Gone Puck Wild
Fansided

Minnesota Wild: 2018-19 Season Preview of Mikael Granlund

By Cody Defoe

WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 13: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Minnesota Wild keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 13, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Wild 4-1 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
WINNIPEG, MB - APRIL 13: Mikael Granlund #64 of the Minnesota Wild keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell MTS Place on April 13, 2018 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Jets defeated the Wild 4-1 to lead the series 2-0. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The second installment on our look ahead to the Minnesota Wild season, looking at every player on the roster. Mikael Granlund is next up to be previewed.

Forward Mikael Granlund is entering his seventh season with the Minnesota Wild, and appears to have finally developed into a go-to player the team has been searching for. Granlund will look to expand on back-to-back 65+ point seasons as a cornerstone of the Wild offense.

History

Granlund followed up on his 69 point breakout 2016-17 season with an equally impressive 67 point 2017-18 season, finishing 2nd to Eric Staal for top points on the Minnesota Wild. His 21 Goals were 3rd on the team through the Regular season.

After struggling to find his game and adapt to the speed of the NHL through his first 3 full seasons, it appears that Mikael has finally managed to put it together over the last 2 years. Finishing the season on a line with Mikko Koivu and Nino Niederreiter, Granlund tied with Zach Parise as the Wild’s top point scorer of the 2018 Playoffs.

While his point production looks impressive when put on paper, the final outcome of the season still leaves something to be desired. Granlund finished the playoff series soft, with only 1 shot on goal in each of the final 2 games (per NHL.com), and generally did not look like the difference maker we had become used to seeing.

Season Outlook

Granlund signed a brand new contract with the Minnesota Wild last year. With 2 years left on the current deal, this year could be his last chance to prove his value to the team and avoid being a potential trade piece next year.

His production over the past 2 seasons gives me hope that we are seeing the real Mikael Granlund showing up now. At 26 years old, Granlund is entering the prime of his career and may never be as valuable as he is right now.

The Wild need to decide this season if Granlund will be a centerpiece of the next era of hockey in Minnesota, or if he will be a key piece to acquire the future of this team. As a consistent 20 Goal scorer, he could net a large return at the 2019 Trade Deadline or NHL Draft if GM Paul Fenton doesn’t see Mikael being in the long term Wild plans.

The Minnesota Wild are reaching an important point in the team building process, and this should be the most important year of Mikael Granlund’s career. It isn’t a contract year, and he already had a breakout season to show his capabilities, but there is one more step left for him to take as a team leader.

Next: Minnesota Wild Gift Guide: 10 must-have gifts for the Man Cave

This year is the year that decides if the Wild are close enough to truly contend for a cup or if it is time to blow up the roster and rebuild. Granlund is going to be an extremely important piece of that decision. His production this year will determine if he is the performing piece that leads the team to a Stanley Cup, or the traded piece that brings in the players for the team to contend in the future.

Home/Analysis