David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Wild Skate, Wolves Hoop but Both on Common Ground

Posted on May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 by David Shama

The Wild be skatin’ against the Avalanche next week, while the Timberwolves will be hoopin’ versus the Spurs. Minnesota’s NHL and NBA teams both advanced to the second round of their playoffs last night by closing out the Stars and Nuggets in St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The Wild play on ice in a game invented in Canada while the Wolves play on a hardwood court in a sport created by American James Naismith. It might seem the two franchises have little in common but think again.

From the trivial to the significant, there is common ground:

Both teams won their opening best of seven games playoff series by 4-2 margins. Both did so in raucous arenas that are building reputations this spring as among the loudest in the NHL and NBA.

In beating the Stars, the Wild took down a prize rival from its division that just happens to be the franchise once known as the North Stars and was based in Bloomington until moving to Dallas after the 1992-1993 season. The Nuggets, who have lost in the playoffs to the Wolves twice in the last three years, have an intense rivalry with Minnesota and this spring players from both teams lost their cool on the court.

Both teams advanced in the playoffs with textbook defense. The Stars managed just 15 goals over six games, with Dallas frustrated by Minnesota’s team defense and rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt. The Wild showed why its defense might be the best of any team in the playoffs.

The Wolves held the Nuggets under 100 points in three of the last four games, bothering Denver with their team length and athleticism. Offensive production was slowed and even stopped at times with Jaden McDaniels’ shutdown of Denver All-Star guard Jamal Murray who made four of 17 shots last night. Center Nikola Jokic, revered as one of the NBA’s all-time greats, struggled to score at times because of Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert.

The Wild and Wolves are playing in front of adoring fans who have long known frustration and are treasuring the good times of 2026. Since the Wild’s inception in 2000 this is a franchise that can claim just one deep playoff run, losing in four straight games in the conference finals to the Ducks in 2003. Last night’s win was the first time Minnesota has won its opening playoff series since 2015.

The Wolves have been to the conference finals three times, including twice in the last two years, but the franchise historically has been known more for losing than winning. From 2005-2017 the Wolves didn’t make the playoffs for 13 consecutive seasons.

Both franchises have known their ups and downs in front office decision making but now have the right leaders in place. Bill Guerin, hired in 2019, had to escape the financial burden of long-term deals with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter but now has assembled a roster with several players who rank among the NHL’s best. This, of course, includes the in-season acquisition of star defenseman Quinn Hughes who scored two goals last night in the 5-2 victory over the Stars. Guerin also persuaded franchise record setting scorer Kirill Kaprizov to commit long-term to the franchise.

Tim Connelly, hired in 2022, has been calculated but at the right times aggressive in building the Wolves roster. His historic 2022 trade involving players and draft picks with Utah brought defensive savant Gobert to Minneapolis. He also maneuvered a difficult financial situation before the season in 2024, trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in return for two key contributors in Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. A savvy in-season 2026 move acquired guard Ayo Dosunmu who is the team’s leading scorer in the playoffs at 21.8 points per game.

Timberwolves owner Marc Lore — Marc Lore

The Wild and Wolves, both expansion franchises, have solid owners. Wild owner Craig Leipold is a personable leader who has plenty of NHL experience, previously owning the Predators and now being the boss in Minnesota. It was Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, when they were minority owners back in 2022, who pushed for hiring Connelly. Sitting at courtside, fans can see the passion of the two men who are now majority owners and reveled in last night’s 110-98 win.

The owners of both franchises are lobbying for improved or new arenas. Leipold hopes to complete a major renovation of Grand Casino Arena that may include money from the Wild, city of St. Paul and state. The Wolves want a new arena in Minneapolis with many details yet to be confirmed.

Both teams are moving on to play second round foes against whom they will be underdogs. The Avalanche is the wagering favorite to win the Stanley Cup. The Spurs are considered by authorities to be second only to the Thunder in likelihood to win the NBA title.

Last evening the Wolves and Wild became the seventh pair of NBA and NHL teams from the same metropolitan area to win out in a seven-game playoff series on the same day, per the Timberwolves PR Department. The duo is the third pair to do it at home and the first twosome to accomplish that in Game 6.

Wild and Wolves play vastly different sports, but the St. Paul and Minneapolis teams have enough in common to be “kissin’ cousins.”

2 comments

Unique Night May See Both Wild & Wolves ‘Cookin’ at Home

Posted on April 29, 2026April 29, 2026 by David Shama

Years ago, legend was that a certain media member had a strategy when the Wild and Timberwolves were playing at home on the same night. The formula for deciding where to go was this:

Catch the pregame media meal in St. Paul and then head for Minneapolis to watch the Wolves. Why? The food was too good to pass up at the “X,” but he preferred to spend most of the evening covering basketball.

On a rare, perhaps unique evening on Thursday, Minnesota’s NHL and NBA teams will both host games leading 3-2 in best of seven playoff series. Fans can make their own choices on culinary offerings, but whether you go to St. Paul or Minneapolis things will be “cookin.”

The taste in the mouths of Wild fans is likely to be sweeter near midnight Thursday than for Wolves patrons. The Wild has a healthier roster and is coming off a 4-2 win last evening in Dallas against the Stars. The Wolves are without two injured starters, including their best player in Anthony Edwards, and lost in Denver Monday to the Nuggets in a game that may have changed the series’ momentum.

The Wild hasn’t given up more than four goals in a game so far. Last night Minnesota blocked 25 Dallas shots and allowed 22 on goal, the franchise’s lowest postseason total in almost five years. Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt stopped 20 shots. Starting in all five games, he has 2.05 goals against average and .926 save percentage. After last night’s game ESPN hockey analyst P.K. Subban told a national audience the Wild is playing the best of any NHL team defensively.

Wild star forward Kirill Kaprizove — Kirill Kaprizov

This is a series that could already be over with the Wild winning 4-2. A what-if happened in the third game. In the first overtime period Minnesota superstar Kirill Kaprizov had a near miss winning goal in a double overtime 3-2 loss in St. Paul.

After last night’s game Kaprizov was leading all NHL players in points during the playoffs with nine (two goals and seven assists). He’s part of a talented roster that includes veterans and newcomers.

Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin boosted the team’s Stanley Cup playoff chances with the December trade acquiring Quinn Hughes. He’s considered one of the sports’ best defensemen. Just last month the Wild added forward Mike McCarron who has two goals in the series with the Stars. With 7:47 in the third last night he had a clutch goal sending the Wild ahead 3-1 in the game.

Timberwolves GM Tim Connelly made a savvy in-season move, too, when he acquired guard Ayo Dosunmuin in a multiplayer deal with the Bulls. The trade has been a godsend for the Wolves who gave up guard Rob Dillingham who has made minimal impact in Chicago while Dosunmu is showing star potential.

In 42:01 minutes off the bench last Saturday, Ayo Dosunmu scored a career-high 43 points on 13-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-5 from three and a 12-of-12 from the free throw line. The Wolves needed that performance because Edwards only played about 17minutes before a knee injury sidelined him in that game and for the series.

Minnesota went up 3-1 in the series last Saturday, but things are cozier now after Denver’s 125-113 win on Monday night. The Wolves were playing not only without Edwards, but also a second starter in guard Donte DiVincenzo, who tore his right Achilles tendon last Saturday. The Nuggets played without key starter Aaron Gordon on Monday because of a serious calf strain and he is questionable for tomorrow night.

Defensive strategy, intensity and skill is likely to decide Game 6 tomorrow night at Target Center. Wolves center Rudy Gobert, 33, has at times played some of his best career defense in the series against Denver center Nikoa Jokic—regarded by some authorities as the best basketball player in the world. In Saturday’s game he was -12 in the NBA plus-minus ratings impact but Monday was +12.

Wolves defender Jaden McDaniels has made scoring an uphill battle for All-Star Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray. In the series he has three games shooting under 40 percent (including two under 32 percent). In three of the games his plus-minus has been -13, -12 and -4.

The Nuggets’ best strategy against what can be a hounding Wolves defense could be early in the game positioning Jokic in the low block and consistently giving him the basketball in an effort to put Gobert in foul trouble. As Gobert and other defenders sag on Jokic, the spacing could open up better looks at the hoop for Murray.

Worth Noting

April is National Humor Month which brings to mind Minnesota sports characters who made us laugh.

The late Sid Hartman mangled more than a few words during his WCCO Radio career. A favorite was when he described an athlete that tore his “Khrushchev.”

Former WCCO colleague Dark Star’s phone voice mail said if it’s good news or money, leave a message.

A friend sent this quote by former Twins owner Calvin Griffith: “I can’t tell you exactly what I intend to do, but I can tell you one thing. It won’t be anything rational.”

1 comment

Four Names to Know as Minnesota Vikings Near 2026 Draft

Posted on April 19, 2026April 19, 2026 by David Shama

The Vikings enter this week’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh with talent and depth needs at several positions. With nine overall picks, the opportunity is present to accomplish the goal of upgrading the roster.

The first four picks come in rounds 1 through 3. Minnesota selects No. 18 in the first round on Thursday night. Friday has the Vikings at No. 42 overall in the second round and in the third round Minnesota has two spots, No. 82 and 97 (compensatory pick). The remaining rounds of the draft (4-7) are Saturday. In that space the Vikings draft once in the fourth and sixth rounds, and three times in the seventh.

The Vikings’ first four picks in the first two days of the draft will be particularly important to their roster success this year and beyond. With that in mind, here’s a calculated prediction on four players who could well be available based on talent and team need, and might be headed to the Vikings.

Forget about Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round. The uber athletic Sadiq is all but certain to be selected before the Vikings have their turn at the draft table. But another Duck, Dillon Thieneman, could well be available and the Vikings should grab him.

Thieneman appears to have the size, speed and versatility to replace veteran Harrison Smith, 37, who may announce his retirement as soon as this offseason. Listed at about 6-feet and 208 pounds, Thieneman projects as able to play multiple safety positions. While he’s instinctive, he also is thorough in knowing his assignments, per Lance Zierlein writing for NFL.com/prospects.

