Gone Puck Wild
Fansided

Minnesota Wild: Most Likely Award Candidates

By Luke Ryan

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild is interviewed during media availability for the 2017 NHL Awards at Encore Las Vegas on June 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: Mikko Koivu of the Minnesota Wild is interviewed during media availability for the 2017 NHL Awards at Encore Las Vegas on June 20, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 17: Guests take photos of (L-R) the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the Presidents' Trophy, the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and the Calder Memorial Trophy on display in a glass case at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in advance of the 2018 NHL Awards on June 17, 2018 in Las Vegas. Nevada. The 2018 NHL Awards will be held at the Hard Rock on June 20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – JUNE 17: Guests take photos of (L-R) the Conn Smythe Trophy, the Frank J. Selke Trophy, the Presidents’ Trophy, the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and the Calder Memorial Trophy on display in a glass case at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in advance of the 2018 NHL Awards on June 17, 2018 in Las Vegas. Nevada. The 2018 NHL Awards will be held at the Hard Rock on June 20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

It’s early days for the Minnesota Wild. The regular NHL season hasn’t even gotten underway yet, but I figured why not predict the most likely candidates for the end-of-season awards, based on expected player improvement and last year’s performances.

It may seem bold to throw predictions out there before we’ve so much as seen a pre-season game involving the Minnesota Wild, but I figure why the heck not?

There’s clear methods to judge what a players’ performance may be like. Have they been a consistent performer across their hockey career?

Are they a youngster that has expectations of blossoming into the next level of player?

Maybe they’re a wily veteran that we’ve seen great performances out of previously and are looking to repeat that in a contract year?

There are endless possibilities as to why a player may take a step up and place themselves in contention for end-of-season awards. And there’s enough variety in the award categories that you can envisage a Minnesota Wild player at least being nominated for most.

Obviously, we don’t have any idea as to how this season pans out. The Wild could flame out and slump into Draft Lottery contention. They could be dominant and somehow usurp the guys at the top of the division. Who knows; that’s the fun of speculating and making these predictions.

Home/Analysis