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Putting together an All-Time Minnesota Wild lineup

By Brennen Rupp

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild forechecks during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on November 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild forechecks during the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center on November 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Any all-time Minnesota Wild lineup starts with Marian Gaborik. But who joins the team’s all time-leading goal scorer? Let’s take a crack at it!

LW: Zach Parise. At 35 years old and six years left on his contract Parise has a shot to surpass Gaborik as the best player in franchise history. He’s currently third in franchise history in goals and fourth in points.

RW; Gaborik. Gaborik’s name can be found at the top of most of the statistical leaders in franchise history. He’s all-time leader in goals (219), game winning goals (43), hat tricks (9) and is second in points (437).

C: Mikko Koivu is the franchise leader in games played (973), assists (487) and points (688). He’s closing in on Gaborik for the all-time leader in goals. Captain Koivu currently has 201 goals and needs 19 goals to surpass Gaborik. Koivu is coming off a torn ACL and will be playing in his final year of his contract. This season could be his last as a member of the Wild and the last time he scored 19 or more goals in a season was back during the 2009-2010 season.

D: Ryan Suter, aka Mr. Consistency. Suter has had four straight 40 or more point seasons. In 2015-2016 and 2017-2018 he posted 51 points, which is a career high for the defenseman. Despite coming back from a serious ankle injury Suter finished with 47 points and could be getting better with age.

D: Jared Spurgeon is one of the most decorated defenseman in Wild history. He is in the top five among defenseman in assists, goals and points. If Spurgeon gets an extension he could go down as the best defenseman in franchise history.

G: Niklas Backstrom finished his career with the Wild with a franchise leading, 10,321 saves. He is the leader in shutouts (28) and wins (194). Devan Dubynk has a chance to replace Backstram, but we’ll have to wait and see how the rest of his Wild career plays out.

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