Winger Nino Niederreiter reported to Xcel Energy Center Thursday morning to prepare for the evening's game with the Ducks, participating in the morning skate before leaving to rest up.
But after the Wild was flattened 3-0 by Anaheim, the stall that Niederreiter once occupied was already set up to welcome center Victor Rask – the player the team acquired in exchange for sending Niederreiter to the Hurricanes.
"We're going to miss him around here, for sure," goalie Devan Dubnyk said. "He was very well-liked here."

Niederreiter was one of the longest-tenured players on the Wild, joining the team via trade in 2013 from the New York Islanders. He went on to log 434 regular-season games with the team and another 39 in the playoffs, skating as a favorite among fans and his teammates.
"It's sad," captain Mikko Koivu said. "Great person. Great teammate. First class all the way, for sure. I guess that's the business we live in. Personally and as a team, we'll miss him for sure."
Although General Manager Paul Fenton has been mostly idle in the trade market since joining the organization last May, it seemed inevitable he would eventually make a move.
But players can still be caught off-guard by the news.
"I think any trade catches you by surprise, for sure," backup goalie Alex Stalock said. "You never want it to happen. I've been through it myself. It turns your life kind of upside down. You're here for a while and make great friends here and get comfortable with the state and the people here, and then all of a sudden you get a call and your life changes. It's not easy to do. All of a sudden, you're on the other side of the country. It's not easy for Nino right now."