Minnesota Wild
2019-20 Record: 35-27-7, 10th in the West (2-2-0 against Colorado)
You might be on the wrong site if you’re looking for positive takes on the Minnesota Wild.
The Wild have never made that jump in most of their franchise history, save for their 2003 Stanley Cup run and the signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, both whose contracts look less fantastic than they did in 2012. While Kevin Fiala led the way in his first full year in the Twin Cities, with Suter and Eric Staal also putting up 40-point seasons, the Wild faced the Avs four times last year, amounting to an upsetting draw.
The Avs faced the Wild their second game of the season, as the Avs won 4-2, and saw Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Valeri Nichushkin get their first points in burgundy. Months later saw a tough night for Francouz, where Minnesota was able to come back in the third.
The Wild began making changes early in the year, with Bruce Boudreau being shown the door, in favour of former assistant coach Dean Evason. Both Staal (traded to Buffalo for Marcus Johansson) and longtime and only captain Mikko Koivu (signed with Columbus) are absent, and the team, for the first time in seemingly ages, looks younger. Part of that might be Kirill Kaprizov finally making his delayed debut as a member of the Wild, where, after spending most of the last decade lighting up the KHL. Joel Eriksson Ek, who made the jump full-time last season, may look to better his 29 points. Goaltending isn’t necessarily improved, with Devan Dubnyk California-headed, and turned-journeyman Cam Talbot in his place to fill the spot.
The Avs will be very at home meeting the Wild. Getting over the two game hump from last season? That too.