As of 11:59 pm tomorrow, the NHL will be on an extended hiatus as it sends nearly 150 of its players to Italy to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Eight of those players belong to the Minnesota Wild, who, after Wednesday’s game against the Nashville Predators, won’t play again until February 26.
The Olympics are a wonderful event that will bring some of the best hockey imaginable. Still, with over three weeks of no NHL action, Wild fans will have plenty of time to discuss (and argue about) the team amongst themselves.
I think we all know how those conversations will go. Check the comment section of any article, and you’re likely to see something that looks pretty similar. One contingent insists that the Wild have nothing but bright skies ahead, another thinks they are a constant disaster waiting to happen. The rest think everything is happening exactly as you’d expect based on the evidence.
Luckily, there’s no need to read any of those comment sections, because Hockey Wilderness has you covered.
With so much time to kill, it’s a perfect time to revisit our old friends, Optimist Brian, Pessimist Pete, and Rational Randy. You might remember their previous meetings, when they discussed their perspectives on the Wild and ran into some…friendly disagreements.
This time, the three chat about their perspectives on the Wild and the upcoming Olympics, where NHL players are set to participate for the first time since 2014.
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Optimist Brian: Wassup fellas!??! I have to say…I am feeling very Olympic today! Can you believe that the Wild have eight Olympians on their roster?? EIGHT! If that doesn’t scream “juggernaut,” I don’t know what does. Pete, I know you know what I’m talking about.
Pessimist Pete: Yeah, I know what you’re talking about. You’re talking about eight entries from our oft-injured NHL squad into a tournament that will feature some of the fastest hockey imaginable, on a sheet of ice that’s too small. Hmmm…just a few things I can imagine going wrong here…right, Randy?
Rational Randy: You both have a good point. The Wild are near the top of the NHL standings, and everyone seems to think they’re legit, so the fact that they have so many Olympians is some extra validation of that fact.
But sure, the more players you have playing, the higher the odds are that one of them gets injured. There’s nothing we can do about it, though. So let’s just sit back and enjoy what promises to be a fantastic hockey spectacle.
Optimist Brian: Fantastic? More like freaking awesome! How cool is it that our boys are going to be representing the State of Hockey AND their nations, all at the same time? It’s crazy to me that people still say they know, they can’t believe, that the Wild practically have an Olympic team!
Pessimist Pete: Yeah, and I’m one of them. Let me tell you something about the Olympics: If you want to win a medal, you have to get to the medal round. And guess what? That’s not the first round. Come to think of it, given the Wild’s playoff track record, it’s a wonder that these countries picked any of their players for their teams.
Rational Randy: I mean, you have to admit that it’s pretty cool to have so many Minnesota connections at such a big event. And sure, it’d be a little ironic if some Wild players made it deep into a tournament while playing for someone else. But we can’t control any of it, so we might as well just sit back with some ice cream and enjoy the show.
Optimist Brian: Oh, I’m gonna enjoy it, and let me tell you why. We’re witnessing something special this season. We just saw Quinn Hughes become the third-fastest defenseman to reach 400 assists in NHL history!
He and Faber have developed into an elite pair, and they might have a chance to show that on the world’s biggest stage. The Wild have maybe the best goaltending tandem in the league in Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt, and they’ll be sharing a crease in the freaking Olympics, too!
In fact, let me clue the Hockey Wilderness guys in on their next headline: “Minnesota’s Dynamic Duos Depart for Destiny.” Do you dig where I’m coming from??
Pessimist Pete: Yeah, I dig where you’re coming from. Let me tell you where I’m coming from: I’m coming from a first half of the season that saw the Wild dressing as many as five minor leaguers on some nights. I’m coming from eight straight first-round exits.
I’m coming from the 2025 4 Nations tournament, where Joel Eriksson Ek and Jonas Brodin got hurt, and where Brock Faber seemingly peaked last season. All I want is for the players on my NHL squad to focus on the NHL season. That’s where I’m coming from.
Rational Randy: Each of those is a hell of a place to be coming from. It’s pretty awesome that the rest of the world will be clued into some of the excellence that Wild fans see on a nightly basis. And these guys are pros, so hopefully they return from the Olympics ready to roll for the stretch run. Truthfully, it’s out of our hands, so all we can do is watch it all unfold.
Optimist Brian: Oh, no doubt! It’s going to unfold into something special, and let me tell you why. With so many players in the tournament, the Wild are going to have a leg up for the stretch run!
While everyone else sits around, the Wild will have over a third of their roster engaged in high-level hockey, meaning that those guys will return to an NHL pace that’s a bit slower and more methodical. So, while everyone else has to get back up to speed, our guys will be moving like lightning on ice!
Pessimist Pete: Listen, if you really want to go there, let me tell you: comparing the highest level of international hockey to NHL hockey is like trying to use a bobsled on a tropical island. And as far as lightning on ice is concerned, we all know how that worked out.
When it comes to international hockey, the rules are different, the pace is different, and the talent level is different. Oh…and remember what I said about the sheet of ice? If our players manage to somehow avoid crashing, emerge unscathed, and aren’t burnt out, will they even be ready to jump back into the NHL style of play?
Rational Randy: As usual, you both have valid points. There’s definitely something to be said for continuing to play and stay in game shape, mentally and physically. Many NHL players are used to shifting back and forth between international and NHL styles of play.
But, it will also be impossible not to wonder if there’s such a thing as too much hockey. With so many Olympians, the Wild are definitely more likely to find out.
Optimist Brian: All I know is that there’s a good chance that we’ll see Wild players win a gold medal AND a Stanley Cup this season. It’s a great time to be a Wild fan!
Pessimist Pete: Brian, what are you smoking? A gold medal is a wonderful thing. If you’re not enough with it, you’ll never be enough with it. And I couldn’t care less about gold. It’s Cup or bust, man.
Rational Randy: Look, I’ve known both of you since…well, for a long time. Frankly, you’re both kind of insane.
Optimist Brian: Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, get on up, it’s Olympic hockey time! Go Wild!
Pessimist Pete: Brian…I’ll pay you a dollar to shut up. Randy…can we please end this?
Rational Randy: Sure thing, fellas, let’s call it a wrap. Everyone, enjoy the Olympics, and remember, “Peace be the Journey.”