Eight Wild players expecting new babies in coming months

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - While the Wild have gotten off to a slow start this season, things are going much better off the ice as the team is in the middle of a baby boom.

Mikko Koivu's newborn son the first of eight babies expected in the coming months for Wild players.

Thursday was such a perfect set up for kids as the Wild hosted its first public practice at Tria Rink on a day when school’s out.

Also, it’s perfect considering the roster they’re here to see is a pretty child-friendly bunch already.

Wild Captain Mikko Koivu is back on the ice after missing Tuesday’s game for the birth of his third child, a boy named Oscar.

“We’ll just take them as they come,” said Coach Bruce Boudreau. He called his guys, “A little factory.”

Seven more Wild players are expecting in the coming months, too.

“I wanted three [kids], she wanted 4, so she won,” joked Wild Defenseman Jared Spurgeon.

Spurgeon’s fourth child is due in February. Eric Fehr’s third child is due in November.

“I would put this team up for probably the record in the National Hockey League for most kids on a team,” Fehr said.

Nate Prosser’s awaiting his fourth child and JT Brown is expecting his second, too.

Mikael Granland will be a first time father as will Greg Patteryn.

“I don’t know what it is,” Patteryn said. “Must just be something in the air here.”

There’s one more Wild child that will be announced next week.

“There’s lots of love on this team,” said Devan Dubnyk.

Dubnyk has his three kids painted on his helmet and he was one of six players who added to their families last season.

“It’s getting a little insane,” he said. “It’s going to be 41 by the time it’s all said and done with this round.”

Last year’s baby boom included Zach Parise and Jason Zucker.

“Yeah, I mean, last year the reason I remember it, we had a full line. We had three forwards, two defenseman and a goalie with Dubnyk, so we were all set up,” Zucker joked.