Wild host the Florida Panthers for game one of the 2023-24 season. Here are some keys to the game. ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Wild have announced today that they have called up defenseman Dakota Mermis from Iowa as an extra. It was expected the Wild were going to call up an extra body before their road trip but it wasn't expected it would be on the day of the Wild's first game at home against the Florida Panthers. Everyone was accounted for today at practice except one defenseman and Wild head coach Dean Evason did say Mermis will skate in warmups tonight and go along with on the road. So there is a possibility that Mermis gets into the lineup tonight if one defenseman on the Wild isn't ready to go. But everyone skated hard yesterday and there wasn't any issues. We will know at game time if Mermis gets into the lineup or not after he was just announced captain of the Iowa Wild team alongside four assistant captains. Mermis, 29, has played 27 career NHL games with the Arizona Coyotes, New Jersey Devils, and the Wild. He has played just seven NHL games for the Wild across three seasons. REQUIRED READING
