It finally happened. For years, the Minnesota Wild were the NHL’s equivalent of a beige sedan—reliable, gets you to the playoffs, but never wins a drag race. But if you look at the Minnesota Wild depth chart as we hit the midway point of the 2025-26 season, that beige paint has been stripped off.
Bill Guerin went and bought a rocket engine.
Honestly, the Quinn Hughes trade still feels like a fever dream for most of us in the State of Hockey. Giving up Zeev Buium and Marco Rossi was a massive "all-in" move, but seeing Hughes pair up with Brock Faber has basically broken the game. We’re talking about a roster that finally has the high-end talent to match the grit that’s been here since the Jacques Lemaire days.
The Top Six: Kirill, Yurov, and the New Era
The biggest story on the forward lines isn’t just Kirill Kaprizov anymore. Yeah, Kirill is still the king—and that massive $136 million extension he signed back in September proves he’s not going anywhere—but he’s finally got a legitimate partner in crime.
Danila Yurov has officially arrived.
Last season, there was all this talk about whether Yurov’s game would translate from the KHL. Well, he’s centering the top line now, and the chemistry with Kaprizov is kinda ridiculous. Yurov isn't just a passenger; he’s a play-driver who allows Mats Zuccarello to stay in that "crafty vet" role without having to carry the transition load.
Here is how the top half of the Minnesota Wild depth chart looks when everyone is healthy:
- LW Kirill Kaprizov — C Danila Yurov — RW Mats Zuccarello
- LW Marcus Johansson — C Ryan Hartman — RW Matt Boldy
Wait, let's talk about Matt Boldy for a second. The guy just landed on IR (again, I know), which is a huge blow because he’s been pacing for 40 goals. When he’s out, Guerin has to get creative. We’ve seen Vladimir Tarasenko—who has been a surprisingly great fit on a one-year deal—slide up to the second line to provide that finishing touch.
That Defense is Actually Ridiculous
If you told a Wild fan three years ago that the top pair would be Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber, they’d have asked what kind of NHL 25 sliders you were using.
It’s the best pairing in the league. Period.
Hughes is the dynamic, coast-to-coast puck mover we’ve never had. Faber is the hometown hero who plays 25 minutes a night and somehow never looks tired. It’s a perfect "thunder and lightning" situation, except both of them are fast as hell.
Further down the Minnesota Wild depth chart, the veteran presence of Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin (currently on IR with a lower-body issue) gives this team a defensive floor that’s higher than most teams' ceilings. Jake Middleton is still doing the dirty work, and we’re seeing David Jiricek—acquired from Columbus—starting to get real minutes.
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The depth is so deep that guys like Daemon Hunt and David Spacek are basically knocking down the door in Iowa just to get a sniff of the third pair.
The Goalie Duel: Gustavsson vs. Wallstedt
This is where things get spicy.
Filip Gustavsson signed that big extension and was supposed to be "The Guy." And to be fair, he’s been solid. He’s got a .910 save percentage and has been a total pro. But Jesper Wallstedt is coming for that crease.
Wallstedt started the season like he was shot out of a cannon. He had a shutout streak that lasted nearly 180 minutes in November. Recently, he’s hit a bit of a rookie wall—that 6-2 loss to the Jets was rough—but coach John Hynes is sticking to the rotation.
It’s a 1A/1B situation. Honestly, it’s a luxury. Most teams are praying for one goalie who won’t let in a softie, and the Wild have two guys who can steal games.
The "Dead Cap" Ghost is Gone
We can’t talk about this roster without mentioning the money. For years, the Zach Parise and Ryan Suter buyouts were an anchor around this team's neck. We were playing with one hand tied behind our back because of $14.7 million in dead cap space.
That nightmare is basically over.
The hit dropped to just $1.6 million this season. That’s why Guerin was able to go out and get Hughes. That’s why we could afford to keep Kaprizov. The Wild are finally playing on a level financial field with the rest of the Central Division, and you can see it in the depth of the bottom six.
What’s Next for the Depth Chart?
As we look toward the 2026 trade deadline, there are a few things to watch.
The injury bug has been biting hard lately. With Boldy, Eriksson Ek, and Brodin all sidelined, the "depth" part of the Minnesota Wild depth chart is being tested. We’re seeing guys like Hunter Haight and Ben Jones get recalled from Iowa.
If the Wild want to truly contend for a Cup this spring, they might need one more grit-and-grind center. Nico Sturm and Yakov Trenin are great on the PK, but if Eriksson Ek’s lower-body injury lingers, the middle of the ice looks a little thin.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Watch the waiver wire: With several players returning from IR soon, the Wild will have a roster crunch. Expect a depth defenseman or a fringe forward to be moved for a late-round pick.
- Keep an eye on Danila Yurov’s TOI: His development into a true #1 center is the single most important factor for the Wild’s playoff ceiling.
- Don't panic on Wallstedt: Young goalies fluctuate. His underlying numbers (High-Danger Save %) are still top-10 in the league despite a few bad starts.
The era of being "just okay" is done in St. Paul. This depth chart is built for a deep run.