With each win by expansion franchise Vegas the indictment against the perennial underachievers intensifies.

How can this be, a team that had no players a year ago, now has a 2-1 series lead in the Conference Finals.

The past arguments about seemingly good teams by regular season record failing in the playoffs because they lack the superstars needed to win, is now gone.

The argument that specific players are not winners when it comes to the playoffs and a seven game series and certain coaches can't win in the post season, despite tremendous winning records in the regular season.

These arguments seem to be suspect as well.

The fact is that a team that checks the ego at the door and is allowed to perform according to the players skill and not some predetermined hierarchy, plays a larger role in the outcome on the ice.

Vegas is full of "cast-offs" as they are called. We all know that is not exactly true as the relaxed rules of expansion definitely created a more competitive product by design. But that does not make them a division winner and Western Conference Finalist.

The fact that nearly every move that Vegas GM, George McPhee, made, has come up roses, definitely plays a significant part as well. That said though, hockey is a game like no other. There are momentum swings that occur in games without warning and sometimes without reason.

Confidence plays an enormous role in hockey as it does in all sports, but hockey is unique in that entire teams can be affected at once. Lack of confidence makes teams subconsciously alter their play, which in many cases becomes the difference between winning and losing, especially in a playoff series.

So as the Minnesota Wild are on the verge of making a critical change within the organization, with the hiring of a new General Manager. More than ever this choice is of significant importance.

The new GM must be able to assess what is currently in the organization and where the team is as far as being able to compete for what Craig Leipold is in search of, the elusive Stanley Cup.

I know that Leipold has stated that this is not a rebuild, so if that is truly the case, and let's just go with the it is side of the equation. The new GM must come in and do his part to create a more competitive situation among the players on this Wild team.

As Leipold said he wants a new set of eyes on the organization, and in order for that to happen changes have to occur at the on ice level as well.

I have made the point several times over the past few seasons that the captains of this team should be altered. It is well past the time for Koivu to not be wearing the C, and Suter in particular not to be wearing the A. If a sweeping change needs to be made, then take the A off of Parise as well, but that does not seem as necessary as it appears for the other two.

Nothing against Koivu or Suter ever, as they are workhorses for sure. The issue here with #9 and #20 are the facts that neither has ever shown that they are willing to sacrifice his own personal game for the good of the team. Now that is also partly due to the coaching staff putting all of their trust in the veterans while creating a pecking order that has developed into a culture with the Wild.

In order to reverse that trend and upset the status quo, a significant change must be made in the overall team approach. Vegas is winning consistently with a far less talented team, but a team that battles for each other with players stepping up and earning their roles and ice time.

Now the Vegas argument is not fair to compare completely because the team all came together this season and every job was an open competition by necessity. But quite honestly every job should always be an open competition, shouldn't it?

I know that is a utopian theory and with the salary cap in place it is very difficult for that to play out in all reality. But a team that creates a competitive atmosphere within the organization will succeed far more often than the one that rewards or banks on past performance as the indicator of future success.

The NHL has long been a copycat league, and this year will be no different as teams will look at the Vegas model to figure out how they can expedite their own future fortunes.

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