SportsHockeyWilderness

The Hockey Loons

Justin Wiggins

Justin Wiggins, Luke Sims, and Justin Hein discuss the latest Minnesota Wild news. Join them weekly for a wide-ranging conversation about the Wild and related NHL news.

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20 episodes
Avg 39 min
English

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#71
Wednesday · 54 min
Way Too Early Season Thoughts
Yes, the Minnesota Wild season just started. But that doesn't mean we can't come in off the top rope with our early season thoughts and concerns! It's Justin Hein, Luke Sims, and Justin Wiggins back again for their first in-season episode of the 2026-27 season!
#70
September 29 · 45 min
2026-27 Minnesota Wild Season Preview
The Minnesota Wild are Stanley Cup contenders and the new season is finally here! The Hockey Loons are here to provide the best season preview you can find! The usuals of Justin Wiggins, Luke Sims, and Justin Hein are joined by guest Jayden Homuth as they give their predictions for the Minnesota Wild this season. Who is the biggest X-Factor? Will the roster changes be enough to get them over the hump? And of course, how this much anticipated season will end for the boys in forest green. Let's di
#69
September 23 · 31 min
Minnesota Wild Roster Hopefuls: Who Makes and Impact?
The Minnesota Wild's roster is mostly set, yet there are a few intriguing young players attempting to stamp their mark. Could any of the roster hopefuls make the team out of camp? More importantly, what would a successful season look like for some of guys the Wild are hoping will make an impact sooner than later? The Hockey Loons break it all down in their latest show as they discuss the immediate futures of Daemon Hunt, Reiger Lorenz, Hunter Haight, and Charlie Stramel.
#68
September 11 · 25 min
Drafting From the Current Minnesota Wild Roster
After multiple episodes discussing the Quinn Hughes contract saga, the Hockey Loons needed a break. Time for some fun! Justin Hein, Luke Sims, and Justin Wiggins have a blast drafting a starting six from the current Minnesota Wild roster. Who will go first overall? Shocking: it wasn't Hughes...But more importantly, whose team would win in a round robin tournament?
#67
September 9 · 40 min
Minnesota Wild 2026-27 Big Picture Outlook
Tony Abbott from hockeywilderness.com is our guest this week! With Justin Hein out, Tony, Luke Sims, and Justin Wiggins discuss big picture outlooks for the Minnesota Wild this season. Ranging from what has us excited most to what is keeping us up at night about this team, the guys touch on Brock Faber, Maxim Shabanov, Jesper Wallstedt and more!
#66
September 3 · 35 min
Does the Cale Makar Contract Speed up the Wild's Hughes Dilemma?
With Cale Makar's massive extension last week, do we expect the Quinn Hughes contract situation to be resolved soon? For the Wild's sake, and ours, we sure hope so! The Hockey Loons are back to once again talk Quinn Hughes and offer their thoughts on what the AAV on his contract may be now that Makar has set the market.
#65
August 27 · 17 min
Who Should be the Next Captain of the Minnesota Wild?
Nobody wants to truly think about it, but Jared Spurgeon's career is coming to a close and the Minnesota Wild are going to have to name a new captain when that happens. Is the next captain of the Minnesota Wild on their roster? And if so, who could it be? The Hockey Loons discuss and throw out a few surprising options along the way.
#64
August 24 · 32 min
Will the Minnesota Wild Win the Central Division?
Justin Hein and Luke Sims hold down the fort this episode as they break down the Central Division in the NHL and where the Minnesota Wild fall as things currently stand. Can they overtake the Colorado Avalanche or Dallas Stars, or will they instead be holding off the likes of the Utah Mammoth or St. Louis Blues?
#63
August 10 · 28 min
How Do the Wild Replace Matts Zuccarello on the Power Play?
The Hockey Loons are back to debate how the Wild should deploy their powerplay structure and personnel with the departure of Matts Zuccarello. Is it as simply as replacing his spot with another player, or should John Hynes and the coaching staff look to make wholesale changes to the unit? One thing is clear: a powerplay with Quinn Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy should be an automatic top-10 unit; but Luke Sims, Justin Hein, and Justin Wiggins discuss the tweaks they can make to ensure i
#62
August 1 · 43 min
Minnesota Wild Offseason Reset
Your favorite Minnesota Wild podcast, Wilderness Talk, is now "The Hockey Loons"! Justin Hein, Luke Sims, and Justin Wiggins have exciting news to share before they dive deep into where the Minnesota Wild roster stands as August begins. With just two months until the start of the season, are they better today than they were a year ago? Will they regret letting Mats Zuccarello walk in free agency? Or can they still bolster the lineup with a Dylan Larkin trade? The Hockey Loons discuss it all in t
