Minnesota Wild, head coach Mike Yeo agree to contract extension

Jan 14, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo and Minnesota Wild assistant coach Daryl Sydor against the Ottawa Senators at Xcel Energy Center. The Senators defeated the Wild 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2014; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild head coach Mike Yeo and Minnesota Wild assistant coach Daryl Sydor against the Ottawa Senators at Xcel Energy Center. The Senators defeated the Wild 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Wild took baby steps forward last year under head coach Mike Yeo but they went full Forrest Gump and broke free from their braces to sprint ahead with their progress in 2013-14. As result, the Wild have given Yeo a nice contract extension which will keep him in Minnesota for the next couple of years.

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Yeo and the Wild were rumored to be inching towards such a deal, but made it official on Saturday afternoon, with Yeo addressing the media to finalize the announcement.

”I am very excited to continue to coach the Minnesota Wild and pursue a Stanley Cup for the State of Hockey,” said Yeo, via the official Minnesota Wild team site. “Our fan support has been amazing and it went to a new level during the playoffs this season. We are all motivated to reward them.”

The Wild are now set up for an offseason in which they will continue to build their roster and decide which players need to be re-signed and who will be added in free agency. Matt Moulson is a name that the Wild will be keeping an eye on as well as Thomas Vanek out in Montreal.

But as far as things go behind the bench, the Wild are set with their head coach as Mike Yeo is clearly the guy they want running things. The team grew under him and that’s what is important here as while this year was great to see, next year will need to see even more as Yeo is locked in to see this potential Stanley Cup worthy team reach it’s potential.