Scandella And Zanon Return To Practice; Wild About Children

The Wild has a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. With solid goaltending, stingy defense and timely goal scoring, the Wild sits atop the NHL standings. And with Thanksgiving this week, the team looks like it could be adding a couple more plates at the dinner table.

The Wild got an extra helping of defense at practice as Marco Scandella (concussion) and Greg Zanon (groin) both skated with the team today. Head Coach Mike Yeo expects Mike Lundin (back) to rejoin the club tomorrow and begin practicing, after a two-game rehab stint with the Houston Aeros.

Zanon, who has been out since Oct. 20, didn’t stay on the ice for the entire practice, but Yeo said that as long as there are no setbacks he would continue to skate with the team until fully healthy. Zanon has been out since Oct. 20.

Scandella has missed four games and his status is still undetermined, but with the team sending Kris Fredheim back to Houston on Saturday, his return could be right around the corner. He participated in all of the team’s drills at a full speed, which included some light contact. However, the team can wait until Wednesday before making a decision about his status on the injured reserve.

As for tinkering with the Wild’s league-leading defense, Yeo said: “Let’s get them back, let’s get them in shape, let’s get them feeling the puck and looking like they’re 100 percent and ready to come back into the lineup and then we’ll make those decisions.”

In the spirit of the season, the Wild will host “Wild About Children,” presented by West Bend, tonight at the Landmark Center in Saint Paul. The entire Wild roster will drop their gloves and pick up the serving trays,  and wait on nearly 275 dinner guests. The night benefits Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota with several fundraising efforts, including live and silent auctions.

Wild Agrees To Terms With D Mike Lundin

Looking to add some experience and depth to its defensive corps, the Minnesota Wild inked Apple Valley native and former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mike Lundin to a one-year contract today.

Lundin comes to the Wild after playing parts of four seasons with the Lightning, including last year when he registered a goal and 11 assists in 69 games and added two helpers in 18 playoff contests.

After a stellar career at Apple Valley High School where he was a 2003 Mr. Hockey finalist, the 2003 Associated Press Minnesota hockey Player of the Year and the 2003 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year, Lundin played four seasons with the Maine Black Bears of Hockey East. His best college season came in his senior year of 2006-07, when he talled six goals and 14 assists in 40 games.

From there, Lundin made the jump straight to the NHL, playing in 81 of 82 games during his rookie season. He then split his next two seasons between Tampa and Norfolk of the American Hockey League before staying with the Lightning all of last season. In his NHL career, Lundin has four goals and 29 assists in 224 games.

Lundin’s arrival comes after the Wild recently dealt Brent Burns to the San Jose Sharks. He’ll now join a defensive group that is expected to include Nick Schultz, Clayton Stoner, Greg Zanon and Marek Zidlicky with competition from Jared Spurgeon, Marco Scandella, Nate Prosser, Justin Falk and potentially others.

USA at the Worlds

Team USA added 11 more players to its World Championship roster. The big name added was Shattuck-St. Mary’s product Jack Johnson, who is the only American Olympian to join the team thus far. Former Warroad star T.J. Oshie has also been added to the roster. Other Minnesotans include: Taylor Chorney (Hastings), Jack Hillen (Hopkins), Mike Lundin (Apple Valley), Ryan Carter (White Bear Lake) and Kyle Okposo (Saint Paul). Former Gopher Ryan Potulny (Grand Forks, N.D.) is also on the squad.

To see the entire lineup, click here.