Wild 2015-16: Stumbling Out

Alternate logo since 2003. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Minnesota Wild ended their NHL season with a first round Stanley Cup playoff loss in six games to the Dallas Stars, the team that left Minnesota nearly a quarter century ago.  Considering the type of regular season the Wild had, it's a wonder the team made it to the playoffs at all, let alone for the fourth consecutive season.  And why even a major overhaul might not be the answer for seasons to come.

The Wild ended the regular season with 87 points, the fewest to qualify for the playoffs since the shootout era began.  They had two epic winless streaks, which resulted not only in getting coach Mike Yeo replaced with John Torchetti on an interim basis, but in nearly missing out on the last wild card playoff spot.  Along with the poor-to-indifferent play, there were key injuries such as the one to Zach Parise, whose back issues caused him to miss the remainder of the season and may require surgery.

It is now painfully obvious that the Wild spent too much money signing too many long-term contracts with free agents who, it turns out, are past their prime.  The Iowa Wild, their minor league affiliate playing out of Des Moines, have been the worst team in the American Hockey League the past couple of seasons.  Minnesota's draft prospects aren't that great either, having traded most of those picks to get the veterans you see on the ice today.

General manager Chuck Fletcher is expected to stick around, and so might coach Torchetti--if for no other reason than the Wild couldn't find anyone better.  We hear there's not exactly a bumper crop of experienced former NHL coaches this year.

A Stanley Cup title is not in the Minnesota Wild's future as long as their underachieving players continue to coast during the regular season, doing just enough to earn that final playoff spot, then hitting the golf courses once they've been eliminated in the first or second round.  Management needs to be reminded that money spent on pricey free agents doesn't change everything.  It only masks the problems that already exist on the ice, no matter how many sellouts you have at Xcel Energy Center.

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Our projected Stanley Cup Final matchup:  Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Dallas Stars.