Wild vs. Ducks

Lore & Background

Following the departure of the Minnesota North Stars after the 1992–93 season, the state of Minnesota was without an NHL team for seven seasons. Saint Paul mayor Norm Coleman began a campaign to either recruit an existing franchise to the city or an expansion franchise to a Minnesota-based ownership group. These efforts came close to success in the mid-1990s when Minnesota interests purchased the original Winnipeg Jets intending to relocate the franchise to Minnesota; however, arena negotiations at the Target Center fell through, and the Jets instead relocated to Phoenix, Arizona.

Following the failed attempt to relocate the Jets, the NHL announced its intention to expand from 26 to 30 teams. Businessman and Minnetonka native Bob Naegele, Jr. became the lead investor for an application to the NHL for an expansion franchise and, ultimately, the first majority owner. On June 25, 1997, the NHL announced that Minnesota had been awarded an expansion franchise, to begin play in the 2000–01 season. The six finalist team names (Blue Ox, Freeze, Northern Lights, Voyageurs, White Bears, and Wild) were announced on November 20, 1997.

Jac Sperling was named CEO, Doug Risebrough was named general manager, Tod Leiweke was named president, and Martha Fuller was named CFO. The team was officially named the Wild on January 22, 1998. The State of Minnesota adopted legislation in April 1998 to loan $65 million to the City of Saint Paul to fund 50% of the estimated $130 million project costs for the Xcel Energy Center. The Minnesota Wild announced a 26-year partnership agreement with the Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission. The Xcel Energy Center was completed and ready for use.

Reader's Guide

The Wild named Jacques Lemaire their first head coach and 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. The most notable game of the year was the first visit of the Dallas Stars, who had formerly played in Minnesota as the Minnesota North Stars; the Wild won 6–0. The 2002–03 season saw the Wild make their first playoff appearance, reaching the Western Conference finals before being swept 4–0 by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The Wild have appeared in the playoffs a total of 14 times and have won one division championship, in 2008.