Ruzicka was the 137th overall pick by Minnesota in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
A native of Czechia, Ruzcika came to North America this past season to play for WHL Brandon. He had a so-so 2025-26 regular season, going 26-14-1 with a middling 3.19 GAA and a more reasonable .906 save percentage. Simply put, Ruzicka is huge. He's listed at 6-foot-7 and may end up even larger than that when all is said and done. His reads are quite refined for such a big kid, but he has issues going side-to-side at times, which isn't surprising given the size of his legs. Ruzicka is expected to return to his home country this coming season to suit up for Mountfield, the Czech organization for which he played his youth hockey before joining the Wheat Kings.
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Wild's Adam Andersson: Swede joins Wild in Round 3
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Andersson was the 83rd overall pick by Minnesota in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday.
Andersson split time between three different Swedish Jr. leagues this past season, posting six goals and 26 points in 36 games in total. Those numbers aren't reflective of the offensive skill set he brings to the table. Andersson is 6-foot-4, 215 pounds. He protects the puck well, particularly down low and along the boards, and is willing to use his large frame to make a play. Andersson's long-term upside depends on his ability to improve both his foot speed and his ability to process things a bit more quickly in all three zones. Andersson won't turn 18 years old until early July. He seems likely to earn some playing time this coming season for a Leksands team that got relegated from the SHL to the second-tier Allsvenskan.
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Wild's Michael McCarron: Staying in Minnesota
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McCarron signed a six-year, $19.8 million contract with the Wild on Tuesday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
After being dealt from Nashville to Minnesota prior to the trade deadline in March, McCarron supplied three goals, five points, 23 shots, 40 hits, 17 blocks and a minus-1 rating while averaging 12:40 of ice time over 20 regular-season games. Now that the 31-year-old has some security in the form of a long-term deal, McCarron is set to be a staple in the Wild's bottom six going forward. The 6-foot-6 forward won't warrant much attention in the fantasy realm, but he should continue to be a steady source of hits if managers need help in that category.
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Wild's Filip Gustavsson: Set for offseason surgery
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Gustavsson will undergo hip surgery in the offseason, Joe Smith of The Athletic reports Monday.
According to general manager Bill Guerin, Gustavsson's availability for the start of the 2026-27 season won't be known until after his procedure. On top of that concern for fantasy managers, the fact that the 27-year-old backstop was effectively benched for the postseason in favor of Jesper Wallstedt will raise questions about who is the No. 1 option heading into next season.
Sturm logged two assists, two shots on goal and two hits in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 5.
This was Sturm's first multi-point effort since Dec. 7, 2023. He ended the postseason at one goal, four assists, 10 shots on net, 17 hits and an even plus-minus rating over eight appearances. The Wild could experience some turnover at forward this offseason, but Sturm is under contract and will be in contention for bottom-six minutes if he remains with the team to start 2026-27.
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Wild's Matt Boldy: Provides pair of helpers
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Boldy notched two assists, five shots on goal and three hits in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 5.
Boldy was able to earn his fourth multi-point effort of the postseason, but the Wild's effort to keep their season alive still fell short. The winger had seven goals, six assists, 48 shots on net, 19 hits, eight blocked shots and a plus-5 rating over 11 playoff contests. Boldy solidified his star status with a 42-goal, 85-point regular season, and he'll be a key part of the Wild's core moving forward.
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Wild's Marcus Johansson: Strikes early in Game 5 loss
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Johansson scored a goal in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 5.
Johansson tallied just 34 seconds into the game, setting the early tone in the Wild's favor. That didn't last, as the Avalanche controlled the last two periods of regulation and completed their comeback in overtime. Johansson had four goals, 18 shots on net, 21 hits and an even plus-minus rating over 11 playoff contests, including three goals in the second round. The 35-year-old winger is one of eight pending unrestricted free agents for Minnesota's forward group. He impressed with 49 points over 75 regular-season outings, his best campaign since 2016-17, so he should have a decent market if the Wild opt not to bring him back.
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Wild's Nick Foligno: Scores twice in season-ending loss
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Foligno scored a pair of goals on three shots and added three hits in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 5.
Foligno scored twice in the first period, but the Wild failed to maintain their early lead. The 38-year-old earned three points, 10 shots on net, 37 hits, six PIM and a plus-2 rating over 11 playoff outings. He's set for unrestricted free agency this summer, but it's unclear if the veteran winger will continue his career.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Blows lead in overtime loss
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Wallstedt stopped 30 of 34 shots in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 5.
The Wild charged out to a 3-0 lead after one period, but Wallstedt couldn't make it stick. That result eliminated Minnesota, though Wallstedt was largely successful with a 2.77 GAA and a .909 save percentage despite going 5-5 over 10 playoff contests. The 23-year-old netminder will be in a contract year in 2026-27, which is also the first season of Filip Gustavsson's five-year extension. The two make a formidable tandem, which will give Wallstedt appeal as a low-end fantasy No. 2 in drafts in the fall.
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Wild's Zach Bogosian: Battling lower-body injury
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Bogosian won't play Wednesday in Game 5 versus the Avalanche due to a lower-body injury.
Bogosian has been battling a lower-body issue since late in the regular season, and it's flared up enough to keep him out of an elimination game. Jeff Petry will be in Wednesday's lineup instead. If Minnesota staves off elimination, it's unclear if Bogosian will be ready for Game 6 on Friday.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Getting start in elimination game
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Wallstedt will protect the road goal versus the Avalanche in Game 5 on Wednesday, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Wallstedt will get the nod with the Wild's season on the line in this contest. He has allowed 12 goals on 110 shots over three games against the Avalanche during the second round. Should he get the win Wednesday, Wallstedt would likely keep the crease for the rest of the round.
Brodin (lower body) is not traveling with the Wild for Game 5 in Colorado on Wednesday, according to Michael Russo of The Athletic.
Brodin has been unavailable for the entirety of this second-round series, and considering the Wild are now on the brink of elimination, his lower-body injury is seemingly a very serious one. If the Wild can earn a road win Wednesday, Brodin's next opportunity to attempt to get back in the lineup would be in Game 6 on Friday.
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Wild's Joel Eriksson Ek: Won't travel to Colorado
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Eriksson Ek (lower body) will not join the team for Game 5 in Colorado on Wednesday, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Eriksson Ek will be sidelined for his fifth straight game due to his lingering lower-body injury. The fact that the 29-year-old center isn't even traveling with the team doesn't bode well for his availability for Game 6 back in Minnesota either. If the Swede does return, it figures to be in a top-six role.
Sturm scored a goal on three shots and added two hits in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Avalanche in Game 4.
Sturm netted his first goal of the playoffs, tying the game at 2-2 at 9:15 of the third period. He's earned three points, eight shots on net, 15 hits and a minus-1 rating over seven postseason contests. Sturm continues to fill a fourth-line role while the Wild are thinned out at center in the absence of Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body).
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