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Michael Russo

@russohockey

30th year covering the NHL, 20th covering the Minnesota Wild. Senior NHL writer, The Athletic. KFAN contributor. Co-host of Worst Seats in the House pod on Talk North Network.

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Latest posts by Michael Russo @russohockey

Preview
Inside the Wild's trade deadline: Folignos united, what Brink brings and building playoff depth

Inside the Wild’s trade deadline: Folignos united, what Brink brings and building playoff depth www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

07.03.2026 00:03 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Guerin on Nick Foligno: "We tried getting nick times before, so I guess fourth time the charm."

06.03.2026 21:36 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Bonus Pod Podcast Episode Β· Worst Seats in the House w/ Michael Russo & Anthony LaPanta - Minnesota Wild Podcast Β· March 6 Β· 14m

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...

06.03.2026 21:01 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Minnesota Wild 2026 trade deadline report card: Grading Bill Guerin’s moves The Wild’s heavy lifting was done with their mid-December blockbuster for Quinn Hughes, who has absolutely been a game-changer for the team.

Minnesota Wild 2026 trade deadline report card: Grading Bill Guerin’s moves www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

06.03.2026 20:12 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

As of this moment, I'm not expecting anything else from #mnwild, but still 2:13 til trade deadline

06.03.2026 17:48 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 2
Preview
Blackhawks trade captain Nick Foligno to Wild, joining brother Marcus in Minnesota Foligno, 38, is in the final year of his contract with a $4.5 million cap hit. He joins his brother, Marcus, with the Wild.

Nick Foligno story updated with Marcus Foligno and Jeff Blashill quotes

www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

06.03.2026 17:38 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Blackhawks trade Nick Foligno to Wild

Blackhawks trade captain Nick Foligno to Wild, joining brother Marcus in Minnesota www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

06.03.2026 17:21 πŸ‘ 20 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 2

Just got off phone with Marcus Foligno. I joked that this will speed up his rehab: "Yeah, I'll be back tomorrow."

He says his dad's bawling, everybody's pumped, wives are going nuts. Dream come true, he says, and feels Nick will be a contributor. Has played center all year, too

06.03.2026 17:12 πŸ‘ 73 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 3

Sources say #mnwild acquiring Nick Foligno, who came close to signing to play with his brother in 2021. Chose Boston in tough decision

06.03.2026 16:44 πŸ‘ 35 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 3

Not that they'll necessarily play together, but John Wroblewski told me Bobby Brink and Matt Boldy had "unreal chemistry" at the 2019 Under-18s and he'll "thrive under Hynesy."

06.03.2026 16:18 πŸ‘ 33 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Brink is hustling to Las Vegas and the anticipation is he'll make his #mnwild debut tonight against the Golden Knights

06.03.2026 15:54 πŸ‘ 41 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

I know a lot was made when John Tortorella scratched Bobby Brink in Minnesota a few years ago (where he's from), but from what I gather, Torts loved Brink and felt he became a true pro and that Guerin/Kelleher talked to Tortorella a lot about Brink at the Olympics

06.03.2026 15:53 πŸ‘ 25 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Wild acquire winger Bobby Brink, send prospect David Jiricek to Flyers The Wild see Brink, 24, as a third-line right wing who can move up the lineup if needed. He's a pending restricted free agent.

#mnwild acquire winger Bobby Brink, send prospect David Jiricek to Flyers: Sources

By @KKurzNHL, @JoeSmithNHL and me

www.nytimes.com/athletic/709...

06.03.2026 15:39 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 1

done deal. Brink, who is a Minnetonka native, is a skilled winger. Smart, really good offensive instincts, can make plays, high compete and character. #mnwild see him as third-line right wing who can move up in lineup if needed. Pending RFA this summer

06.03.2026 15:27 πŸ‘ 37 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 2

Hearing the #mnwild are working toward a potential trade for Flyers forward Bobby Brink. Wonder if they're dangling David Jiricek or a prospect of that ilk.

