Mike Green

Lore & Background

The Wild were founded on June 25, 1997, and began play in the 2000–01 season. The team was founded following the departure of the Minnesota North Stars, who were based in Minnesota from 1967 to 1993, when they relocated to Dallas, Texas, and became the Dallas Stars. The Wild made their first Stanley Cup playoffs appearance in 2003, making a surprise run to the Western Conference finals, but ultimately losing to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The team have appeared in the playoffs a total of 14 times, and have won one division championship, in 2008.

In Their Own Story

The arena was humming with that particular Minnesota cold that seeps through the glass and settles in your chest. Green stood at the blue line, stick dragging a thin arc of ice, watching the play develop in the offensive zone. The puck bobbled loose near the boards. He didn't hesitate—two quick strides, a shoulder check that sent a forward stumbling into the glass, and then the puck was already on his tape. He peeled off the point, wristed it through two defenders, and the netminder never even turned. The crowd noise hit him like a wall of sound. He skated back, jaw set, ice spray catching the arena lights like scattered diamonds. No celebration. Just the next face-off, already forming in his head.

Reader's Guide

The Wild named Jacques Lemaire their first head coach and the team picked Marian Gaborik third overall in the first round of the 2000 NHL entry draft. Gaborik scored the first-ever goal for the Wild in their franchise debut on October 6 at Anaheim. The Wild played their first-ever home game on October 11 against the Philadelphia Flyers and skated to a 3–3 tie. Minnesota native Darby Hendrickson scored the first-ever home goal for the Wild. Before the game, it was announced the team would retire the number 1 jersey, their first number retirement, with no Wild player ever wearing it, to honor all Minnesota fans, who the team claimed were the true 'number one' to them.

Did You Know?

• The Wild were officially named at Aldrich Arena in Maplewood on January 22, 1998, with the song 'Born to Be Wild' playing.
• The Wild became the first team in playoff history to capture a seven-game series twice after facing elimination during game 5, in 2003.
• The team's home arena, originally Xcel Energy Center, was later renamed Grand Casino Arena.