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Evaluating the Minnesota Wild Thirty Games into the Season

By Lake Martin

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 05: Minnesota Wild goaltender Alex Stalock (32) is congratulated by Minnesota Wild center Luke Kunin (19) and Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (20) after the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning on December 05, 2019 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 05: Minnesota Wild goaltender Alex Stalock (32) is congratulated by Minnesota Wild center Luke Kunin (19) and Minnesota Wild defenseman Ryan Suter (20) after the NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning on December 05, 2019 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Where Do We Go From Here?

SAINT PAUL, MN – NOVEMBER 29: Zach Parise #11 celebrates his goal with teammates Eric Staal #12, Jared Spurgeon #46 and Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild against the Ottawa Senators during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on November 29, 2019, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAINT PAUL, MN – NOVEMBER 29: Zach Parise #11 celebrates his goal with teammates Eric Staal #12, Jared Spurgeon #46 and Ryan Suter #20 of the Minnesota Wild against the Ottawa Senators during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on November 29, 2019, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Wild are likely living out The Athletic’s Dom Luszczysyn’s prediction for the team at the beginning of the season (subscription required):

"The Wild are probably too good to fail… …But also not good enough to compete either."

Further, the Minnesota Wild have been bitten by the injury bug. Currently, Mikko Koivu is on IR, listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury, Greg Pateryn hasn’t played a NHL game all season after having surgery to solve a Sports Hernia during training camp, and Jared Spurgeon is still out for another week with a hand injury. This doesn’t include Eric Staal, who could be injured after an awkward collision with a linesman, and Devan Dubnyk who is away with a personal family matter.

Even when the roster is fully healthy, there’s an availability issue on the roster. Because of the emergence in Carson Soucy this year, Nick Seeler hasn’t seen significant time. Further, when all the forwards are healthy, forwards have been in and out of the lineup, like Victor Rask, who has improved play from last season, and Ryan Donato, who has improved play since the start of the season.

Here’s my take:

I believe whether the Minnesota Wild make the playoffs or commit to the rebuild this year, they’re playing with house money. The Wild have been surprised with the development in prospects like Alexander Khovanov, Jack McBain, and the Promised One- Kiril Kaprizov, the success of the new core of this team -like Joel Eriksson Ek, Jordan Greenway, Luke Kunin, Kevin Fiala, and Ryan Donato-, the performance and depth of the current roster, and the apparent culture and stability Bill Guerin has developed in St. Paul should have the fanbase excited.

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