Update: The Wild signed Brad Staubitz, acquired from San Jose yesterday for a fifth-round pick, to a two-year, $1.15 million deal. Salary-cap hit is $575,000. One-way contract, meaning NHL salary if he were to play in the minors. He'll be here in Minnesota.

It's finally here -- three weeks earlier than normal actually: The Wild's 2010-11 schedule.

After a week in Finland, including a preseason game in Tampere, the Wild opens the regular-season Oct. 7-8 against the hated Carolina Hurricanes. Apparently, the Wild, expected to be a salary-cap ceiling team at between $56-58 million next year, will be facing a team whose salary-cap will be close to the $43-$45 million cap floor.

That's what GM Jim Rutherford, one of the game's great managers by the way, apparently told WRAL's Jason Jennings yesterday, according to canescountry.com.

The Wild will then return back to Minnesota, take five off-days and open the actually home schedule Oct. 14 against the Edmonton Oilers, Oct. 16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Oct. 19 against the Vancouver Canucks. Seven of 10 games in October are home games.

At actual Xcel Energy Center, the Wild plays eight of its first 10 at home, including a season-long five-game homestand that includes Cup champion Chicago.

The Wild's annual New Year's Eve traditional game will occur against the Nashville Predators.

March, usually the Wild's undoing because of the absurd travel due to other events at the X (OK, my opinion), is actually very tame this year.

Other highlights? Alex Ovechkin comes this season with the Capitals. So will Marian Gaborik with the Rangers. Remember, last year Gaborik missed his homecoming in Minnesota because of a leg injury.

The Wild will take part in the first Hockey Day In America on Feb. 20 – Washington @ Buffalo; Philadelphia @ NY
Rangers; Pittsburgh @ Chicago, Detroit @ Minnesota.

The Wild closes the regular-season April 10 against Dallas.

SEPTEMBER – PRESEASON
WED. 22 ST. LOUIS 7:00 P.M.
Fri. 24 @ St. Louis 7:00 p.m.
SAT. 25 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 P.M.
Sun. 26 @ Montreal 6:00 p.m.
Tue. 28 @ Columbus 6:00 p.m.
THU. 30 COLUMBUS 7:00 P.M.
OCTOBER – PRESEASON
Mon. 4 @ Ilves Tampere (Finland) 11:00 a.m.

OCTOBER – REGULAR SEASON
THU. 7 CAROLINA (Finland) 11:00 A.M.
Fri. 8 @ Carolina (Finland) 11:00 a.m.
THU. 14 EDMONTON 7:30 P.M.
SAT. 16 COLUMBUS 7:00 P.M.
TUE. 19 VANCOUVER 8:00 P.M.
Thu. 21 @ Edmonton 8:00 p.m.
Fri. 22 @ Vancouver 9:00 p.m.
MON. 25 LOS ANGELES 7:00 P.M.
THU. 28 WASHINGTON 7:00 P.M.
SAT. 30 CHICAGO 7:00 P.M.

NOVEMBER
TUE. 2 SAN JOSE 7:00 P.M.
FRI. 5 CALGARY 7:00 P.M.
Sat. 6 @ Columbus 6:00 p.m.
Thu. 11 @ Atlanta 6:00 p.m.
Fri. 12 @ Florida 6:30 p.m.
Sun. 14 @ Tampa Bay 4:00 p.m.
WED. 17 ANAHEIM 7:00 P.M.
Fri. 19 @ Detroit 6:00 p.m.
SAT. 20 N.Y. RANGERS 7:00 P.M.
WED. 24 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 P.M.
FRI. 26 NASHVILLE 1:00 P.M.
Sat. 27 @ Colorado 8:00 p.m.
Mon. 29 @ Calgary 8:00 p.m.

DECEMBER
WED 1 PHOENIX 7:00 P.M.
FRI. 3 CALGARY 7:00 P.M.
Sat. 4 @ Dallas 7:00 p.m.
Thu. 9 @ Phoenix 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 11 @ Los Angeles 9:30 p.m.
Sun. 12 @ Anaheim 7:00 p.m.
THU. 16 OTTAWA 7:00 P.M.
Sat. 18 @ Calgary 9:00 p.m.
MON. 20 CALGARY 7:00 P.M.
Thu. 23 @ Colorado 8:00 p.m.
SUN. 26 DETROIT 6:00 P.M.
Mon. 27 @ Columbus 6:00 p.m.
WED. 29 SAN JOSE 7:00 P.M.
FRI. 31 NASHVILLE 5:00 P.M.

