The Minnesota Wild are based in St. Paul, Minnesota and compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Central Division in the Western Conference. Notably, they play their home games at the Xcel Energy Center which they share with the PWHL Minnesota. While team success has eluded them for much of their existence, theirs players have been successful in bringing the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, the Calder Memorial Trophy, Jack Adams Award, Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award, King Clancy Memorial Trophy and other notable honors. The Wild have also given the league notable players such as Mikko Koivu, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Marco Rossi among others.
They share strong rivalries with the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Winning Jets and the Dallas Stars. The team is presently owned by Craig Leipold, former owner of the Nashville Predators. Furthermore, the Wild also has minor league affiliations in the form of Iowa Wild in the AHL and Iowa Heartlanders in the ECHL.
Minnesota Wild NHL Playoff History and Appearances
The Minnesota Wild have qualified for the playoffs only 13 times since their establishment in 2000. Some of their most notable playoff runs include the 2002-03 season when the reached the conference finals, the 2013-14 season where they reached the second round and the 2014-15 season when they again reached the second round of the playoffs. Notably, they haven't been to a Stanley Cup finals till date and haven't won a playoff series since 2015.
The table below explores Minnesota Wild’s Playoff History and Appearances alongside their results:
Year | Record | Result |
2023 | 46-25-11 | Lost First Round |
2022 | 53-22-7 | Lost First Round |
2021 | 35-16-5 | Lost First Round |
2020 | 35-27-7 | Lost Qualifying Round |
2019 | 37-36-9 | Missed Playoffs |
2018 | 45-26-11 | Lost First Round |
2017 | 49-25-8 | Lost First Round |
2016 | 38-33-11 | Lost First Round |
2015 | 46-28-8 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2014 | 43-27-12 | Lost Conference Semi-Finals |
2013 | 26-19-3 | Lost First Round |
2012 | 35-36-11 | Missed Playoffs |
2011 | 39-35-8 | Missed Playoffs |
2010 | 38-36-8 | Missed Playoffs |
2009 | 40-33-9 | Missed Playoffs |
2008 | 44-28-10 | Lost First Round |
2007 | 48-26-8 | Lost First Round |
2006 | 38-36-8 | Missed Playoffs |
2004 | 30-29-20-3 | Missed Playoffs |
2003 | 42-29-10-1 | Lost Conference Finals |
2002 | 26-35-12-9 | Missed Playoffs |
2001 | 25-39-13-5 | Missed Playoffs |
Minnesota Wild Conference History
The Minnesota Wild have been in existence since the 2000-01 season. Their most notable season took place in 2002-03 when they made a surprise run to the conference finals, defeating the Avalanche and Canucks in the process, claiming two playoff series that season. The following seasons saw the Wild drop out of playoff contention with a notable period of absence between 2008-2012. The 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons brought some respite for the team however this started a losing streak in the playoffs, with the Wild not having won a playoff series since then.
The table below explores Minnesota Wild’s Conference History alongside their results:
Season | Conference | Result |
2000–01 | Western | Did not qualify |
2001–02 | Western | Did not qualify |
2002–03 | Western | Won in Conference Quarterfinals, 4–3 (Avalanche) Won in Conference Semifinals, 4–3 (Canucks) Lost in Conference Finals, 0–4 (Mighty Ducks) |
2003–04 | Western | Did not qualify |
2004–05 | Season cancelled due to NHL Lockout | |
2005–06 | Western | Did not qualify |
2006–07 | Western | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Ducks) |
2007–08 | Western | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 2–4 (Avalanche) |
2008–09 | Western | Did not qualify |
2009–10 | Western | Did not qualify |
2010–11 | Western | Did not qualify |
2011–12 | Western | Did not qualify |
2012–13 | Western | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals, 1–4 (Blackhawks) |
2013–14 | Western | Won in First Round, 4–3 (Avalanche) Lost in Second Round, 2–4 (Blackhawks) |
2014–15 | Western | Won in First Round, 4–2 (Blues) Lost in Second Round, 0–4 (Blackhawks) |
2015–16 | Western | Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Stars) |
2016–17 | Western | Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Blues) |
2017–18 | Western | Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Jets) |
2018–19 | Western | Did not qualify |
2019–20 | Western | Lost in Qualifying Round, 1–3 (Canucks) |
2020–21 | — | Lost in First Round, 3–4 (Golden Knights) |
2021–22 | Western | Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Blues) |
2022–23 | Western | Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Stars) |
Minnesota Wild Division History
Beginning play in 2000-01, Minnesota Wild used to compete in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference until a league realignment in 2013 moved them to the Central Division in the Western Conference. Notably, in just their third season of play in 2002-03, they made a surprise run to the conference finals, defeating the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks before losing to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. This was followed by a dry period. Moving forward to the 2007-08 season, the Minnesota Wild achieved several franchise records and clinched their first and only Division title as of date. The same season, Marian Gaborik scored the most goals(42) and points (83) in a single season, setting new team records. Additionally, Jacques Lemaire, the Wild head coach, reached a significant milestone, recording his 500th career coaching win. However, they have endured rotten luck in the playoffs since then. Notably, they are one of the five active NHL teams to have never participated in the Stanley Cup Finals.
The table below explores Minnesota Wild’s Division HIstory along with their regular season record:
NHL Season | Division | Record |
2000-01 | Northwest | 25-39-13-5 |
2001–02 | Northwest | 26-35-12-9 |
2002–03 | Northwest | 42-29-10-1 |
2003–04 | Northwest | 30-29-20-3 |
2004–05 | Season cancelled due to 2004–05 NHL lockout | |
2005–06 | Northwest | 38-36-8 |
2006–07 | Northwest | 48-26-8 |
2007–08 | Northwest↑ | 44-28-10 |
2008–09 | Northwest | 40-33-9 |
2009–10 | Northwest | 38-36-8 |
2010–11 | Northwest | 39-35-8 |
2011–12 | Northwest | 35-36-11 |
2012–13 | Northwest | 26-19-3 |
2013–14 | Central | 43-27-12 |
2014–15 | Central | 46-28-8 |
2015–16 | Central | 38-33-11 |
2016–17 | Central | 49-25-8 |
2017–18 | Central | 45-26-11 |
2018–19 | Central | 37-36-9 |
2019–20 | Central | 35-27-7 |
2020–21 | West | 35-16-5 |
2021–22 | Central | 53-22-7 |
2022–23 | Central | 46-25-11 |
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