Minnesota Wild Update:
Realigned and Reloading (7-19-2013)
While our Minnesota Wild have been busy making offseason
changes, the National Hockey League just recently announced realignment for the
2013-14 season. Going to two divisions
in each conference for 2014 the Pacific and Central Division will be in the
Western Conference and the newly named Metropolitan and Atlantic will make up
the Eastern Conference. The
Metropolitan Division will be made up of former Atlantic division teams (New
York teams, the Pens, Devils, plus Carolina, Columbus and the Washington
Capitals). Minnesota’s division foes
are as follows as part of the newly formed Central Division. With only the Colorado Avalanche staying
put, gone is Northwest Division and our Canadian division foes Vancouver
Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.
Enter in the world champion Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Nashville
Predators, St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets.
Of those six teams I mentioned only Nashville had a losing record last
year. So division games just got a lot
tougher as only one of the departing teams broke .500 and we’re adding a bunch
of tough teams on the rotation.
Are the Wild ready for the quest to win the Stanley Cup in
2014? The theme this offseason seems to
be out with the old, in with the new.
They had some cap issues but the front office probably wants to retain
the playoff-reaching younger core and have them hit the ice skating, as it
were.
On July 24th, the Wild resigned G Niklas
Backstrom (24-15, 2.48 GAA) to a three-year contract. At the end of June, the Wild’s favorite mustached
goon Cal Clutterbuck was traded to the New York Islanders for former top-five
pick in RW Nino Niederreiter. The team also traded Devin Setoguchi to
Winnipeg (another division foe) for a second-round pick opening up playing time
for Benny Ferriero and Neiderreiter.
Neiderreiter was popular on the Island, and he better be to replace
Clutterbuck. Some more "goon"
was added with the decidedly unpopular Matt Cooke who has ties to Mike Yeo,
back in their old Pittsburgh days. The
toothless Cooke is probably deserved of his “dirty” label but will try to add
some grit and grind and play hard but clean.
The Wild also decided not to re-sign popular center Matt Cullen (+ 9 on
the 2012-13 season), as he signed a two-year deal with new division foe
Nashville. Defenseman Tom Gilbert was waived. The rest of the Wild’s moves were aimed at
provide quality depth (especially on defense) as they signed guys like Carson
McMillan, Jonathon Blum, Jon Landry and forward Justin Fontaine. Justin Fontaine could provide some spark on
offense.
Change is the one constant.
The front office has gone all-in on the youngsters, particularly Charlie
Coyle, Jason Zucker and Mikael Granlund.
It would appear that the Wild are content with young goalies Harding and
Kuemper since they haven’t signed a big free agent goaltender. There are some higher priced veterans out
there that may make sense splitting time with the veteran Backstrom. If Mikko Koivu can from some better chemistry
with Zach Parise and the young guys fall into shape this team should have no
problem continuing to skate into the league’s elite.
No comments:
Post a Comment