JANUARY
SUN. 2 PHOENIX 5:00 P.M.
Tue. 4 @ New Jersey 6:00 p.m.
Thu. 6 @ Boston 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 8 @ Pittsburgh 6:00 p.m.
SUN. 9 DALLAS 5:00 P.M.
Tue. 11 @ Nashville 7:00 p.m.
FRI. 14 COLORADO 7:00 P.M.
SUN. 16 VANCOUVER 5:00 P.M.
Tue. 18 @ Edmonton 8:00 p.m.
Wed. 19 @ Calgary 8:30 p.m.
Sat. 22 @ San Jose 9:30 p.m.
Tue. 25 @ Chicago 7:30 p.m.
Sun. 30 NHL All-Star Game (Raleigh, N.C.) TBA

FEBRUARY
TUE. 1 LOS ANGELES 7:00 P.M.
Thu. 3 @ Colorado 8:00 p.m.
Sat. 5 @ Phoenix 7:00 p.m.
WED. 9 COLORADO 7:00 P.M.
Fri. 11 @ St. Louis 7:00 p.m.
SAT. 12 ST. LOUIS 8:00 P.M.
TUE. 15 VANCOUVER 7:00 P.M.
Wed. 16 @ Chicago 7:30 p.m.
FRI. 18 ANAHEIM 7:00 P.M.
SUN. 20 DETROIT 5:00 P.M.
TUE. 22 EDMONTON 7:00 P.M.
Thu. 24 @ Los Angeles 9:30 p.m.
Fri. 25 @ Anaheim 9:00 p.m.
MON. 28 CHICAGO 7:00 P.M.

MARCH
Wed. 2 @ N.Y. Islanders 6:00 p.m.
Thu. 3 @ N.Y. Rangers 6:00 p.m.
SUN. 6 BUFFALO 5:00 P.M.
TUE. 8 COLORADO 7:00 P.M.
Thu. 10 @ Nashville 7:00 p.m.
Fri. 11 @ Dallas 7:30 p.m.
Mon. 14 @ Vancouver 9:00 p.m.
Thu. 17 @ San Jose 9:30 p.m.
SAT. 19 COLUMBUS 1:00 P.M.
SUN. 20 MONTREAL 5:00 P.M.
TUE. 22 TORONTO 7:00 P.M.
SAT. 26 ST. LOUIS 7:00 P.M.
Tue. 29 @ St. Louis 7:00 p.m.
THU. 31 EDMONTON 7:00 P.M.

APRIL
SAT. 2 TAMPA BAY 1:00 P.M.
Sun. 3 @ Detroit 4:00 p.m.
Thu. 7 @ Vancouver 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 8 @ Edmonton 8:00 p.m.
SUN. 10 DALLAS 5:00 P.M.

Also from the Wild:

Wild unveils partial season-ticket plans

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The National Hockey League's (NHL) Minnesota Wild today unveiled new ticket plans for the 2010-11 season. For the first time in team history fans can purchase partial season ticket plans including 10-game plans, a 20-game plan and a customizable Flex Plan in conjunction with the Wild's 10th anniversary season. "Wild season ticket holders will continue to enjoy the best seats for the best games at the lowest price," said Jamie Spencer, Vice President of Customer Sales and Service. "Feedback has indicated offering partial season ticket plans will benefit many of our fans who want to experience Wild hockey at Xcel Energy Center frequently during the season, but due to demanding schedules and challenging economic times, are not able to commit to full season tickets." Fans can choose from a pre-selected 20-game plan or pick their own games through a flexible online plan. The Flex Plan allows fans to select a minimum of two seats and a maximum of six seats per game for a package that includes 20 games. A limited number of partial season ticket plans will be available in select seating areas for the 2010-11 season. Visit www.wild.com/ticketplans to view game options for each partial season ticket plans, seating chart and to make your game selections. 2010-11 MINNESOTA WILD PARTIAL SEASON TICKET PLAN PRICING Full Season 20-Game Plan Flex Plan 10-Game Plan Price per ticket/ Season price Price per ticket/ Plan price Price per ticket/ Plan price (2 tickets) Price per ticket/ Plan price On-The-Glass $225/$9,675 $237/$4,740 NA $242/$2,420 Club Level Sides $95/$4,085 $97/$1,940 $97/$3,880 $98/$980 Club Level Ends $85/$3,655 $87/$1,740 $87/$3,480 $88/$880 Lower Level Sides $88/$3,784 $90/$1,800 $90/$3,600 $92/$920 Lower Level Single Attack Corners $71/$3,053 $76/$1,520 $76/$3,040 $77/$770 Lower Level Single Attack Ends $65/$2,795 $70/$1,400 $70/$2,800 $72/$720 The Wild will continue to hold the same number of seats in all seating areas for individual game sales. More information on single game tickets for preseason and regular season games at Xcel Energy Center will be announced at a later date. For more information on season tickets visit www.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative at 651-222-WILD. The Wild has sold-out all 409 games played in club history, including 369 regular season contests, 27 preseason games and 13 playoff matches. Minnesota's sellout streak is the longest current streak in the NHL.