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Minnesota Wild: Rebuild or reload around Zach Parise and Ryan Suter’s deals?

By Toby Helgeson

ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 11: Ryan Suter #20 and Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild before the faceoff during the Central Division match up between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on December 11, 2016, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild won 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - DECEMBER 11: Ryan Suter #20 and Zach Parise #11 of the Minnesota Wild before the faceoff during the Central Division match up between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild on December 11, 2016, at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Wild won 3-1. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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ST. PAUL, MN – NOVEMBER 2: Luke Kunin #19 of the Minnesota Wild passes the puck against the Montreal Canadiens during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on November 2, 2017 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Wild have a few key prospects that could eventually graduate into the lineup in the future and they need the entry level value around those big Ryan Suter and Zach Parise deals.

Mason Shaw, the fourth round draft pick by the Wild in 2017 put up big numbers while playing in the WHL, and has brought that scoring prowess with him to Iowa. With four points in five games this year, (three of those points being goals) Shaw has shown he has a knack for putting the puck in the back of the net, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Shaw up with the big club in the near future.

Luke Kunin, the Wild’s fifteenth overall pick in 2016 is another promising young player. Kunin starred in nineteen games with the Wild last year putting up four points. A University of Wisconsin product, Kunin had 64 points in 69 games with the Badgers, but has yet to put up those big numbers in the pros. With more time to develop in Iowa, while getting used to the pro game, I believe Kunin could one day be a star in the NHL.

Dmitry Sokolov, drafted in the seventh round in 2016, is a big bodied forward with lots of offensive upside. Sokolov racked up big numbers in the OHL with 220 points in 196 games, but his plus/minus scares worries me a bit as he was a -69 in those 196 games. Nonetheless, Sokolov’s stature, along with his offensive ability are a perfect fit for the NHL, and could be a big part in helping the Minnesota Wild in the future.

Will the team build around its two superstars and make a push for the Cup right now?

Or will they be more financially conservative and rebuild from the ground up?

Next. Key statistics that need some extra focus. dark

Either way, Paul Fenton has some interior design work to do in the Excel Energy Center. A few banners would sure brighten up the place, wouldn’t they?

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