Stanley Cups: 0

2011-'12 record: 35-36-2-9, 81 points (4th in Northwest, 12th in West)

2011-'12 playoffs: Did not qualify

Coach: Mike Yeo (35-36-11, 2nd NHL year, 1st team)

Top returning scorer: LW Dany Heatley (24 goals, 29 assists, 53 points)

Top returning goalie: Niklas Backstrom (19-18-7, 2.43, .919)

Key additions: D Ryan Suter; LW Zach Parise; C Jake Dowell; C Torrey Mitchell; C Zenon Konopka.

Key subtractions: D Kurtis Foster; RW Nick Johnson; C Warren Peters.

Goaltending: There’s definite health concerns here with both netminders. Backstrom opted out of playing in Europe during the lockout in the fall after he twisted the same ankle he’d undergone surgery on last spring. He says he’s OK, but is also entering the final year of his deal with the Wild. Meanwhile, backup Josh Harding revealed he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in October, though doctors believe they caught the disease early enough to be able to control it.

Player to watch: C Mikael Granlund. Still only 19, the Wild’s top pick in the 2010 entry draft was AHL player of the month in October. Flashy skater and slick stickhandler registered 51 points in 45 games for HIFK Helsinki of the Finnish league last season.

Icing: Wild made the big summer splash by signing Parise and Suter to identical 13-year, $98-million deals, but hockey people still question whether the team has enough depth to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08 . . . Wild could use a healthy season from C Pierre-Marc Bouchard, a former 20-goal scorer who’s missed 141 games the past three seasons due to post-concussion syndrome . . . Wild F Matt Kassian joked that end of lockout meant he wouldn’t be required to turn in a resume at Taco Bell.

NHL TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEWS ATLANTIC Devils Flyers Islanders Penguins Rangers CENTRAL Blackhawks Blue Jackets Blues Predators Red Wings NORTHEAST Bruins Canadiens Maple Leafs Sabres Senators NORTHWEST Avalanche Canucks Flames Oilers Wild SOUTHEAST Capitals Hurricanes Jets Lightning Panthers PACIFIC Coyotes Ducks Kings Sharks Stars

More news

Fred Chartrand / AP

Pens writing off Sens

PHT: The Penguins pushed the Senators to the brink of elimination on Wednesday night after six unanswered goals yielded a 7-3 Game 4 win.

NBC Sports

Highlights: Pens hang seven on Sens

  The Senators held a lead twice in the first period, but Pittsburgh's offensive fire power proved to be too much to handle. James Neal and Jarome Iginla each score two as the Penguins cruise to an impressive 7-3 victory in Game 4.

Headlines

• Label

PHT: Sharks take Game 4, pull even with Kings

Highlights: Sharks even series with Kings

Early whistle takes goal away from Kings

PHT: Bruins rally, put Rangers in 3-0 hole  |  Highlights

PHT: Roy's brother backtracks, unsure about Avs job

PHT: Red Wings take 2-1 series lead  |  Highlights

PHT: Toews calls 2-1 deficit 'slap in the face'

PHT: Quenneville chides Hawks' disallowed goal