Minnesota Wild: A Brief History

The 2014-2015  season marks the fourteenth season for the Minnesota Wild. After the North Stars relocated to Dallas at the end of the 1992-1993 season, the NHL granted Minnesota an expansion franchise that entered its inaugural year during the 2000-2001 NHL season. This year would have marked the Wild’s fifteenth season had the lockout not wiped out the entire 2004-2005 NHL season.

Since the rebirth of NHL hockey in Minnesota, the furthest the Wild have gotten in the playoffs has been the Western Conference finals. The Wild have made the playoffs just five times with a possible sixth time in the wings this season. Finishing outside of the playoff race eight times has been disappointing for fans but it has allowed the club to stockpile an impressive group of young players.

The future looks bright for the Minnesota Wild. In recent years, some of the young players that the Wild have acquired over the years are seeing their game come to fruition. Many of these players have been integral to the success that the Wild have had this season.  The young players combined with the Wild’s veteran core have put the club in a position to contend sometime in the near future.

[See Also: The 2013-2014 Minnesota Wild: How They Were Built]

While it seems the Wild might be turning a corner, it is important to remember the past and the way it shaped the Wild’s present. Here is a look at a season-by-season history of the Wild and how they’ve represented the state of hockey in the NHL since the club began playing in the 2000-2001 season.

A Brief History of the Minnesota Wild

Inaugural Season: 2000-2001

2000-01 Upper Deck #229 Marian Gaborik

2001-2002 Season

2002-03 Be a Player Signature Series Autograph #85 Cliff Ronning

2002-2003 Season

Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire
General Manager: Doug Risebrough
Season Record: 42-29-10-1

Leading Overall Scorer: Marion Gaborik (65)

Leader in Goals: Marian Gaborik (30)

Leader in Assists: Marian Gaborik (35)

Northwest Division: 3rd Overall

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Finals to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim

Xcel Energy Center (photo from Wikipedia Commons)

2003-2004 Season

Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire
General Manager: Doug Risebrough
Season Record: 30-29-20-3

Leading Overall Scorer: Alexandre Daigle (51)

Leader in Goals: Alexandre Daigle (20)

Leader in Assists: Andrew Brunette (34)

Northwest Division: 5th Overall

Playoffs: Did not qualify

2004-2005 Season (Lockout – Did Not Play)

2005-2006 Season

Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire
General Manager: Doug Risebrough
Season Record: 38-36-8

Leading Overall Scorer: Brian Rolston (79)

Leader in Goals: Marion Gaborik (38)

Leader in Assists: Brian Rolston (45)

Northwest Division: 5th Overall

Playoffs: Did not qualify

2006-2007 Season

Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire
General Manager: Doug Risebrough
Season Record: 48-26-8

Leading Overall Scorer: Brian Rolston & Pavol Demitra (64)

Leader in Goals:Brian Rolston (31)

Leader in Assists: Pavol Demitra (39)

Northwest Division: 2nd Overall

Playoffs: Lost in Conference Quarterfinals to the Anaheim Ducks

(Icon SMI)

2007-2008 Season

Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire
General Manager: Doug Risebrough
Season Record: 44-28-10

Leading Overall Scorer: Marion Gaborik (83)

Leader in Goals: Marion Gaborik (42)

Leader in Assists: Pierre-Marc Bouchard (50)

Northwest Division: 1st Overall

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Quarterfinals to the Colorado Avalanche

2008-2009 Season

Head Coach: Jacques Lemaire
General Manager: Doug Risebrough
Season Record: 40-33-9

Leading Overall Scorer: Mikko Koivu (67)

Leader in Goals: Owen Nolan (25)

Leader in Assists: Mikko Koivu (47)

Northwest Division: 3rd Overall

Playoffs: Did not qualify

2009-2010 Season

Head Coach: Todd Richards
General Manager: Chuck Fletcher
Season Record: 38-36-8

Leading Overall Scorer: Mikko Koivu (71)

Leader in Goals: Andrew Brunette (25)

Leader in Assists: Mikko Koivu (49)

Northwest Division: 4th Overall

Playoffs: Did not qualify

2009-10 Upper Deck #437 Martin Havlat

2010-2011 Season

Head Coach: Todd Richards
General Manager: Chuck Fletcher
Season Record: 39-35-8

Leading Overall Scorer: Martin Havlat & Mikko Koivu (62)

Leader in Goals: Martin Havlat (22)

Leader in Assists: Mikko Koivu (45)

Northwest Division: 3rd Overall

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Dany Heatley (Vincent Muzik/Icon SMI)

2011-2012 Season

Head Coach: Mike Yeo
General Manager: Chuck Fletcher
Season Record: 35-36-11

Leading Overall Scorer: Dany Heatley (53)

Leader in Goals: Dany Heatley (24)

Leader in Assists: Mikko Koivu (32)

Northwest Division: 4th Overall

Playoffs: Did not qualify

2012-13 Panini Hockey #255 Sticker Zach Parise

2012-2013 Season (Lockout-Shortened Season)

Head Coach: Mike Yeo
General Manager: Chuck Fletcher
Season Record: 26-19-3

Leading Overall Scorer: Zach Parise (38)

Leader in Goals: Zach Parise (18)

Leader in Assists: Ryan Suter (28)

Northwest Division: 2nd Overall

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Quarterfinals to the Chicago Blackhawks

#483428601 / gettyimages.com

 2013-2014 Season

Head Coach: Mike Yeo
General Manager: Chuck Fletcher
Season Record: 43-27-12

Leading Overall Scorer: Jason Pominville (60)

Leader in Goals: Jason Pominville (30)

Leader in Assists: Mikko Koivu (43)

Central Division: 4th Overall

Playoffs: Lost in Western Conference Semi-Finals to the Chicago Blackhawks