As the holiday season approaches, PHR will take a look at what teams are thankful for as the season heads past the one-quarter mark. There also might be a few things your team would like down the road. Let’s take a look at what’s gone well in the early going and what could improve as the season rolls on for the Minnesota Wild. Click here for the other articles in this series.
What are the Wild most thankful for?
A resurgent season from winger Zach Parise. Injuries limited him to just 42 games last season and in each of the years before that, he missed at least a dozen contests in each of them. The injuries had been taking their toll and accordingly, his point-per-game average had dropped in each of the last three seasons. For someone with seven years left on his contract heading into this one (with an AAV of just over $7.5MM), this was cause for concern.
Fortunately for Minnesota, the 34-year-old is off to his best start in years. He leads the team in goals (14) and sits second in points (27); his point-per-game mark (0.93) is his best since the 2009-10 season in New Jersey. It’s far too early to project this as a sign of things to come over the remaining life of his contract but for now, the team is certainly thankful that their top-paid forward is actually producing like one which is something that simply hasn’t happened in recent years.
Who are the Wild most thankful for?
Some eyebrows were raised this summer when Minnesota gave defenseman Mathew Dumba a five-year, $30MM contract last summer but it’s already looking to be quite the bargain. The 24-year-old leads all NHL blueliners in goals (12) and is just two off of his career high from last season. He also is logging nearly 24 minutes a night (a career high) and has really emerged as a legitimate top pairing defender for the price of a second pairing player. It wasn’t that long ago that there were questions as to whether or not he’d be a part of their future. Now, Dumba is a key fixture for the long haul at a really nice price point.
What would the Wild be even more thankful for?
Production from core forwards Nino Niederreiter and Charlie Coyle. Niederreiter looked like he was emerging as a high-end forward two years ago when he picked up 57 points, earning himself a five-year contract in the process. However, his offense dipped considerably last year and it’s down a tick again this season as he has scored just five times. Meanwhile, Coyle’s name has come up in trade speculation once again and for good reason. He has the skillset to be an impact player but he simply isn’t producing as he’s sitting on five goals again. These two are expected to be consistent secondary scorers for the Wild and the only thing they’ve been consistent at so far this season is being consistently inconsistent.
What should be on the Wild’s Holiday Wish List?
Nate Prosser’s hold on a roster spot has always been tenuous and it’s clear the team doesn’t have a lot of faith in him (he has been healthy all year but has played just twice) so adding some defensive depth that Bruce Boudreau would be comfortable using when injuries arise would be useful. With their secondary scorers not producing enough, adding a top-six winger would also go a long way towards helping them. That might be enough to help spark Niederreiter and Coyle (if they’re not part of the return going the other way).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dumba is a keeper.