Wild season preview: What changed over the off-season?
The Minnesota Wild open the season Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center against the New York Rangers. Last year, the Wild finished with 113 points, good for fifth in the National Hockey League. The Wild have made the playoffs in 12 of their 21 seasons, but have always lost in first round.
Goaltender Cam Talbot is gone and Minnesota has a new backup in Filip Gustavsson.
Guerin picked Gustavsson 55th overall in 2016. Gustavson has only played 27 games in the NHL. The Wild want Gustavsons to play more games than the average backup. Kevin Fiala was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a first-round pick and Brock Faber. Kirill Kaprizov scored 108 points for the Wild last season.
Marco Rossi, a former first-round pick, will start this season on the fourth line and the team's second power-play unit. Calen Addison, also a first round pick from Iowa, made the club this year after spending the majority of last year in Iowa. Matt Boldy, who had 39 points in 47 games last season, is solidifying his spot on this team. Sam Steel and Frederick Gaudreau will play on his right side.
The Wild's top line from last season returns with Kaprizov, Ryan Hartmann, and Mats Zuccarello. The GREEF line will play together when they are all healthy. Jonas Brodin and Matt Dumba will be a pair, along with captain Jared Spurgeon alongside Alex Goligoski. Addison is expected to be on the third pair with Jake Middleton. Jon Merill had off-season surgery but was cleared for full contact Wednesday.
Special teams is a question mark heading into the season.
The Wild's special teams were below the league average last year. The play carried over to the postseason and the Wild lost in the first round.
Joel Erikkson Ek has filled the spot of Fiala on the first powerplay unit. Addison will be the lone defenseman.
The Minnesota Wild are a contender to win the Stanley Cup. Colorado Avalanche is the favorite to do so again this season. Minnesota has the eighth-best odds in the league at 17-1.
