Welcome to Smashville, Chris! 👋
We're proud to announce that Chris MacFarland has been hired as our President of Hockey Operations and General Manager.
Full details » https://t.co/gYk9a8jGPS
“I might have been given a bad break. But I’ve got an awful lot to live for.”
87 years after Lou Gehrig became the face of ALS, there is still no cure.
Today on #LouGehrigDay, we continue our mission to raise awareness of ALS, support the need for research and care, remember those who bravely fought, and recognize those who continue to battle.
@BradGalli@wxyzdetroit All the best moving forward, Brad - an incredible run there! You've earned all you've accomplished. I miss those early AM skates at the Joe!
Can’t say enough— starting with Erin & Filip Forsberg. Their desire to start something meaningful was so heartwarming.
@PredsFoundation & @starsnash took it from there.
Vismaya & Jon both are so deserving and capture Erin’s spirit perfectly! On their way to great things!!
The Nashville chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association has selected Ozzy Wiesblatt as the Predators nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for the 2025-26 season.
#Preds Head Coach Andrew Brunette, who has plenty of ties to Minnesota, spoke postgame on the loss of Jessi Pierce:
“I just want to pass on my condolences for Jessi Pierce. I've known her a long time...and she was a wonderful person. Loved hockey, loved people, somebody I looked forward to seeing all the time when I would go to Minnesota. So, it’s a sad day in hockey. Her passion for the game, her passion for the Wild, is unsurpassed, and we're going to miss her. It’s a tragedy."
There are no words to express how heartbroken we all are.
Jessi Pierce (Hinrichs) was the most vibrant person - the life of the party, always with a smile on her face, always bringing a passion to every article and podcast and interview she did. Jessi simply loved covering the Wild and hockey throughout Minnesota and had a way of brightening everyone’s day with her upbeat, bubbly personality. I have literally NEVER met anybody that had a way of being EVERYBODY’s friend.
More than anything, she absolutely loved Hudson, Cayden and Avery and was the greatest mother who did everything she could to bring joy to her sweetest kids. Even at Friday’s practice in her beloved Iowa State sweatshirt, she was so excited to take them to the seasonal opening of Cup and Cone in WBL. Seeing those precious pics yesterday, she provided them with another incredibly fun and loving day.
My heart breaks for Mike for the loss of his wife and children and Jessi’s family, friends and colleagues for this unimaginable loss. This hockey community lost a wonderful, energetic and one of a kind voice and story teller and Grade A person.
Life can be unbearably unfair sometimes, and it’s impossible to make sense of this tragedy.
Please keep Jessi and her beautiful kids in your thoughts and prayers. I wish Mike all the peace and support and happiness in the world.
A lot of tears were shed at the arena yesterday. We, in the Wild media and inside the Wild, will miss seeing Jessi everyday, laughing with her everyday. The press box and press room won’t be the same without her. It’ll be a lot quieter, a lot less funny. But her passion and joy for covering this hockey team and sport will remain.
Sorry for the length of this, but as Jessi knew better than most as my original Athletic “backup” and somebody who always gave me Minnesota Hockey Journal deadline extensions, as she used to joke, I’m incapable of writing tight.
Especially about her.
RIP Jessi, Hudson, Cayden and Avery. 🙏💔
The Tigers have signed three-time American League Cy Young and nine-time All-Star RHP Justin Verlander to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.
Welcome home, JV!