#61
June 18 · 34 min
Dylan Larkin To The Minnesota Wild?
The season is over but the content keeps flowing. The Wilderness Talk guys return to address the Dylan Larkin trade request and the Minnesota Wild being on his short list of trade destinations! Luke Sims, Justin Hein, and Justin Wiggins return to break down the likelihood of the Detroit Red Wings center coming to Minnesota this summer, as well as reactions to Michael McCarron re-signing with the Wild and Marcus Johansson ending his career in Sweden.
#60
May 25 · 54 min
2025-26 Minnesota Wild In Memoriam
With the Minnesota Wild's season ending at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, the Wilderness Talk guys return to wrap up the second full season of the show. Justin Hein, Luke Sims, and Justin Wiggins discuss the heartbreaking ending to season, plus dive into season-ending team awards.
#59
May 9 · 43 min
Digging Out of An 0-2 Hole
The Minnesota Wild find themselves in a sticky situation down 0-2 in their series against the vaulted Colorado Avalanche. But the Wilderness Talk guys are here to paint the road map for them to comeback in the series, as difficult as that may be. Join Justin Hein and Justin Wiggins as they discuss how the Wild got here, and how they can dig themselves out. GRAPHIC WARNING: one of them still believes in Jake Middleton.
#58
May 3 · 46 min
Round Two in the Mile High City!
The Wilderness Talk boys canceled their tee times with Jamie Benn, deciding it was best to preview the Minnesota Wild vs Colorado Avalanche round 2 series! With the Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek injuries lingering, how can the Minnesota Wild possibly pull off a massive upset of the clear cup favorites from Colorado? Justin Hein, Luke Sims, and Justin Wiggins lay out the path for the Minnesota Wild and get you ready for what should be an epic matchup with their central division rivals.
#57
April 18 · 50 min
Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars: Epic First Round Preview
An epic first round matchup deserves and epic first round preview. Join the Wilderness Talk crew, alongside guest Jayden Homuth, as they get you ready for perhaps the most anticipated playoff series in Wild history! Why Jesper Wallstedt should be the game 1 starter to unheralded x-factors in the series, it's time for the Minnesota Wild to finally slay their demons and get past the first round of Lord Stanley's playoff chase.
#56
April 7 · 38 min
Down The Stretch
How should the Minnesota Wild handle their lineup over the last five regular season games with the #2 seed in the Central Division in reach? The Wilderness Talk guys are back and spend the next half hour debating their opinions on if rest is more important that home-ice advantage. Join Luke Sims, Justin Hein, and Justin Wiggins in their final regular season show before the playoffs begin!
#55
April 2 · 37 min
Minnesota Wild Playoff Preparations
The Wild continue to play mediocre hockey, but maybe it's just them preparing for the most anticipated playoff run in their history? Justin Wiggins and Luke Sims are joined by Jaydon Heymuth as our guest this week to break down the recent line tinkering by head coach John Hynes. Will they stick with them come playoff time?
#54
March 17 · 48 min
Post Trade Deadline Wild: How Much Better Are They?
The Wilderness Talk guys are back and ready to give their early reactions to how the new additions at the trade deadline have fit into the lineup. From Bobby Brink to Nick Foligno and Michael McCarron, did the Wild add enough talent to make a serious run this spring? Luke Sims, Justin Hein, and Justin Wiggins are here to break it down, as well as their reactions to the poor home stand over the weekend.
#53
March 4 · 40 min
Minnesota Wild Trade Deadline Primer!
The NHL trade deadline is this Friday and the Wilderness Talk guys are here to break it all down! From Vincent Trocheck, to Charlie Coyle, to Robert Thomas, Justin Hein, Luke Sims, and Justin Wiggins discuss their top targets and the assets it would take. Plus, a brief Olympic recap and just how in the World Luke sustained a concussion while moving.
#52
February 18 · 42 min
Can Team USA End Their Gold Medal Drought?
Wilderness Talk is back and the guys preview bracket play as the Olympics get into the knockout round. Team USA left group play unscathed, but do they have the firepower to make it to the Gold Medal game and finally end their 46 year gold medal drought? Plus, which Minnesota Wild players in Italy have impressed us the most? Listen in as we predict our Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal winners the rest of the way!

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