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This is the second of 8 daily installments on the teams in the new NHL Central Division, culminating in a predicted order of finish.


The Minnesota Wild, under GM Chuck Fletcher and head Coach Mike Yeo, really did what they should have been expected to last season. Flush with big ticket free agents Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, they made the playoffs, and gave a little scare to the eventual Stanley Cup champs, before bowing out quietly.

I like the way the Wild are building. Aside from the obvious value of players like Suter and Parise, they have drafted well, allowed those players a little time to develop and filled in the NHL roster with character veterans and grit.

The additions of Matt Cooke and Keith Ballard over the summer continue that trend, while the Wild wait for the likes of Jonas Brodin, Charlie Coyle and Mikael Granlund to blossom. Cooke will need to help replace the energy and intimidation lost when Cal Clutterbuck left the Wild for the Islanders.

Brodin looks like he is either arrived at or on the cusp of becoming a quality top pairing NHL defenseman. Paired with Suter, the Wild have what few other teams do, a truly elite pairing that can chew up nearly 30 minutes a night.

And the Wild are solid to very good in net with Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding.

This is a team that should make the playoffs and could do some damage, if they get some organic growth out of their highly drafted youngsters this year. Especially if that growth allows them to roll more than one true scoring line.

TOMORROW:

St. Louis Blues



All for now,


JJ

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