Minnesota Wild - Preview

Minnesota had missed the playoffs for several years before Mike Yeo's arrival. Then the summer of 2012 brought big name signings, mainly Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, and when the be-lated start of the 2013 NHL seaosn got underway the Wild capped it off with a return to the post-season. Last year they managed to win a series for the first time since reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2003, and give the defending Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks a huge fright.

The Wild iced five different goalies last season and it appears they will have four to call upon this year. Josh Harding, Niklas Backstrom and Darcy Kuemper will be fighting over the starting position while John Curry is expected to drop back down to the AHL-affiliate in Iowa, and Ilya Bryzgalov has gone via free-agency. Harding went 18-7-3 with a 1.65 GAA, but didnt play a single game in 2014 as he had to contend with M.S. Backstrom struggled but barely played after mid-january as he required season-ending surgery. Kuemper was called in from Minors and with a 12-8-4 record and 2.43 GAA helped lead the team to the playoffs. Bryzgalov arrived via a trade in early March, and recorded 7 wins in 10 games, posting a 2.12 GAA.

Minnesota, lacked some offensive power last year but the signing of Thomas Vanek should help remedy that. Vanek is a proven goal-scorer and will hopefully help improve the team's perfomance on the power-play. It's rumoured he turned down at least one bigger contract offer in the league before signing a three-year deal for the Wild. The top-six spots will be covered by veterans but a lot of youngsters are available to step up and help out. Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter and Erik Haula all played key offensive roles last season.

Jonas Brodin became the perfect foil for Ryan Suter on the top blue-line last season. Suter lead with eight goals and 43 points and along with Brodin forms one of the best pairings in the league. Jared Spurgeon and Marco Scandella are a solid second line pair, but with Nate Prosser and Clayton Stoner lost to free-agency, it's time for Matt Dumba to step up and helpout. Dumba, was the Wild's top 2013 draft pick, and started the season before gaining more ice-time at the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL.

Parise – Koivu – Coyle

Vanek – Granlund – Pominville

Cooke – Haula – Niederreiter

Zucker – Brodziak – Fontaine

Almond – Veilleux

Suter – Brodin

Scandella – Spurgeon

Ballard – Folin

Falk