Wild's Michael McCarron Looking To Continue His Outstanding Start To The 2026-27 NHL Season

When the Minnesota Wild pulled the trigger on a trade to land Michael McCarron, and then offered him a six-year, $3.33 million AAV contract extension, many fans thought they were overpaying.

Through two games, McCarron has shown everything he is capable of.

McCarron has skated on the fourth line with the Foligno brothers, and despite the limited role, McCarron has been effective offensively and defensively. His two assists are impressive, but he's also fired eight shots on goal, the second most on the team behind Matt Boldy and Quinn Hughes. 

Additionally, his analytics look great. At 5-on-5, McCarron has posted a Corsi For percentage of 67.65 percent and an expected goals percentage of 75.91, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.

McCarron has also been effective on the penalty kill, as the Wild have not allowed a goal with McCarron on the ice.

While Danila Yurov is expected to play tonight, if he can't, McCarron would receive a deserved promotion to the third line. 

Overall, it's far too early to draw any conclusions about what McCarron will do over an 84-game schedule. But the early signs are very positive. His numbers look great, his on-ice impact is stellar, and he's averaging a career-high 15:11 in ice time. 

The 31-year-old has been a 6-foot-6, 232-pound physical center who is truly finding his role and exceeding expectations with the Wild, carrying the momentum he built from the 2025-26 playoffs. 

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