A personal favorite while watching national champion Indiana was cornerback D’Angelo Ponds. He should be a welcome fit for the Vikings in the second round. Minnesota has cornerback talent and depth needs. The almost diminutive Ponds, listed at about 5-8 and 182 pounds, has the kind of toughness and smack that could remind fans of former Viking safety Antoine Winfield Sr. who played at a similar size. Ponds has quickness, speed, tenacity and confidence. Hard to see him not on the roster for years despite his size.

Last year’s starting center, Ryan Kelly, retired and it’s possible the Vikings could start a rookie at the position. It might be savvy for Minnesota to use the first of its two third round selections on Kansas State’s Sam Hecht. He played 42 games in college, per NFL.com/prospects which lists him at about 6-4 and 300 pounds. That authority praises his technique, cautions that he needs more muscle, but believes consistency can make him an NFL starter, per Zierlein. If Hect isn’t available, the Vikings could turn to Iowa’s Logan Jones who also is on the short list of best center prospects.

A rookie Vikings running back may well see the field in 2026. The team has no heir apparent to veteran starter Aaron Jones and injuries in the running back room are frequent. Stepping in to help could be Minneapolis native Emmett Johnson who the Gophers didn’t want but the Vikings should.

He became one of college football’s better backs at Nebraska despite not having top speed and looks like a worthy selection by the Vikings when they use their second third round pick.

Local football authority Daniel House, known for his football film breakdown and data driven research, has noticed the former Minnesota Mr. Football. “He was really good…(with) acceleration, deaccelerating,” House said. “Sudden, elusive type of back. I feel like NFL teams are going to like Emmett Johnson quite a bit.”

House predicts Johnson will likely be a round two or three pick. He said Johnson may not have tested that well with scouts but he “transitions” so well in space when he runs that he is an intriguing prospect. “That’s where he is elite. So, I think maybe that’s going to be the calling card for his game is the ability to make people miss. And that’s the bread-and-butter success at the running back position. …”

Worth Noting

There was second guessing on Wild coach John Hynes prior to last night’s playoff opener against the Stars in Dallas. Should he use veteran goalie Filip Gustavsson or rookie Jesper Wallstedt who had been playing well late in the season. Hynes pushed the right button going with Wallstedt who had 27 saves in Minnesota’s surprising 6-1 win.

The pressure is clearly on the Stars now to win Monday night before the possible seven game series switches to Minnesota for dates on Wednesday and Saturday. StubHub lists ticket prices, including fees, starting at $195 for Wednesday night.

The hockey Gophers have eight hockey alums in the Stanley Cup playoffs: Logan Cooley, Utah Mammoth; Brock Faber, Wild; Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks; Casey Mittelstadt, Boston Bruins; Tommy Novak, Pittsburgh Penguins; Mike Reilly, Carolina Hurricanes; Nate Schmidt, Utah Mammoth;Nick Seeler, Philadelphia Flyers.

The Twins unexpected above .500 start to the season is worth enjoying now with an eye toward how things look after about one-third of the season. Twins World Series champion manager (twice) Tom Kelly is known for saying the truth about a team comes out after about 50 games of the season.

That’s enough time usually for teams to collect data on how to pitch opposing hitters or how to approach enemy pitchers. Fingers crossed for the Twins that new talents like pitchers Taj Bradley and Mick Abel are productive long-term.

The Wisconsin athletics director job is open and longtime Northern Illinois AD Sean Frazier, who once worked for the Badgers, is drawing scuttlebutt. Before Minnesota AD Mark Coyle was hired in 2016, one -time Gopher AD McKinley Boston was promoting Frazier for the position.

Pete Najarian, the finance guru and former Gopher and Viking player, drew interest from his alma mater during that same search. Badger authorities would be wise to make an inquiry about his interest in their opening.

Reminiscing about former Gophers football coach Lou Holtz in last week’s column prompted a response from ex-Brainerd football coaching legend and longtime state prep football advocate Ron Stolski. A huge admirer of Holtz, Stolski emailed about a meeting that happened not long after the iconic coach arrived in Minneapolis in 1984:

“When coach Holtz was hired, I received a call from him. …He asked me to contact some high school coaches and invite them to attend a gathering he was hosting.at a local hotel. I did. About 30-40 attended. Coach told the group that he was totally committed to the high school coaches of Minnesota, would support them in every way he could, and pledged to recruit every player the coaches would recommend. Then he told us the bar was open, and to stay as long as we wished and left us to our musings.”

Longtime Moorhead High School and Concordia College play-by-play radio voice Larry Knutson is retiring. He started with Moorhead sports in 1979 before soon adding Concordia broadcasts, per a news report from the Moorhead Public Schools. He estimates calling 4,000 to 5,000 games, and in more recent years covering grandchildren of athletes from his early years. https://www.isd152.org/o/moorhead/article/2819553

Good news for the United States Tennis Association which promotes the sport throughout the country and stages the annual US Open in New York. According to A.I., tennis players live 9.7 years longer than sedentary individuals. That’s per the Copenhagen City Heart study over a 25-year period. Tennis has other sports beat including badminton (6.2 years), soccer (4.7 years), cycling (3.7 years), swimming (3.4 years), and jogging (3.2 years).

2 comments