Now that we have all had a day to digest the Wild five game playoff loss, it is time to reflect on what was and look ahead to what is next for this team.

Looking back on the season, the Wild made big strides in Bruce Boudreau's first season behind the Wild bench, setting franchise season records for wins (49) and points (106). The team played an exciting brand of hockey through the first 3/4 of the season, combining speed, balanced scoring, and solid team defense. Once March hit though, the chinks in the armor began to turn into full on abrasions as the team struggled to find consistent offense and the defense and goaltending went south.

Clearly a sign something just wasn't right, and fast forward to mid April and the Wild have an early playoff exit to digest once again.

So what went wrong? Was it the trade deadline deal that brought in Martin Hanzal and Ryan White? Was it the fact that Darcy Kuemper never established himself as a capable backup, ultimately forcing Boudreau to overuse Devan Dubnyk? Is this team just not built to win playoff series? Leadership/ locker room question marks? Or lack of game breaker talent? Lastly, is Bruce Boudreau a failure when it comes playoff time?

I believe that it is a combination of many of the above, but to pinpoint any one as THE reason, is not being fair.

Yes, the Martin Hanzal, changed the complexion of the team as far as the speed game, but he was dominant at times, becoming a trusted cog in Boudreau's game plan. Ryan White, really never established a role with the Wild, and actually took some of Chris Stewart's effectiveness away in the process.

Darcy Kuemper, well that is what it was, a debacle to say the least. Dubnyk won his way to the Vezina trophy, and wound up not even a finalist for the award. An overworked Dubnyk, was good in the playoffs, just not great.

Team makeup and personality are huge factors in winning and falling short. A team that battles for each other will prevail over a more talented but less committed group almost every time. So were the Wild, not fully committed? I believe there is a bit of that with this team, as there appears to be an old guard, that sees things in one sense while the youtgh of the team is not exactly in sync. I don't believe that is as deep as it may have been in the past, but it still appears to be present.

The Wild do not have a game breaker that can turn the game in an instant. There is no single player that Wild opponents have to game plan for. Mikael Granlund, took a huge step forward this season, becoming a real offensive threat, while earning a finalist nomination for the Lady Byng Trophy. But Granlund is an elite talent, but not a player that can do things by himself, he needs supporting cast to maximize his effectiveness.

Lastly, the Bruce Boudreau factor. Yes it is a concern for sure, that record of playoff futility, just took a turn for the worse. Worst of all is the fact that the latest loss is at the hands of former Wild coach Mike Yeo, adding insult to injury of course. I still believe in Boudreau and that is coaching success can translate in the playoffs, but only if he learns to keep some of his emotions and thoughts to himself and not where them all on his red face.
So what is next for this Minnesota Wild team?

Surface thoughts:

Hanzal and White will not return

Granlund and Nino Niederreiter are high priority RFA signings.

The expansion draft decisions as far as who will be exposed.

This will be a growing topic as teams exit the playoffs and assessments are made.

Trades and backroom deals will be struck, prior to expansion draft day for sure.

All of that said my feeling is that the Wild will lose a defenseman, one of either Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba, Marco Scandella, or Jared Spurgeon, depending on which two of those four the Wild protect. Ryan Suter, of course, must be protected due to his no movement clause.
My feeling is despite the career year Jared Spurgeon had this season, he should be the one left unprotected as this is a business, and his 5.1875 million dollar annual deal has three more years, where Brodin has the most cap friendly deal at 4.166 mil for 4 more years, while Scandella is at 4 mil for the next three, and Dumbais due to make 2.5 next season before becoming an RFA.

We will surely have a lot to discuss, but for now it is all about the future after the Wild loss to the Blues.

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