The Minnesota Wild are in a weird spot right now. Honestly, if you looked at this roster three years ago, you wouldn't believe the names on the back of the sweaters today. Quinn Hughes? Yeah, that actually happened. Bill Guerin went all-in, shipping off the future—Zeev Buium, Marco Rossi, and Liam Ohgren—to snag a franchise defenseman. It’s the kind of move that either wins you a Cup or haunts a fanbase for a decade.
Watching this mn wild projected lineup evolve throughout the 2025-26 season has been a rollercoaster. We’ve seen kids like Danila Yurov jump into the deep end, while veterans like Mats Zuccarello continue to defy the aging curve. It’s not just about who's playing, though. It’s about how John Hynes is juggling the lines to keep this team afloat in a brutal Central Division.
The Current State of the Top Six
Everything starts with Kirill Kaprizov. Obviously. He’s the engine, the heart, and basically the reason people show up to the arena. But the big story lately has been Danila Yurov centering the top line. It's a massive ask for a 22-year-old. Putting him between Kaprizov and Zuccarello is a "sink or swim" move if I’ve ever seen one.
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Then you’ve got the second line. This is where things get interesting. Marcus Johansson is still hanging around, and while some fans might groan, he’s found a weirdly effective chemistry with Ryan Hartman and Matt Boldy. Boldy is having a monster year. We're talking 25 goals in 41 games. He’s essentially become the co-star Kaprizov always needed.
The Forward Groups
The middle of the lineup is a bit of a rotating door due to some recent bumps and bruises. Joel Eriksson Ek has been dealing with a lower-body issue since early January, which is why we’re seeing Ben Jones getting a look in the bottom six.
- Line 1: Kirill Kaprizov — Danila Yurov — Mats Zuccarello
- Line 2: Marcus Johansson — Ryan Hartman — Matt Boldy
- Line 3: Marcus Foligno — Nico Sturm — Vladimir Tarasenko
- Line 4: Yakov Trenin — Ben Jones — Vinnie Hinostroza
Tarasenko on the third line feels like a luxury, but honestly, his veteran presence with Nico Sturm and Foligno gives the Wild a "heavy" line that can actually score. It's a far cry from the "grit-only" fourth lines of the past.
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A Defensive Core Like No Other
Let’s talk about that blue line. Pairing Quinn Hughes with Brock Faber is basically hockey porn for Wild fans. You have a perennial Norris candidate in Hughes and a homegrown superstar in Faber. They’re both playing north of 25 minutes a night.
Hughes is currently leading the league in time-on-ice. That’s insane. He’s the quarterback this power play has lacked for basically the entire history of the franchise. Behind them, you have the steady presence of Jonas Brodin and Jared Spurgeon. It’s a very "Minnesota" defensive group—smart, mobile, and rarely out of position.
Defensive Pairings
- First Pair: Quinn Hughes — Brock Faber
- Second Pair: Jonas Brodin — Jared Spurgeon
- Third Pair: Jake Middleton — Daemon Hunt
We just saw David Špaček get called up from Iowa, too. He’s been tearing it up in the AHL with 19 points in 35 games. With Zach Bogosian and Daemon Hunt being a bit "day-to-day" lately, Špaček might actually get his NHL debut sooner than we thought. He’s 22 and looks like another solid find from the 2022 draft.
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The Wallstedt Era is Finally Here
For years, we’ve been hearing about Jesper Wallstedt. The Great Wall of Sweden. Well, he’s here, and he’s sharing the net with Filip Gustavsson. It’s a true 1A/1B situation. Gustavsson has been solid, sitting at a .912 save percentage with three shutouts, but you can feel the momentum shifting toward the kid.
Wallstedt represents the future. He’s 23 now, and the poise he shows in the crease is just different. He doesn't scramble. He just absorbs pucks.
What Really Matters for the Postseason
The mn wild projected lineup is built for a specific type of hockey. It’s fast, but it’s also incredibly expensive. The salary cap is the invisible 7th player on the ice. With the Suter and Parise buyouts finally starting to recede into the background, Guerin has a little more breathing room, but the Hughes trade used up most of that oxygen.
One thing people get wrong is thinking this team is "one-dimensional" with Kaprizov. That might have been true two years ago. Now? You have Matt Boldy leading all American-born skaters in points. You have a defense that can actually transition the puck without just chipping it off the glass.
Real Talk on the Depth
- Special Teams: The first power-play unit is basically a "who's who" of high-end talent: Kaprizov, Boldy, Zuccarello, Hughes, and Eriksson Ek (when healthy).
- The Grind: Players like Yakov Trenin and Nico Sturm are the reason this team doesn't get bullied in the playoffs anymore. Sturm’s face-off percentage is hovering around 56%, which is huge for late-game defensive zone starts.
- The Rookies: Keep an eye on Danila Yurov. His production hasn't exploded yet, but his underlying metrics—puck possession and zone entries—are elite.
Managing the Injury Bug
Injuries are the only thing that could derail this. Losing Eriksson Ek for any extended period hurts because he’s the guy who does the dirty work. He wins the draws, he stands in front of the net, and he pisses off the other team’s best players.
If the Wild have to rely on Ben Jones or Vinnie Hinostroza in the top nine for a month, they’re going to slide. The depth is better, sure, but it's not "replace a top-line center" better.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're watching the upcoming games against Winnipeg or New Jersey, watch the Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber rotation. When they are on the ice together, the Wild essentially control 65% of the shot share. It’s dominant.
Also, keep an eye on the waiver wire and AHL call-ups. The David Špaček move isn't just a "fill-in." It’s a test to see if he’s ready for a full-time spot next year, which would allow the Wild to potentially move a veteran contract to free up space for Kaprizov’s next inevitable mega-extension.
The Minnesota Wild are no longer just "happy to be here." This roster is designed to win now. Whether the gamble on Quinn Hughes pays off remains to be seen, but for the first time in a long time, the lineup looks like it belongs among the elite.
Keep an eye on the morning skates. Hynes has been known to swap Hartman and Yurov mid-game if the top line isn't clicking. Flexibility is the name of the game in 2026. Watch the defensive gaps when Middleton is on the ice—he's been the unsung hero of the physical game while the stars provide the highlights.