06.03.2026 15:21 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 3
Preview
Wild trade tracker: Will they get in on the bidding for Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly? Keep up with all the latest ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline with live updates here from Wild insiders Michael Russo and Joe Smith.

Wild trade tracker: Will they get in on the bidding for Predators’ Ryan O’Reilly?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

06.03.2026 15:14 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Wild trade tracker: Minnesota gets Petry cheap, pursuit of Trocheck fades as price remains too high Keep up with all the latest ahead of Friday's NHL trade deadline with live updates here from Wild insiders Michael Russo and Joe Smith.

Updated #mnwild trade tracker: Minnesota gets Petry cheap, pursuit of Trocheck fades as price remains too high

By @JoeSmithNHL and me

www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

05.03.2026 21:04 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

Petry will join team in Vegas. Understands this is a depth move and he'll have Faber, Spurgeon and Bogosian in front of him. Gist of the trade is to give the #mnwild right-shot D depth along with Daemon Hunt providing left-shot D depth. Remember, no max roster after Friday at 2

05.03.2026 20:55 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Wild trade tracker: Pursuit of Rangers' Trocheck fading as price remains too high for Guerin

Wild trade tracker: Pursuit of Trocheck fading as price remains too high for Guerin

www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...

05.03.2026 16:32 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
Preview
Wild players on adding old sparring partner Michael McCarron to the mix: 'He's an honest player'

Wild players on adding old sparring partner Michael McCarron to the mix: β€˜He’s an honest player’ www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

04.03.2026 20:41 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Kirill Kaprizov breaks Wild’s all-time goals mark in win over Lightning: Takeaways Kaprizov set the mark in more than 100 fewer games than Minnesota's previous record-holder Marian Gaborik.

MEATY #mnwild takeaways by @JoeSmithNHL and me on Kaprizov breaking team goals record, another stupendous game from Hughes and Boldy, Trenin's hilarious goal with nobody to celebrate with, Fabbri's debut and injury updates (Foligno, Johansson, Brodin)

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

04.03.2026 17:16 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Kirill Kaprizov breaks Wild’s all-time goals mark in win over Lightning: Takeaways Kaprizov set the mark in more than 100 fewer games than Minnesota's previous record-holder Marian Gaborik.

Kirill Kaprizov breaks Wild’s all-time goals mark in win over Lightning: Takeaways www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

04.03.2026 13:39 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

#mnwild have now gone 62 games without losing more than 2 in a row in regulation. Beat best team in East, best road team in NHL. Wild 16-3 all-time vs. TB at home and 10-3-1 in past 14 overall vs. TB.

3 assists Boldy, 2 points each Zuccarello, Faber, Hughes

04.03.2026 05:14 πŸ‘ 38 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 2

There it is: Kirill Kaprizov's 220th goal into an empty net to set the #mnwild all-time franchise record. Did it in 381 games

04.03.2026 05:09 πŸ‘ 71 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Quinn Hughes highlight-reel goal. 4-1

04.03.2026 04:53 πŸ‘ 40 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Kaprizov may never break Gaborik's record. Force field in front of Vassy tonight. 3 gimme's from the same spot and none find the back of the net. The last one, he had the entire net and hit the far post. Head to the rafters

04.03.2026 04:50 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

2-minute minor for interference. Don't get that being downgraded. Raddysh sees the puck is not with Johansson and instead of going into the puck checks Johansson in the face. With an injury, that's a major all day long

04.03.2026 04:46 πŸ‘ 14 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Darren Raddysh may have earned himself a 5-minute interference major. Shoulder to Johansson's face and he leaves the game hurt. Being reviewed

04.03.2026 04:45 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Yakov Trenin gets it back. Unforced error by Vasilevskiy. Couldn't smother a sliding, slow puck sent his way and just gave it to Trenin for slam dunk. Trenin leaps into the glass after scoring on his countryman. 3-1

04.03.2026 04:17 πŸ‘ 31 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Beautiful goal. Kucherov from Point and Guentzel. Gus had no chance. 2-1 Wild

04.03.2026 04:13 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0