The glimpse Minnesota Wild fans got on Sunday night of what the regular season roster will look like eventually was partial, at best.

They got a look at Minnesota’s presumptive No. 1 goalie, Filip Gustavsson, and a few of the veterans that are shoo-ins to be in the lineup on Oct. 9 when the Wild travel to St. Louis for the first of 82 regular season games. But there were enough tryouts happening for opportunistic prospects that there were a few of the breakdowns so common in preseason hockey.

The Chicago Blackhawks emerged with a 4-1 win, dropping the Wild to 1-2-1 in September, with two more games to go in the preseason. Frank Nazar, the former Michigan standout, had a pair of early goals and completed the hat trick in the final minute with an empty-net goal.

“The result wasn’t what we wanted, but I felt tonight’s game, probably from a structural standpoint and a work ethic standpoint, more of the identity of the identity we want to play with was there for large portions of the game,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “We didn’t get rewarded for some of those.”

Hunter Haight continued his full-bore campaign to begin October at the NHL level, scoring his second goal of the preseason for the Wild in the second period after a backhand feed from Tyler Pitlick. Minnesota made a strong press to tie in the third before Ryan Donato gave Chicago important breathing room.

“Right from the start, I think I’ve showed really well, and progressing through camp, I just keep trying to do the same thing,” said Haight, who spent all of last season with the Iowa Wild. “At the end of the day, that’s why I’m here, to try and find a roster spot and every day try and get better.”

Gustavsson finished with 17 saves for the Wild, while Chicago goalie Drew Commesso stopped 28 shots.

Briefly

The Wild’s training camp roster got a little smaller on Sunday, and the Iowa Wild roster came into a bit sharper focus. Ten players who had been in St. Paul were sent to Des Moines. Forwards Bradley Marek and Riley Heidt, along with defensemen Kyle Masters and Jack Peart, were sent to Iowa. Six more — forwards Elliot Desnoyers, Jean-Luc Foudy, Mark Liwiski and Ryan Sandelin, and defensemen Mike Koster and Will Zmolek — were released from their pro tryouts and will also report to Iowa.

The training camp roster now stands at 42 with two preseason games remaining, Tuesday at home versus Winnipeg and Friday at Chicago.

Related Articles

Wild focused on David Jiricek’s skating, on-ice decisions

Ryan Hartman more settled, but still playing on the edge

Wild owner Craig Leipold pledges team will stay in St. Paul

Wild unveil 25th anniversary throwback sweater

Hunter Haight’s hard-charging ways earning notice by Wild

PHILADELPHIA — When Byron Buxton sits down this winter and reflects on his season, perhaps the number that will stick out to him the most is 126.

More important than the home runs — he hit a career-high 35 of them — or the 24 stolen bases, or any other stat from his all-star season, counts as much to Buxton and the Twins as the 126 games he was able to play this season.

That number represents the second-most Buxton has played in any single season in his career. He missed time for a concussion and ribcage inflammation this season, but neither ailment sidelined him for long.

“I just need to play. My numbers will be there. I don’t care about my numbers this year. I just want to play,” Buxton said. “Post up every day, be there for my teammates, play the majority of my time in center field, not DHing. That makes a difference, too. For me, being able to post up, that’s my biggest feeling, because I haven’t been able to.”

Buxton, who slashed .264/.327/.551 this year and was a five-win player, per FanGraphs, was out in center field for 118 of those 126 games. He made his second All-Star Game and participated the night before in the Home Run Derby in his home state of Georgia.

Though the team finished with 92 losses and the second-worst record in the American League, Buxton reaffirmed his loyalty to the Twins multiple times, both before and after the trade deadline.

“It is strange,” he said of having a career season while the team struggled. “I guess I just simplified it to take it one day at a time. Just be grateful to put this uniform on. Can’t play forever. I’ve definitely got to cherish every day I can.”

Now, Buxton will head into his second straight healthy offseason. Rather than recovering from surgery or spending his winter days in and out of physical therapy sessions, he can simply focus his attention on preparing for next season, building off of one of the best individual years in his career.

“He aced the test this season,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “That’s what he did.”

Rotation shines

The Twins’ starting rotation saved its best for last.

The group of six turned in some of their strongest individual performances, ending Sunday with Simeon Woods Richardson, who threw six shutout innings against the Philadelphia Phillies, striking out nine.

“I thought we did a really good job of throwing the ball, throwing strikes, executing,” Woods Richardson said. “I think all of us starters went six. That’s huge for a rotation. … That’s what we want in a starting rotation.”

Well, almost all of them.

Joe Ryan gave up one earned run in five innings on Friday before Mick Abel, traded over from the Phillies at the deadline for Jhoan Duran, put up a six-inning shutout performance with nine strikeouts Saturday.

Those performances against one of baseball’s best offenses came after Zebby Matthews threw seven innings of one-run ball against the Texas Rangers, Taj Bradley gave up just a run in six innings against Texas, and Bailey Ober threw six scoreless.

