If you missed it, here's the Craig MacTavish article from today's paper on the former Edmonton coach visiting Minnesota last week.

I'd think this will be coming to a conclusion soon after the Stanley Cup Finals.

Also, next week, the dignitaries and prospects that will be here for the NHL draft begin to trickle in. The NHL schedule should also soon be released. Last year was the first time it actually preceded the draft rather than being released in mid-July and that may be the plan again.

I thought it would have been a natural for the Wild to open up the new Winnipeg arena to create the beginning of a natural rivalry, but I hear the Wild's opening against Columbus Oct. 8. The Wild, on the initial schedule, do play two games -- home and road -- against Winnipeg. The initial schedule I hear also has the Wild playing 10 of its final 15 at home.