The value of Jesper Wallstedt; La Velle E. Neal on Vikings WRs and the Wolves

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with a look at the Vikings at the trade deadline and whether they need to go after a better running back. Plus a huge Gophers men’s hockey win over North Dakota and a developing problem for the Wild. 11:00: Chip Scoggins joins Rand to break down Gophers football vs. Iowa. Is it time to stop asking for more from Minnesota? 29:00: A bonkers Wolves take from a former player.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves' rout of Miami in Wednesday's NBA opener. Anthony Edwards had 45 points. LaMelo Ball made things easy. Did the Wolves get the best of the offseason? 8:00: Jeff Paterson, who covered Quinn Hughes for many years in Vancouver, joins Rand ahead of the Wild's first game back in Vancouver on Sunday since the Hughes trade. What will the reception be? Why did things end poorly in Vancouver? And what exactly does Hughes want with the Wild? 36:00: A Wild trade proposal.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Gophers men's hockey team, which started the season 0-3-1 and is preparing for its home opening series against No. 3 North Dakota. New head coach Brett Larson is preaching "patient urgency" as he tries to revamp the program. 9:00: Hosts from the Detroit Red Wings podcast Hockeytown Rundown join Rand to talk about the latest Dylan Larkin rumors. 33:00: We finally get to see the Wolves in action again.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the emergence of Danila Yurov and what it might mean for the Wild's pursuit of Dylan Larkin. 8:00: Jack Borman from Locked On Wolves joins Rand to preview the Timberwolves season. They each pick three things they like about the Wolves and three things that are concerns heading into Wednesday's opener in Miami. 40:00: A Jaden McDaniels extension.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild, who beat the Blues on Thursday thanks to dominant play from their top line of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy. Plus the Gophers men's basketball team had an impressive exhibition debut. 8:00: Jon Marthaler joins Rand to help explain what has gone wrong for Minnesota United this season. They've won just once since early May. 31:00: The Dodgers are done, and Sam Darnold is struggling.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wolves, who have had a feel-good training camp but had a number of things exposed in a preseason tune-up against Detroit at Target Center. Plus the Twins hired a new pitching coach. 10:00: Cassidy Hettesheimer from the Star Tribune joins Rand for a breakdown of the WNBA Finals and a look ahead to looming roster decisions for the Lynx. 34:00: It's Gophers men's basketball season already?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Wild, who struggled in a 5-2 loss at Winnipeg. Jesper Wallstedt reinforced his value to the team by not playing, while injuries showed the fragility of the Wild's strong start. 6:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand with some early Wolves thoughts, a take on scary injuries in the NHL and what the heck is going on with the Vikings WR room. 26:00: Are the Vikings for real?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with Wild center Nico Sturm getting hit with a puck in an eerily similar play to the one that sidelined defenseman Brock Faber a few weeks ago. Minnesota won the game 4-2 and now we await word on Sturm, who was taken to a hospital. Plus the Wolves continued to look very good in the preseason. 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand off the latest Vikings victory. The offense is joining the party. The defense and special teams are still dominant. 24:00: Award-winning Vikings poetry. 42:00: What's up with the Vikings WR room?

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. It includes a look at the 5-0 Vikings, some offensive improvement, a boneheaded coaching decision they were able to overcome and the dominance of Brian Flores' defense. Shifting to the Gophers football team, the news was not good. A 41-13 loss at Purdue was not one of the best days of P.J. Fleck's life and it raised fresh questions about the program's ceiling.