It is very easy to say that the Minnesota Wild need this or more of that in order to get them over the hump and into contention for the Stanley Cup. But it really is not as easy as that because if it was then it probably would have been done already.

Paul Fenton is challenged with the responsibility of taking this team and reworking the structure to give them the best chance at success in the playoffs.

The Wild have figured out how to navigate the 82 game schedule pretty well. That is not an easy task by any stretch, nor should it be taken lightly that they have been in the playoffs six straight seasons.

There are only two other teams that can make that claim Pittsburgh with 12 straight and Anaheim with six straight of their own.

The playoffs of course are a whole new game, where a single opponent in a seven game series presents a completely different challenge. That is where the current makeup of the Wild falls apart.

Most experts like to point to the Wild's lack of star power as a root of the problem, while others point to the absence of a pure goal scorer. The defense has been questioned concerning their lack of toughness in front of Devan Dubnyk. And finally, Dubnyk himself has drawn his share of playoff criticism as well.

So as you can see when a team has regular season success but then falters in the playoffs it becomes easy to point the fingers, but much tougher to really pinpoint exactly what is missing.

We have discussed this many times, that the difference between winning and losing is a fine line. These guys are all professionals and judging from the consistent regular season results of this collective group it is very difficult to question the ability or drive of the Wild team.

But it is clear that there is something missing for sure. So what exactly is missing and how does Paul Fenton achieve going out and finding it?

I agree with Wild owner Craig Leipold that the Wild are a very good team. I also agree with him that they are not a great team. That too is a fine line and what makes a team great?

That is an intangible that comes from within the team. The GM has the task of assembling the players, while the coach has the job of getting that group to play within his system to achieve success.

Those are givens, but what about the players? What is their responsibility outside of working hard and being part of the team on and off the ice?

Winning teams all have an "it" factor, and what "it" is can be different from team to team, but the common denominator is that they all have a one for all attitude.

We have seen the last two seasons two perennial playoff disappointments make it to the Stanley Cup Final, first Nashville last year and Washington this season. Many thought that these teams would never get as far as they did, but today Washington stands one win from hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Meanwhile, Vegas in their very first season has overcome enormous odds to make it to the Cup Final in their inaugural season. So how did that happen?

To me both of the Capitals and Golden Knights have an "it" factor that has catapulted them to where they are today. For the Caps, it is the commitment of their captain and face of their franchise, Alexander Ovechkin. OV has always been the dominant goal scorer, but now you see a complete player one that blocks shots, delivers the big check, and is not afraid to show his emotions as he pours out every ounce of energy into the entire game.

Yes, the Capitals are very talented, and more than just Ovechkin, but no one can deny that the rest of the team is feeding off the energy of their captain and the talent from the collective group is being maximized in the process.

On the other side of the ice is Vegas, a team of so called "unwanteds" or misfits as they call themselves. Their "it" factor is much different but in the end it is what brings the collective group together to achieve something that each of them so desperately wants, but very few ever experience.

So as Paul Fenton approaches his first draft as Wild GM, we will see just how he plans to alter the current roster before the free agency period hits. We know that Fenton believes in building through the draft and making "hockey trades" in order to put on the finishing touches.

We can speculate what moves Fenton can and will make all day long. But rest assured the Minnesota Wild will have a very different look the next time we see them take the ice. The team that was good not great is no longer good enough in the eyes of owner Craig Leipold. Paul Fenton knows what is expected of him and he has a plan to accomplish that goal.

It promises to be an exciting offseason for the Minnesota Wild, that is for certain.

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