2010-11 Record: 39-35-8, 86 points (3rd Northwest Division; 12th Western Conference; did not qualify for playoffs)
Bruins record vs. Wild: Boston trails in the all-time series 2-9-0-0, and the Bruins lost the lone meeting last year 3-1 at the Garden on Jan. 6. The Bruins have never beaten the Wild in Boston, losing all six meetings while being outscored 19-6.
When to watch: The Bruins won't have a chance to end their drought against the Wild at the Garden, as they play at Minnesota on Sunday, Feb. 19 in the only meeting between the clubs this season.
Familiar faces: The Wild have a number of players with New England ties in their system, including Casey Wellman (UMass-Amherst), Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass./Boston University), Jon Disalvatore (Bangor, Maine/Providence College) and Stephen Michalek (Hartford, Conn.). Minnesota also re-signed defenseman Jeff Penner this summer. Penner, who played three seasons in Providence and two games in Boston in 2009-10, was acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline last year for goalie Anton Khudobin.
Key additions: F Dany Heatley (trade with San Jose); F Devin Setoguchi (trade with San Jose); F Charlie Coyle (trade with San Jose); F Darroll Powe (trade with Philadelphia); F Jeff Taffe (free agent); D Mike Lundin (free agent)
Key losses: D Brent Burns (traded to San Jose); F Martin Havlat (traded to San Jose); F James Sheppard (traded to San Jose); D Cam Barker (signed with Edmonton); F Patrick O'Sullivan (signed with Phoenix); F Robbie Earl (signed with Dinamo Riga, KHL); F Andrew Burnette (signed with Chicago); F Antti Miettinen (signed with Ak Bars Kazan, KHL); G Jose Theodore (signed with Colorado); F Chuck Kobasew (signed with Colorado); F John Madden (free agent)
Burning question: Will Dany Heatley find the success in Minnesota that eluded him in Atlanta, Ottawa and San Jose?
Heatley has been one of the league's most prolific scorers in his nine-year career, scoring 50 goals twice and topping 40 on two other occasions. But he hasn't enjoyed much success in the postseason despite several relocations. The Thrashers never made the playoffs during his stint in Atlanta. He did put together a solid showing with 7-15-22 totals in 20 games in Ottawa's run to the Final in 2007, but he managed just five goals in 32 postseason games in his stay in San Jose. That included 3-6-9 totals in 18 games last year, which followed a 26-38-64 campaign in the regular season, his lowest output since a 13-12-25 season in just 31 games back in 2003-04. The Wild are banking on him enjoying a renaissance in Minnesota, but he's now on the wrong side of 30 and may be running out of chances to prove he can produce in the playoffs.
2011-12 outlook: Heatley won't have as strong a supporting cast around him as he had in San Jose, but he won't have to do it all alone in Minnesota. Mikko Koivu (17-45-62) remains one of the better two-way centers in the league, Pierre-Marc Bouchard (12-26-38 in 59 games) made an inspiring return from his concussion problems and Devin Setoguchi (22-19-41), who also came over from San Jose in a separate trade, will also be a key part of the Wild's revamped forward corps. The bigger issue could be on defense with Brent Burns gone. Marek Zidlicky (7-17-24 in 46 games) will be counted on to be the top guy on the blue line, but will have to stay healthy after missing much of last season to shoulder and hamstring injuries. The last line of defense is solid with Niklas Backstrom (22-23-5, 2.66 GAA, .916 save percentage) in goal.
Did you know? In just three seasons in the NHL, Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck has already amassed more than 1,000 hits. He's led the league in that category in each of his full seasons, with 356 hits in 78 games as a rookie in 2008-09, 318 in 74 games in 2009-10 and 336 in 76 games last year. He also had four hits in two games in 2007-08, giving him a total of 1,014 in 230 career games, an average of 4.4 a contest. Some of that may be the result of generous scoring by the stat-keepers in Minnesota, but there's no denying that Clutterbuck makes his presence felt in nearly every game he plays.
With the bulk of the offseason moves complete and the start of another NHL season inching closer, NESN.com Bruins beat writer Douglas Flynn will be previewing one team from each conference every day through August 26.
Wednesday, August 24: Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers
Friday, August 26: Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks