The return of NHL players to the Winter Games for the first time since 2014 will make the hockey better and the competition tougher.
More from Wild
Matt Boldy’s hat trick gets Wild started to 6-5 victory in Nashville
Jared Spurgeon scored the overtime winner in the Wild’s final game before the three-week Olympic break.
February 5, 2026
Scoggins: Olympic hockey teams are full of star players. What if someone gets hurt?
Bill Guerin runs the Wild and the U.S. team at the Winter Games, and says “there’s no sense worrying about it.”
AuthoredChip Scoggins
AuthoredChip ScogginsFebruary 3, 2026
Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov bring out the best in each other in another Wild victory
In the final home game before the Olympic break, the Wild beat the Canadiens in overtime as Hughes set up Kaprizov for a pair of goals.
February 3, 2026
Kaprizov’s OT goal sends Wild past Canadiens 4-3
The Wild avenged their recent loss at Montreal in their second-to-last game before the Olympic break.
February 3, 2026
Wild reach season-high goal total with 7-3 rout of Oilers
The Wild won their third game in a row and swept the three-game season series from Edmonton.
February 1, 2026
‘They’re not all gonna be Picassos’: Wild settle for ugly victory over Flames
The Wild’s 55th game might not have been frame worthy, let alone ready for an art gallery, but their efficiency was spot on.
January 30, 2026
Wild’s early goals hold up in 4-1 victory over Flames
They added a third-period insurance goal by Matt Boldy and got 29 saves from Filip Gustavsson to avoid overtime.
January 30, 2026
Wild stick with Jesper Wallstedt despite rough start, and it pays off with victory over Blackhawks
Rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt and the Wild fell behind 3-0 before rallying to force overtime, then won in a shootout.
January 28, 2026
Wild rally from three-goal deficit to beat Blackhawks in a shootout
Kirill Kaprizov scored the only goal in the shootout, and Jesper Wallstedt recovered from a rough start to anchor the victory.
January 28, 2026
Wild's Kaprizov wishes he could again enjoy the thrill of Olympics
Kaprizov scored the gold medal-winning goal in the 2018 Games, but Russian NHL players are not permitted to compete at this year’s competition in Italy.
January 27, 2026
Analysis: Wild can’t take advantage with full complement of forwards
Saturday night’s OT loss to Florida was the first time in more than two weeks the Wild had all their forwards healthy, but a penalty-heavy game made it look as if they were short-staffed. 
AuthoredSarah McLellan
AuthoredSarah McLellanJanuary 26, 2026
Wild get Boldy back but lose to Florida 4-3 in OT
Boldy had a goal and an assist after missing four games because of a lower-body injury.
January 25, 2026
