Post by Corey Scott on Sept 20, 2013 10:07:30 GMT -5
It’s been a long road for GM Scott since he took over in the 2011 offseason. Originally taking over a playoff team, it has been two years of missing the playoffs since, having the 9th overall pick and the 1st overall pick after winning the lottery from the 7th position. Times are about to change though, as over the last year big changes have come to the Wild’s VHL roster.
Sporting 8 new pieces compared to opening night of last year and a vastly improved group of returning top 9 forwards, there is sure to be with a ton more fire-power this season. If we look at a comparison of the past two years top 9 forward groups, this years put up 5 more points (337) than last years squad (332) in a staggering 255 less games played for a ppg of slightly over 0.8. This turns into an increase of just over 0.3 ppg from the top 9, something that should clearly be noticeable on the ice. Changes were also made to the defence and the back-up goaltender position and while not as big as the forward changes they are bound to make an impact. The two new defensemen compared to opening day roster last season, being the young stud in Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the vet in Mike Weaver are replacing the likes of future HOF player Chris Pronger and another vet in Henrik Tallinder.
There is certainly high expectation this season for the Wild, only time will tell if they are met.
*Prospects highlighted in later article
2012-13 Minnesota Wild Roster (Opening Night)
Hejduk – Getzlaf – Voracek
Sullivan – Richards – Stempniak
Hodgson - Eller – Marchant
Meyer - Kruger – Frolik
Pronger – Karlsson
Shattenkirk – Beauchemin
Leddy – Tallinder
Gardiner
Quick
Budaj
Hejduk – Getzlaf – Voracek
Sullivan – Richards – Stempniak
Hodgson - Eller – Marchant
Meyer - Kruger – Frolik
Pronger – Karlsson
Shattenkirk – Beauchemin
Leddy – Tallinder
Gardiner
Quick
Budaj
2013-14 Minnesota Wild Roster (Opening Night Expectation so far)
Stewart – Getzlaf – Voracek
Hodgson – Kopitar – Ryder
Brouwer – Eller – Stempniak
Kruger – Gordon – Frolik
Beauchemin – Ekman-Larsson
Karlsson – Shattenkirk
Leddy - Weaver
Quick
LaBarbera
Stewart – Getzlaf – Voracek
Hodgson – Kopitar – Ryder
Brouwer – Eller – Stempniak
Kruger – Gordon – Frolik
Beauchemin – Ekman-Larsson
Karlsson – Shattenkirk
Leddy - Weaver
Quick
LaBarbera
Sporting 8 new pieces compared to opening night of last year and a vastly improved group of returning top 9 forwards, there is sure to be with a ton more fire-power this season. If we look at a comparison of the past two years top 9 forward groups, this years put up 5 more points (337) than last years squad (332) in a staggering 255 less games played for a ppg of slightly over 0.8. This turns into an increase of just over 0.3 ppg from the top 9, something that should clearly be noticeable on the ice. Changes were also made to the defence and the back-up goaltender position and while not as big as the forward changes they are bound to make an impact. The two new defensemen compared to opening day roster last season, being the young stud in Oliver Ekman-Larsson and the vet in Mike Weaver are replacing the likes of future HOF player Chris Pronger and another vet in Henrik Tallinder.
There is certainly high expectation this season for the Wild, only time will tell if they are met.
*Prospects highlighted in later article
