MINNESOTA WILD

LAST SEASON: 45-26-11 Duncan Keith Jersey , 101 points. Third in Central Division. Lost to Winnipeg Jets in Western Conference quarterfinals.

COACH: Bruce Boudreau (third season, 12th NHL season).

ADDED: RW J.T. Brown, C Eric Fehr, C Matt Hendricks, RW Matt Read Youth Dion Phaneuf Jersey , D Greg Pateryn, D Matt Bartkowski.

LOST: C Matt Cullen, LW Tyler Ennis, RW Daniel Winnik.

PLAYER TO WATCH: LW Zach Parise. After missing the first 39 games because of a lower back problem that required surgery, Parise's delayed start was predictably slow. He scored 12 goals in his last 18 games of the regular season Authentic Derek Forbort Jersey Kids , though, and scored in each of the first three playoff games until being knocked out of action again by a broken sternum. Parise, who's entering his 14th NHL season at age 34, isn't built to be the team's premier scorer but needs to replicate that productivity down the stretch to help keep the offense balanced.

OUTLOOK: New GM Paul Fenton made only minor moves this summer for fresh faces on the fourth line and more depth on defense, so the Wild will rely on the same core that has been bounced out of the playoffs in the first round three straight times and won only two series over the last six years. Just reaching the postseason again in the rugged Western Conference would be an accomplishment in itself Authentic Carl Gunnarsson Jersey , and Boudreau has as strong of an 82-game track record as any bench boss in the league. Parise and defenseman Ryan Suter, who's coming off a serious ankle injury that kept him out of the playoffs, must stay healthy throughout the seventh year of their identical $98 million megadeals. Wings Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter also have to bounce back from down seasons.

Former Steelers defensive back Ron Johnson has died, according to Steelers Depot. Johnson was 62.

A first-round pick in 1978, Johnson won two Super Bowl rings in his seven seasons with the Steelers. He made 13 interceptions during his career Jordan Staal Jersey , including four in his rookie season.

He also intercepted a pass in the 1978 AFC Championship Game against the Oilers and made three tackles in the Super Bowl XIII win over the Cowboys.

Johnson became the first rookie cornerback ever to start for the winning Super Bowl team. He won another ring the following season, making one tackle and breaking up three passes in the Steelers' victory over the Rams.

Johnson switched from cornerback to strong safety in 1981 after Donnie Shell was injured. He also played free safety.