Editing Minnesota Wild (section)

====After the lockout====
In the 2005–06 season, the first season after the lockout, Minnesota finished in fifth and last place in the Northwest Division, eight points behind fourth-placed [[Vancouver Canucks]]. En route, Marian Gaborik set a new franchise record for goals in a season at 38, and [[Brian Rolston]] set a new highest point total by a Wild player in a season at 79. The goaltender controversy between [[Manny Fernandez (ice hockey)|Manny Fernandez]] and [[Dwayne Roloson]] ended when Roloson was traded to the [[Edmonton Oilers]] for a first-round pick in the [[2006 NHL entry draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/oilers-obtain-roloson-from-wild-1.614354|title=Oilers obtain Roloson from Wild|date=March 8, 2006|accessdate=August 27, 2022|archive-date=August 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827063438/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/oilers-obtain-roloson-from-wild-1.614354|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Wild signed veteran free agents [[Kim Johnsson]], [[Mark Parrish]], [[Branko Radivojevič|Branko Radivojevic]] and [[Keith Carney]]. On the day of the [[NHL entry draft]], it traded the 17th overall pick and prospect [[Patrick O'Sullivan (ice hockey)|Patrick O'Sullivan]] to the [[Los Angeles Kings]] for veteran Slovak [[Pavol Demitra]]. [[Niklas Bäckström|Niklas Backstrom]] was the starting goalie for the Wild after previous starter Manny Fernandez sprained his knee on January 20. Fernandez played for the first time since the sprain on March 6 and was removed after allowing three goals in two periods in the Wild's 3–0 loss to the [[San Jose Sharks]]. [[Josh Harding]] was brought up from the Wild's [[American Hockey League|AHL]] affiliate, the [[Houston Aeros (1994–2013)|Houston Aeros]], when Fernandez was hurt and remained on Minnesota's roster for the rest of the season as the backup goalie. All-Star winger Marian Gaborik returned from a groin injury in January 2007 and made an immediate impact, bringing a new spark to a lacking offense.<ref name="GaborikCareerStats" /> The Wild made the playoffs in [[2007 Stanley Cup playoffs|2007]] for the second time in team history,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nhl.com/news/ducks-wild-open-playoff-series-in-anaheim/c-105194 | title=Ducks, Wild open playoff series in Anaheim | access-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827063438/https://www.nhl.com/news/ducks-wild-open-playoff-series-in-anaheim/c-105194 | url-status=live}}</ref> but were eliminated by the eventual [[Stanley Cup]] champions Anaheim Ducks in the conference quarterfinals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/ducks-knock-out-wild-1.692740|title=Ducks knock out Wild|date=April 20, 2007|accessdate=August 27, 2022|archive-date=August 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827063440/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/ducks-knock-out-wild-1.692740|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/ducks/fans/2007-cup-team|title=2007 Ducks Stanley Cup Team|access-date=August 27, 2022|archive-date=August 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827063438/https://www.nhl.com/ducks/fans/2007-cup-team|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:122007-WildXcel-Gaborik5goalperformance.jpg|thumb|[[Marián Gáborík|Marian Gaborik]] waves to the crowd after a five-goal performance against the [[New York Rangers]] in the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]].]]
The Wild broke numerous franchise records during the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]], including most goals and points (Marian Gaborik – 42 goals and 83 points).<ref name="GaborikCareerStats" /> Also, [[Jacques Lemaire]] recorded his 500th career coaching win<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.twincities.com/2008/04/03/minnesota-wild-lock-up-northwest-division-title-and-coach-jacques-lemaires-500th-victory-with-win-over-calgary/ | title=Minnesota Wild lock up Northwest Division title and coach Jacques Lemaire's 500th victory with win over Calgary | date=April 3, 2008 | access-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827153126/https://www.twincities.com/2008/04/03/minnesota-wild-lock-up-northwest-division-title-and-coach-jacques-lemaires-500th-victory-with-win-over-calgary/ | url-status=live}}</ref> as the Wild clinched their first-ever Northwest Division title in a 3–1 victory over the [[Calgary Flames]] on April 3, 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/jacques-lemaire-steps-down/c-485908 | title=Jacques Lemaire steps down | access-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827153127/https://www.nhl.com/wild/news/jacques-lemaire-steps-down/c-485908 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/wild-trim-flames-to-clinch-division-crown-1.725808|title=Wild trim Flames to clinch division crown|date=April 3, 2008|accessdate=August 27, 2022|archive-date=August 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827153126/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/wild-trim-flames-to-clinch-division-crown-1.725808|url-status=live}}</ref> They again faced the Colorado Avalanche in the conference quarterfinals, and the Wild held home-ice advantage. However, Minnesota came up short, being eliminated in six games by the Avalanche.

During the 2008 off-season, the Wild re-acquired Andrew Brunette from Colorado and traded for defenseman [[Marek Židlický|Marek Zidlicky]]. The Wild also signed free agents [[Antti Miettinen]] and [[Owen Nolan]] to multi-year deals. There seemed to be a stigma about Jacques Lemaire's defensive system that caused a number of top free agents to avoid the Wild.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/wild-about-minnesota-despite-leaving-for-new-jersey-rolston-raves-about-playing-in-minneapolis/article_a350b13a-c3ee-5e5c-8970-2aa52256a81c.html | title=Wild about Minnesota Despite leaving for New Jersey, Rolston raves about playing in Minneapolis | date=March 20, 2009 | access-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827153127/https://www.stltoday.com/sports/wild-about-minnesota-despite-leaving-for-new-jersey-rolston-raves-about-playing-in-minneapolis/article_a350b13a-c3ee-5e5c-8970-2aa52256a81c.html | url-status=live}}</ref>

Despite winning the Northwest Division the previous season, the Wild fell to ninth place in the Western Conference in 2008–09, missing the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/wild-beat-preds/ | title=Wild beat Preds, both eliminated - Sportsnet.ca | access-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827160130/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/wild-beat-preds/ | url-status=live}}</ref> Much of this was in part due to a lack of scoring and overall team offense, and the injuries to star forward Marian Gaborik, who only played 17 games. Jacques Lemaire, head coach of the Wild since the team's inception in the 2000–01 season, resigned at season's end. General manager [[Doug Risebrough]] was later fired, leading to a nearly complete turnover in the Wild's coaching and hockey management staff.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nhl.com/news/doug-risebrough-says-he-was-shocked-by-minnesota-wild-firing/c-419413 | title=Doug Risebrough says he was 'shocked' by Minnesota Wild firing | access-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827153126/https://www.nhl.com/news/doug-risebrough-says-he-was-shocked-by-minnesota-wild-firing/c-419413 | url-status=live}}</ref>