“It might be the best stretch of pitching over a course of a week that we got all year,” Baldelli said. “I think that’s precisely what you’re hoping for. It’s showing everyone just what the group is capable of when they’re throwing the ball the way we want.”

Briefly

A division race that Detroit seemed to have well in hand for much of the season wound up coming down to the season’s final day with the Cleveland Guardians clinching the American League Central after their dramatic late-season comeback. Those teams now meet in the wild-card round this week in Cleveland. …  Former Twin Michael A. Taylor, the team’s center fielder in 2023, announced his retirement on Sunday. Taylor played 12 major league seasons, winning a World Series ring in 2019 with Washington.

Related Articles

Walk-off loss sends Twins into an offseason filled with uncertainty

Traded by Phillies, Twins starter Mick Abel dominates in win over former team

As season nears end, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli not focusing on job status

Joe Ryan wraps up best season of his career in Twins loss

Traded former Twins Jhoan Duran, Harrison Bader thriving in Philadelphia

Police are investigating the death of a woman after a traffic accident Sunday afternoon in St. Paul.

Officers responded to a report of an accident with injuries at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of Stinson Street, according to a St. Paul police spokesman. When they arrived on the scene, they found a 36-year-old woman who was unconscious and not breathing. St. Paul firefighter medics pronounced the victim dead on scene.

The vehicle driver, an adult male, remained on scene and cooperated with authorities. The incident investigation is ongoing. Police said preliminary evidence suggests the vehicle struck the woman before coming to a stop in a backyard.

Related Articles

Hastings police chief ‘deeply grateful’ as he announces retirement date

Stillwater-area churches collecting guns to forge into garden tools

Bicyclist struck, seriously injured in crash in Stillwater Township

Pedestrian struck and killed in crash near Lake Phalen in St. Paul

GoFundMe set up for family of St. Paul contractor who was killed by construction vehicle

Founded in 1858, the Hastings Police Department will soon bid farewell to its 56th chief of police.

Hastings Police Chief David D. Wilske announced his plans to retire after working nearly 30 years in law enforcement. Wilske’s retirement will be effective March 31, 2026.
(Courtesy of the City of Hastings)

Hastings Police Chief David D. Wilske has announced his plans to retire after working nearly 30 years in law enforcement. Wilske’s retirement will be effective March 31, 2026, according to a city news release.

“I’ve said this many times before — I wish I had started my law enforcement career with the Hastings Police Department,” said Wilske, who first joined the department in May 2017, in the release. “The community support, the professionalism of our officers and the partnerships we’ve built have made this an incredibly rewarding experience.”

Prior to his time in Hastings, Wilske spent 20 years with the University of Minnesota police, working his way up from patrol officer to operations lieutenant.

Wilske started in Hastings as deputy chief, overseeing department training and development, fleet management, emergency management and the supervision of investigative and evidence room operations.

In the spring of 2022, Wilske was appointed Hastings police chief, succeeding Bryan Schafer, who retired after a 39-year career in law enforcement, the last nine years of which he spent in Hastings.

Prior to Wilske’s promotion to chief, the department had experienced a decrease in certain crimes including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, rape, burglary, motor vehicle theft and human trafficking. In 2020, the department tallied 434 of these incidents, down from 624 in 2015.

During that same time period, there was an increase in certain crimes including fraud, other assaults, vandalism, drug abuse violations and stolen property. The department tallied 742 of these incidents in 2020, up from 680 in 2015.

​Under Wilske from 2022 to 2024, the department did not record any homicides and saw a decrease in robberies and burglaries. Crimes against people, including assaults and intimidation, were down 24% in 2024 compared to 2023​, according to the department’s 2024 annual report. Crimes against property, including vehicle theft and shoplifting, were down 9% in 2024 compared to 2023.

During Wilske’s tenure, the department expanded collaboration with community organizations like the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau and 360 Communities. The department also increased the presence of school resource officers in local schools and supported local nonprofits like Hastings Family Services and Special Olympics Minnesota.

“Chief Wilske has served the city of Hastings with distinction, provided steady leadership for the department, boosted morale and engagement and helped bolster the Police Reserve Unit,” said City Administrator Dan Wietecha in the release. “I have been particularly impressed and pleased by the partnerships and collaboration he has strengthened with key community organizations.”

Under Wilske’s tutelage, the department also secured grant funding for resources, including ballistic helmets and special event barriers, expanded its records division and upgraded its facilities, including the workout room and created an on-site kitchen to support officer health and wellness.

Related Articles

Looking for a mentor: Iris

Inver Grove Heights man gets 20 years for ‘coercing and manipulating’ girls to send nude photos

Judge finds Current DJ’s stalker violated restraining order but not guilty due to mental illness

Burnsville: Construction worker fatally struck on I-35W

Gym chain to celebrate first Rosemount location

“I have truly enjoyed coming to work each day and am deeply grateful to police department officers and staff, City Council, city administration and the community for their unwavering support over the years,” Wilske said.

The city of Hastings will begin preparations for a leadership transition in the coming months with details to follow.