Schmidt, drafted 96th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, has bounced around teams over the past year and has yet to earn himself a shot at the NHL level. The 23-year-old defenseman scored three assists in the 2025-26 season in 48 AHL games split between the Syracuse Crunch, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and Iowa Wild.
Hunt will remain a member of the Minnesota Wild for a fourth NHL season after it was announced Sunday that the 24-year-old had signed a one-year extension worth $900,000 AAV. Hunt should play a key role providing Minnesota's defence with some depth after appearing in 32 regular season games and 5 playoff games for the Wild last season.
Primarily an AHL player, Kirkland appeared in at least 20 games for the Calgary Flames the past two seasons and will add some depth for the Minnesota Wild. The 29-year-old forward scored two points (1G / 1A) in 20 games with the Flames last season.
After a couple of successful seasons with Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL, Shabanov made his NHL debut in 2025-26 and struggled to find his footing. Regularly a healthy scratch, the talented 25-year-old forward was limited to just 44 games (5G / 13A) while averaging 13:41 time-on-ice. The Minnesota Wild hope that Shabanov can find his scoring touch and gel alongside countryman Kirill Kaprizov in 2026-27.
After spending the first six seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a steady shutdown defenseman, Maata has struggled to find a permanent home and will join his seventh team in the last eight seasons. That said, the 31-year-old Finnish defenseman remains a reliable bottom-pairing defenseman. Last season, he averaged 17:13 time on ice, scoring 15 points (2G/3A) in 43 games split between the Calgary Flames and the Utah Mammoth.
Coleman's name circulated in rumours before last season's trade deadline, and his departure from Calgary came to fruition early in the offseason, in a trade to the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Texas native has established himself as a heavy-hitting and intimidating middle-six forward who should fit seamlessly into a gritty Minnesota Wild team. In 2025-26, Coleman averaged 17:20 time-on-ice, recording 35 points (20G / 15A) and 152 hits.
Gambrell has 40 points (17G / 23A) in 233 career NHL games, but has exclusively played in the AHL the past three seasons. The 29-year-old forward scored 36 points (10G / 26A) last season in 35 games with the Iowa Wild (AHL).
Foligno was traded from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Minnesota Wild before last season's trade deadline, impressing enough during a short stint to earn a one-year contract extension. The veteran 38-year-old forward scored four points (1G / 3A) in 17 games with Minnesota last season.
Bogosian has played 970 career games and has played well in a bottom defensive pairing for Minnesota the past three seasons, earning him another one-year extension with the team. The 36-year-old veteran scored six points (2G / 4A) and averaged 14:33 time-on-ice in 41 games last season.
Shaw was a fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and will return to the organization after signing a one-year contract extension. The 27-year-old forward has played 82 career NHL games, but spent the entire 2025-26 season in the AHL, scoring 44 points (15G / 29A) in 71 games with the Manitoba Moose.
Pickard has seen significant NHL exposure the past three seasons, but organizational moves by the Edmonton Oilers made him expendable, ultimately resulting in a one-year contract with the Minnesota Wild. The 34-year-old Pickard has a 2.95 GAA and .901 SV% in 191 career NHL games (74-77-14). He should start the year at the NHL level with Minnesota, filling in for Filip Gustavsson, who is expected to be sidelined for the first couple of months of the 2026-27 season.
Minnesota acquired Brink mid-season in 2025-26. The 24-year-old Brink battled injuries and was the occasional healthy scratch, playing only 13 games and scoring four points (2G / 2A). That said, he will return to Minnesota in 2026-27 after signing a one-year contract extension worth $2.75 million.
McCarron was acquired by Minnesota from the Nashville Predators ahead of the 2025-26 trade deadline and immediately made an impact with his new team. The 31-year-old forward recorded 40 hits and five points (3G / 2A) in 20 regular-season games with Minnesota, but his presence in the postseason, playing tough defensive minutes and scoring four points (2G / 2A) in 11 games, likely contributed most to his six-year contract extension worth $3.3 million AAV.
Gustavsson was Minnesota's goalie-of-record during the 2025-26 regular season, starting 49 games, but dressed primarily as Jesper Wallstedt's backup during the team's postseason run. With Gustavsson undergoing offseason hip surgery, Jesper Wallstedt could be poised to make another push to be Minnesota's starting goalie to start the 2026-27 season. The 27-year-old Gustavsson will be entering the first year of a five-year contract extension worth $38 million ($6.8 million AAV).
It's unclear whether Bogosian is dealing with an undisclosed injury or simply a healthy scratch, but the Wild did indicate earlier on Wednesday that they were dealing with some potential injuries. Jeff Petry will draw into the lineup in his place.
The Wild will roll with Wallstedt on Wednesday when they aim to keep their season alive and force a Game 6. Wallstedt turned away 29 of the 32 shots he faced in a losing effort in Game 4, as the Avalanche took a 3-1 series lead with a 5-2 victory. The 23-year-old Wallstedt has started all but one game for the Wild this post-season, posting an impressive .912 SV% across his nine appearances. The Wild are hoping he brings his A-game tonight, as they enter action at +175 on the money line.
After a poor Game One against the Colorado Avalanche, allowing eight goals on 42 shots (.810 SV%) in a 9-6 loss, Wallstedt had the night off in Game Two, as Filip Gustavsson tended the twine in a 5-2 loss. Minnesota returned to Wallstedt in Game Three, and he repaid their trust, returning to the form he showcased in the first round against the Dallas Stars, saving 35 of 36 shots (.972 SV%) in a 5-1 win, helping his team narrow the series deficit to 2-1. Minnesota enters a pivotal Game Four as +121 home underdogs.
Eriksson Ek had an awkward non-contact fall midway through the third period of Game Six against the Dallas Stars, and has subsequently missed the first three games of the second round against the Colorado Avalanche. Down 2-1 in the series, Minnesota has missed the offensive contributions of Eriksson Ek, who has five points (3G / 2A) through six games this postseason. He will remain sidelined in Game Four.
