Minnesota Wild Defend the Blue Line in a charity game

Matt Cullen wears a camouflage jersey before the Defending the Blue Line game in February 2011

Can't wait for the 2012-2013 season to start? Luckily, two of the Minnesota Wild players will be playing in another Defending the Blue Line charity game. On June 20th, Josh Harding and Nate Prosser will be playing at the Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. Not only will fellow NHL players be playing, but Gigi Marvin, the star female hockey player, is scheduled to play as well.

Last year several Wild players participated in a Defending the Blue Line charity game in February, so it's a nice surprise that there will be another charity game. (And another game with Wild players)

Defending the Blue Line is a Minnesota-based charity for soldier's children to have the opportunity to play hockey and is endorsed by several teams in the NHL.

"Koivu's Exploding Shoulder Set Up" named Wild Play of the Year

Throughout the season, wild.com hosted a huge poll for the Top Play of the Year by the Minnesota Wild. After 27 weeks, "Koivu's Exploding Shoulder Set Up" won the title Play of the Year. In a game against Detroit Red Wings on November 1, the Minnesota Wild made an impressive overtime goal, and, although Devin Setoguchi made the final goal, it was Mikko Koivu's use of the "exploding shoulder" against the intimidating Niklas Kronwall that made this the Play of the Year.

Koivu's been doing well in the post-season, it's going to be an exciting season next year.

Can't remember the play? Click here. How did this play win? Click here.

Everyone's excited for Mikael Granlund

After Mikael Granlund's signing on Wednesday, everyone breathed a sigh of relief before getting really, really excited. In his native Finland, Granlund is a celebrity, even appearing on a postage stamp, and it's expected that he'll continue to impress with the Minnesota Wild (No word yet on if we can expect a postage stamp). Even more impressive, we can expect Samuel Savolainen, a writer for one of Finland's most popular sports magazine, to continue writing on Granlund - after all, he's moving to Minnesota for Granlund. Expectations are high and the hopes even higher, and we'll see how Granlund compares.

The Minnesota Wild can certainly expect great things from Granlund, but we're wondering, what are you expecting from Granlund?

Mikael Granlund to (finally!) play with the Wild next season

Mikael Granlund during his time with the HIFK in Finland

Time to stop holding our breaths, Mikael Granlund will finally be signing with the Minnesota Wild sometime this month. He fulfilled his obligations in Finland, the last being the world championship that ended Sunday, and will be signing soon.

It's been a long two years since Granlund was chosen in the 2010 NHL draft, but it will hopefully be well worth the wait. The Wild has apparently signed him to a three year, $2.7 million contract and Wild fans will finally get to cheer for him next season. He, along with the drafts next month, should be turning around the whole team and I will definitely be watching out for it!