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Wild Game Day number 60
Wild Record (39-14-6 84 pts)
Home Record (21-7-1)
Opponent: Los Angeles Kings (30-27-4 64 pts)
Road Record (14-16-3)
Site: Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN
Time: 7:00PM CT
TV: NBC Sports Network (NBCSN)
Last season results:
10/16/15 Wild 1 @ Kings 2 (OT)
1/21/16 Wild 3 @ Kings 0
3/22/16 Kings 1 @ Wild 2
Last result:
10/18 Kings 3 @ Wild 6
1/7 Wild 3 @ Kings 4(OT)
The Wild return from their bye week and the stakes have clearly been ratcheted up, following Sunday's big trade with Arizona. Ironically the Wild's opponent this evening, the LA Kings, also made news yesterday with a pretty big deal of their own, as they acquired goaltender, Ben Bishop from Tampa. The Kings move was a bit more surprising as their All Star goalie, Jonathan Quick, returned to the lineup in their 3-1 win Saturday over the Ducks, after being sidelined the entire season recovering from a severe groin injury suffered on opening night.
Chuck Fletcher just pushed his chips into the center of the table going all in on the 2017 Minnesota Wild and a Stanley Cup run, with yesterday's trade. Acquiring Martin Hanzal and Ryan White for next season's 1st and the following season's 2nd round picks in addition to a conditional draft pick that could go as high as a 2nd depending on how far the Wild go and how many playoff games Hanzal plays for the Wild.
So the price seems high for two rental players, but let's look a little deeper into price and value. It costs money to make money as the old adage goes, and pro sports are no different when it comes to this. Now I am not talking about totally spending everything you have at all cost on a pipe dream. No this Wild team has accumulated the best record in the Western Conference this season and they have shown that they can win any type of game their opponents bring.
So that leads to the next question, why do they feel they need to make any move at all and especially one that requires them to part with multiple high draft picks, for rental players? That can be summed up like this. The Wild have achieved the top record in the West through the "easy" part of the schedule, if there is such a thing in today's NHL. But what I mean by that is that from this point forward the stakes are much higher for teams as the sense of urgency is upon us. Teams are looking to establish playoff position for home ice advantage and potential playoff match-ups, while others are looking to leap frog teams just to get into the dance.
The schedule is also much more condensed and teams are playing virtually every other night from here on out. The fact also is the Wild are battling with the Blackhawks who we know all too well, have been the thorn in the Wild side three of the last four years. They also have won three Cups and know exactly what it takes to win.
The Blackhawks made a move of their own last week adding Tomas Jurco to an already jelling team that has now won 9 of 10 including the last two meetings with the Wild, both in St. Paul.
Wild owner, Craig Leipold and GM, Chuck Fletcher are committed to giving Bruce Boudreau and this current Wild team all the resources in order to win it all this year. As a fan that is what we all want, a commitment from ownership and management to do what it takes to win a championship.
There are 30 teams in the NHL and soon to be 31 with the addition of Las Vegas next season. Winning championships is very difficult in pro sports and it takes both good fortune and timing to accomplish. The fact that the Wild have shown that willingness to do what it takes should have everyone excited at the possibilities.
Martin Hanzal is a huge 6'6" center that can score goals as well as play very strong in his own end of the ice. He is great in the faceoff circle and now combined with Mikko Koivu and Erik Haula, the Wild have three centers that win well over 50% of their draws.
Faceoffs are magnified even more in the playoffs where the margin for error is very thin and late game defensive zone draws become critical. It will be great to have multiple options for Bruce Boudreau to rely upon, as well as take a lot of the pressure off of Mikko Koivu who has had to shoulder most of that responsibility.
Ryan Wite, the "throw in" in the deal if you want to call him that, is anything but a throw in. White will immediately become a fan favorite in the State of Hockey with his style of play and his never quit attitude. White is a character guy and plays the game the same way no matter what building he is playing in or the opponent of the evening. He knows only one way to play and that is balls out in your face effort. He also has some very underrated hands for a fourth liner and can be very useful on the PP in front of the net.
White will play alongside Chris Stewart and no matter who BB decides to put in between them they will be a handful to play against that you can count on.
The lines should look like this:
19 Martin Hanzal
21 Ryan White
22 12 3
64 9 16
11 19 29
7 56 21
The bar has been raised and the 2017 Minnesota Wild have made the statement that they are here to compete with all comers. Be assured that the rest of the league and in particular the Blackhawks have taken notice, that the Wild have just upped the ante.
It's always Hockey Day in the State of Hockey!
Let's Play Hockey!
Follow me on Twitter @dwallace17
Minnesota Wild Blogger • 
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