Team: 2020-21 Minnesota Wild

Initial Creation Date: May 22, 2020

Published: May 22, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

(From @KakkoForMauriceRichardAward)

I propose to you an analysis of your favorite team...

You need to include:

- your favorite team's strength(s)
- its weakness(es)
- how you would try to fix the weakness without affecting the strength too much
- a CBO is allowed (but not mandatory)
- a flat cap
- coaches can be fired

Copy this so that others can see this idea to keep us entertained a bit until real hockey (hopefully) comes back.

I'm doing this basically because I enjoy talking to the Minnesota guys.

Strengths: The long-awaited arrival of Kirill Kaprizov heralds the possibility that the Wild may be contenders in a few seasons as new GM Bill Guerin puts his stamp on the team. The emergence of Kevin Fiala and the continued development of Joel Eriksson Ek, Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway give reason for hope, as do some of the youngsters in the pipeline: forwards Matthew Boldy, Adam Beckman and Alex Khovanov, defenseman Calen Addison and goalie Kaapo Kahkonen all show promising potential as top-line personnel. If the Wild can also get some additional quality out of players like Nico Sturm, Ryan Donato, Carson Soucy, Brennan Menell and perhaps others, management can focus on some specific shortcomings.

Weaknesses: The most glaring shortcoming is quality at center. With Mikko Koivu and Eric Staal aging out, Minnesota doesn't really have a top-6 centerman right now. Staal surely still has some good games left in him, and the Wild may bring Koivu back on a one-year contract to bridge the gap to the expansion draft, but they really need to start serious work on filling that hole. The 11th overall pick in this year's draft should help; I have Anton Lundell available there in my mocks and other possibilities there include Dawson Mercer, Dylan Holloway and Seth Jarvis. The Pittsburgh pick acquired in the Zucker trade (which also brought them Addison) could deliver someone like Hendrix Lapierre, Connor Zary or Mavrik Bourque. Any of these prospects would be welcome additions.

The defense is set with no expected turnover from this year, but disappointed somewhat. The Wild were 22nd in goals against. They need to perform better in order for the Wild to be relevant.

Goaltending is questionable. Devan Dubnyk had a poor year, perhaps distracted by non-hockey issues. Alex Stalock stepped in well when required. Kaapo Kahkonen could be a #1 goalie in a couple of years.

Bottom line: this will be a rebuilding year for Minnesota, and the Wild will need to have their best prospects actually turn out in order to be a serious contender in the near future. But most of all, it is critical to fill that void (I don't think I'm putting it too strongly) at center in order for them to succeed. To underline that point, I am leaving the roster short one player. It is unfortunate that the free-agent market this year doesn't really include any solutions to that problem.