitetto from Nashville Predators

Contract terminations Date Player Via Ref Tyler Ennis Buyout Eric Martinsson Mutual termination

Signings Date Player Contract term Ref Ryan Murphy 1-year Kyle Rau 2-year Nick Seeler 3-year Matt Dumba 5-year Jason Zucker 5-year Eric Staal 2-year Connor Dewar 3-year Alexander Khovanov 3-year Matt Bartkowski 1-year

Draft picks

Below are the Minnesota Wild's selections at the 2018 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)124 Filip Johansson D Leksands IF (Allsvenskan)3631 Jack McBain C Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)386 Alexander Khovanov C Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)3922 Connor Dewar C Everett Silvertips (WHL)5148 Simon Johansson D Djurgårdens IF J20 (SuperElit)51553 Damien Giroux C Saginaw Spirit (OHL)6179 Shawn Boudrias RW Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)7210 Sam Hengtes C Tri-City Storm (USHL) Notes: The Buffalo Sabres' third-round pick went to the Minnesota Wild as the result of a trade on June 30, 2017, that sent Jason Pominville, Marco Scandella and a fourth-round pick in 2018 to Buffalo in exchange for Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and this pick. The Vegas Golden Knights' third-round pick went to the Minnesota Wild as the result of a trade on June 21, 2017, that sent Alex Tuch to Vegas in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The Washington Capitals' fifth-round pick went to the Minnesota Wild as the result of a trade on June 14, 2017, that sent Tyler Graovac to Washington in exchange for this pick.

References