Minnesota Wild fans were thrilled when Mikael Granlund was finally going to make his way to the U.S. to play in the State of Hockey. It turned out that he needed a little more time to get his bearings, but in his sophomore season he didn’t disappoint.
Last season was a season of rapid progression for Granlund. At the start of the season fans and Wild brass were just hoping that he’d be up to snuff and able to play with the big club all year. At the end of the season, he was the team’s number two center with a bullet.
Granlund went from a promising prospect, to a full time NHLer who was playing a full game and even worked his way onto the Olympic All-Star team. His season stats don’t tell the full story of how integral he was to the team by the end of the season.
He finished the season with eight goals and 33 assists, but in his final 22 regular season games he put up five goals and 14 assists and only have a faceoff percentage under 50% in seven of those games. he followed that up by posting four goals, three assists, and 35 shots in 13 postseason matches.
Granlund should start the 2014-15 season centering a second line (or line 1B) that features Jason Pominville and either Thomas Vanek, Zach Parise, or Charlie Coyle.
For now, goals.
#1
11/03/13 vs. New Jersey Devils
NJD 0 – MIN 4
Granlund in the right place at the right time.
#2
11/07/13 vs. Washington Capitals
MIN 2 – WSH 3 (SO)
Watching these replays, I wonder if
deserved a little more love for being a solid playmaker early in the season. I think it took a while for everyone to come around.
#3
12/23/13 vs. Philadelphia Flyers
MIN 1 – PHI 4
Pominville returns one of Granlund’s many, many favors.
#4
01/28/14 vs. Anaheim Ducks
MIN 4 – ANA 2
Granlund gets one after over a month without a goal.
#5
01/30/14 vs. Colorado Avalanche
MIN 4 – COL 5
This album is called
Granlund Comes Alive!
He’s days away from being an Olympic All-Star.
#6
02/27/14 vs. Edmonton Oilers
MIN 3 – EDM 0
Welcome back from Sochi.
#7
03/18/14 vs. New York Islanders
MIN 6 – NYI 0
#8
03/20/14 vs. New Jersey Devils
MIN 3 – NJD 4 (OT)
Almost looked like it was a goal for Parise in his homecoming game, but that was an awkward shot from Granlund.
#9
04/21/14 vs. Colorado Avalanche
COL 0 – MIN 1 (OT)
There it is. One of the great goals in Minnesota Wild history. Also, that LaPanta call is killer.
#10
04/28/14 vs. Colorado Avalanche
MIN 5 – COL 2
This goal is a little of everything the Finnesotan does well. Great breakout and pass in the neutral zone, heads up play without the puck as he starts to cross to the middle, reads Pominville and backs off, then takes a great shot from the boards.
#11
05/06/14 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
CHI 0 – MIN 4
Great move through the slot.
#12
05/06/14 vs. Chicago Blackhawks
CHI 0 – MIN 4
His second of the night. Not quite as exciting as the first.