Minnesota Wild: Three Reasons They Finish Higher Than Colorado

Minnesota Wild A Bigger Team

The Minnesota Wild have a bigger team and a bigger approach to the game, there’s no hiding from that.

They’ll be hoping to beat up on the smaller, skilled players of the Colorado Avalanche every time they’re in town.

That also goes for a lot of Central Division rivals; they’ll look to use size, hustle and muscle to over-power the youth of the Avalanche.

Looking just at the Minnesota Wild’s new third line trio of Jordan Greenway, Charlie Coyle and Joel Eriksson Ek; between the three you have a ton of size, a ton of ability to create a net-front nuisance.

Realistically, Colorado don’t have the size or bodies to be able to clear out that sort of trouble. Erik Johnson, Nikita Zadorov and Ian Cole represent the closest thing to big bodies on their back-end; there’s no guarantee all three make it on the ice together.

Laying hits and pushing a team around is one thing, and one the Minnesota Wild will hope to capitalise on.

However, their opponent may have a joker up their sleeve. Their youth and tenacity means that it could be speed that is the Wild’s undoing.

If the youngsters can play with skill and speed, they can potentially out-run a checking game.

It’ll need to be a very careful balancing act.

However, over the course of a season against all-comers, I think it still is the superior size that leaves you higher in the standings.

Making the Minnesota Wild a team that others fear to face because they know it’s going to be physical should be key.