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Minnesota Wild: Time is Now to Make a Run

By Turner Olson |
Apr 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle (3) celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Dallas Stars in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle (3) celebrates after scoring a goal in the second period against the Dallas Stars in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

With the changes that have taken place across the Central Division, the Minnesota Wild seemed poised to make a run towards the division title next season.

This offseason has been one of change within the Central Division. It seems that each of the team’s that finished above the Minnesota Wild in the standings has lost at least one major contributor to their team. St. Louis parted ways with David Backes, Dallas lost arguably their best defensemen in Alex Goligoski to the Coyotes, and Chicago lost both Teuvo Teravainen and Andrew Shaw in cap cutting moves. And the biggest subtraction of them all might be the Nashville Predators trading longtime captain Shea Weber to Montreal for PK Subban.

While it remains to be seen how these moves will play out, and with all the turmoil and change going on at the top of the Central Division, it gives a team like the Wild who returns all of their major contributors from a year ago an advantage. Throw in the additions of Eric Staal and Chris Stewart (who played with the team in 2014-15) to a nucleus that has been together for four years now and familiarity might give the Wild an advantage over the other teams in the division.

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Familiarity alone will only get you so far in the NHL though, especially in what is largely regarded as the best division in hockey. And to that end, another reason for optimism on the part of the Wild is the continued growth of their mid twenties players. Specifically, forwards Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, Erik Haula, and defensemen Matt Dumba are expected to continue to improve upon their play from last season.

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When individual improvement from these players is added to a team that signed a new center projected to play on the first line and a bottom six forward capable of filling up the score sheet, it is not crazy to expect vast improvement from this team. And that is discounting the fact that they brought in a coach who has 8 division titles in his 10 seasons of being an NHL head coach.

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Yes, we are talking about a team that had a down year last year and finished 6th in a 7 team division. But with the major losses that every team that finished ahead of the Wild experienced over the summer combined with the fact that at least on paper the team improved its roster and added a proven winner behind the bench, this team should be expected to contend for the Central Division crown in 2016-17.

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