The 2014-15 Minnesota Wild: Forwards

Photo: Wild.com

If there is one great strength for the Wild in 2014-15, its going to come from their forward position.

2013-14 Season In Review: Jason Pominville

Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn/USA Today

The Mayor of Goalinville, Jason Pominville.

Key Players For The Wild Against Chicago

Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Wild/Blackhawks begin tonight. Lets take a meander at the player the Wild need to step up (or continue on, in one case) as they open up the second round.

Regular Season Wrap-Up

As we gear up for the playoffs on Thursday, lets take a look back at the Wild finest individual and team moments from the 2013-14 regular season.

Team Record: 43-27-12, 98 Points (2nd best record in franchise history)
Standings: 4th in Central Division, 7th in Western Conference

April Wrap-Up

A look back at the regular season's final month.

Team Record: 4-1-1 in April, 43-27-12 overall
Standings: 4th in Central Division, 7th in Western Conference

March Wrapup

A look back at the month of February.

Team Record: 6-5-4 in March, 39-26-11 overall
Standings: 4th in Central Division, 7th in Western Conference

Jason Pominville's Powerful Slapshot

Remember Brian Rolston? Yeah, that guy who would often take slapshots in the shootout.

Well until recently, Rolston had boasted the most powerful slapshot in Wild history. Wild F Jason Pominville is giving Rolston a run for his money in the clap bomb department.

A Refresher

Photo: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo/Pioneer Press

The Olympics are over. The NHL returns tonight. There is a slight feel like this is a second opening night, due to the disconnect we experienced from the Olympic break.

But now that the NHL is returning, lets take a little refresher course on the Wild, as they get set to begin the stretch run.

Did The Wild Find Their Top Line?

Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

Ever since the Wild signed Zach Parise, it was a foregone conclusion that the guy centering him for the foreseeable future would be Mikko Koivu. Through the end of December, that was the case as they were linemates for just about all of Parise's time here.

Gameday Thoughts

Photo: Ann Heisenfelt/AP

Wild host the Blackhawks tonight at 7 PM. Since I have about 1,000 (slight exaggeration) thoughts right now, lets get on with it.

Thoughts From Hollywood

Somehow, the Wild got two points last night. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA Today Sports

Though last night was one of the more lopsided games in terms of puck possession by any team this year. And yet, it was one of those nights where the score was far from the story of the game.

The 2014 Minnesota Wild Olympians

Photo: Heston Kan

As much as Team Canada tried to delay the process this morning, all Winter Olympic hockey rosters have now been announced. The final four teams (Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, and Canada) gave out their rosters to the public, leaving everyone with more questions (as to why player 'x' made the team over player 'y') than answers, seemingly.

December Wrapup

Lets take a look back at the long month of December:

Mikael Granlund: Top Line Center?

Photo: NHLI via Getty Images

Over the past week, its been suggested that Mike Yeo try and switch up the lineup (not like he hasn't tried this already) and make a change on the top line. The Mikko Koivu-Zach Parise tandem has been in existence since Parise signed here in the summer of 2012. Without a doubt, they are the faces of the team's top line.

Shootout Woes

Photo: Rob Carr

Last year, the Wild had tremendous success in the shootout thanks to the addition of Zach Parise. Parise brought a goal scoring skill set that the Wild have not seen since the likes of Marian Gaborik roamed these parts, but even he was not great in the shootouts.

October Wrap Up

Trying another new feature here where we wrap up each month by looking back at the best players, plays, and game. Here is the Team of 18,001's October Wrap Up:

Jason Pominville Signs 5 Year Extension

 

Much like the Maple Leafs and Phil Kessel on Tuesday, the Wild announced via Twitter that the team has signed Jason Pominville to a five year extension just hours before the season opener against Los Angeles.

The 2013-14 Minnesota Wild: Forwards

Two seasons ago, the Wild were the worst scoring team in the league. They averaged just over two goals per game and had the most lifeless offense in the NHL. So how does Chuck Fletcher fix that lifeless offense? He totally retools the forward position by infusing the lineup with a good mix of veteran stars and young kids with vast potential.

Training Camp Thoughts

The last few days, the Wild opened their doors to the fans for practice and scrimmage during the team's training camp. I was able to get down to Xcel Energy Center yesterday for the practice session, and was able to catch today's scrimmage via the team's website (although the video quality was no help). Here are a few thoughts from the past few days:

Vanek Watch: The Pilot

Well here we are. It has finally come to this. Thomas Vanek gets his own watch with this site, like Zach Parise and Ryan Suter did last summer.

For those who don't understand why it has come to this, here is the story: Thomas Vanek (that guy who played for the Gophers in 2003, then was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres and has played there ever since), is an impending unrestricted free agent next summer. The Wild have been rumored for a while to be a serious player for Vanek, since they will have adequate cap room (Dany Heatley's contract coming off the books is a huge contributor to this). So basically everyone wants to see Vanek, and all other former Gophers, return to the North Star state.

Last night, Josh Rimer stirred the Vanek to Minnesota pot with this tweet:

Hearing IF the Buffalo Sabres move Thomas Vanek, he wants to play for the Minnesota Wild. Vanek lives & trains in Minneapolis in the summer.
— Josh Rimer (@JoshRimerHockey) September 4, 2013

Rimer definitely uses the caps lock in the correct place here. The key word is "IF". So please remember that before you start celebrating Vanek's impending return to Minnesota.

The ransom to fetch Vanek at any point in the 2013-14 season would be greater than the return the Wild gave up for Jason Pominville last winter. The Wild would have to deal AT LEAST two of their top prospects and draft picks (one would be the team's 2014 first round pick and I'm guessing the Sabres would want another first too). Sorry folks, but that price is too steep. The Wild need to sit this one out.

Even if the Wild dont go after Vanek in the season, he will still be there when free agency opens on July 1st. Its becoming more and more clear that Vanek wants out of Buffalo, but wants to politely leave the bad situation that the team has become (meaning: he is not demanding a trade but he is not going to want a contract extension either). So should the Wild land Vanek on the open market, the only thing that is taking a hit is Craig Leipold's wallet (again) and not the farm system.

Gear up Wild fans, its going to be a long 10 months, but stay tuned for lots of coverage on Vanek Watch.


Follow Giles on Twitter @gilesferrell