Minnesota Wild: 2015 Preseason Review

The Minnesosta Wild have just trimmed their roster down to 25 players and look to have their team set up for opening night on Thursday against the Colorado Avalanche. With no more preseason games to play, GM Chuck Fletcher and Head Coach Mike Yeo have seen enough and are ready to concentrate on getting the team set for the regular season. Of course there are a few injuries that might change a few things, but it really only affects one of the forward spots. Alas, it is time to close the book on the preseason and get ready for what promises to be an awesome regular season for the Wild. Here’s some thoughts I have as we head into opening night.

More from Editorials

I’m impressed with the team’s preseason performance, especially in the final two games against Winnipeg and Buffalo. In those two games the Wild scored 14 goals to end the preseason with 22 goals in 6 games! What was most noteworthy was who scored those 14 goals as the Wild boasted goals from 11 different players. Mathew Dumba, Zach Parise, and Nino Niederreiter tallied two a piece, and it’s worth mentioning that Thomas Vanek had what can be called a highlight worthy goal in his one score.

Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

This power surge is great for two reasons. First, as a team you want to be hot in the goal-scoring department heading into the season and send a message to opponents that even if they can score 2-3 goals, that might not be enough against a Wild team that is capable of scoring 4-5 goals. The second reason this scoring is a great sign is that with 11 different players scoring goals you can count on the entire line-up to contribute. From night to night you can be confident someone will step up even if others are having a down game. Hockey is all about scoring balance, because no player can play all 60 minutes.

Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

Looking at individual preseason performances, I was really fascinated with Mathew Dumba’s play. He finished the preseason with 3 goals and 2 assists, proving that he is continuing to take the next step and will be a solid scoring force from the blueline this season. Another young player who showed he’s poised for a breakout is Nino Niederreiter, who finished with 3 goals and 3 assists. Perhaps the most important performance though, was put in by Zach Parise who put up 2 goals and 4 assists. Because Parise is the offensive leader of the Wild, a strong performance from him indicates that the Wild’s offense is healthy and ready for regular season action.

“They weren’t playing every night, but they were learning and watching and practicing, and then at times they needed the game reps.”-Chuck Fletcher Wild GM

Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Two more roster cuts need to be made to get the Wild to 23 players by the league deadline of Tuesday at 4 p.m. CT. Right now it looks like two players that will certainly make the team are Tyler Graovac and Mike Reilly. According to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, Graovac will most likely play on a line with Thomas Vanek and Charlie Coyle. I expect great things for Graovac who was Iowa’s goal scoring leader last season and notched a one goal and one assist in this preseason.Also according to Russo, it looks like Chuck Fletcher’s plans for Mike Reilly will be consistent with past defensive player development by giving him some time with the Wild and some time down in Iowa. Fletcher was quoted as saying he wants the young player to play. “We did last year with Dumba and Frolin at times where we had those players with the NHL roster. They weren’t playing every night, but they were learning and watching and practicing, and then at times they needed the game reps,” said Fletcher. My thought is that with the injuries to Fontaine, Haula, and Schroeder and their possible stints on the IR, you will see Reilly make the Wild’s opening day roster, but I think as those players get better you could see Reilly get sent to Iowa for some playing time and development.

It was a great preseason and it shows that the Wild can start strong this year picking up where they left off last year. That’s something that should have Wild fans hopeful as the team is clearly better with a more solid foundation than they had at the beginning of last year’s campaign. A lot can happen over the course of the season, but I for one am very excited and the promise that this team has shown in the preseason.

More from Gone Puck Wild

Home/Editorials