The Minnesota Wild faced challenges this season, missing the playoffs due to various factors like injuries, struggling to win against opponents, and issues with goaltending and depth scoring. Surprisingly, despite defensive injuries, the Wild excelled defensively in the NHL in 2023-24, allowing 2.51 goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five, ranking 16th in the league.

By the Numbers
  • Wild allowed 2.51 goals against per 60 minutes at five-on-five.
  • Wild allowed 2.21 expected goals against per 60 minutes, the best mark in the league.
  • Wild allowed an NHL-low of 622 high-danger chances at five-on-five.
  • Wild ranked sixth in scoring chances against and eighth in shots against at five-on-five.
Yes, But

The Wild's 22nd-ranked save percentage was a notable weak point in their defensive performance this season.

State of Play
  • The Minnesota Wild showcased an impressive defensive performance despite key injuries to top defensemen like Jared Spurgeon and Jonas Brodin.
  • Brock Faber seamlessly stepped into a No. 1 role, contributing significantly to the Wild's defensive success.
What's Next

The Wild will aim to address their goaltending issues and build on their defensive strengths to improve their overall performance in the upcoming seasons.

Bottom Line

Despite facing challenges and missing the playoffs, the Minnesota Wild stood out as one of the NHL's best defensive teams in 2023-24, showcasing resilience and depth in their defensive lineup.