Craig Leipold officially took over as owner of the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, completing the purchase of the team from Bob Naegele in the middle of a first-round playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche.

"It's been a long process," Leipold said at a news conference. "Lots of signatures the last couple [of] days. We were hoping to get it done last week and didn't get done. It just kept dragging out and dragging out.

"I'm just thrilled to death. This is a dream, to be part of a hockey program like this in a market like this. It's probably going to hit me when I'm on my way back home."

Leipold lives in Racine, Wis., and probably didn't do himself any favors with Minnesota sports fans when he said taking over for Naegele, who has owned the Wild since its inception, was like Aaron Rodgers taking over at quarterback for Brett Favre.

"I feel a little bit like Aaron right now," Leipold said. "Bob's going to be a real hard act to follow."

MORE WILD NEWS: Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire said Thursday that right wing Mark Parrish probably will have to sit out Game 2 against Colorado because of a head injury.

FLYERS' SMITH EYES RETURN: Defenseman Jason Smith practiced for the first time this week on Thursday and hopes to return from a upper-body injury for Game 1 of the Philadelphia Flyers' playoff series against the Washington Capitals tonight.