I think one thing we all have to keep in mind is that it isn't only Chicago that they have to get through.

Winnipeg is pretty good team that can play fast and physical and they have a very good prospect pool. Maurice is also a very good coach and I think he has that team moving in the right direction.

Dallas has quite a bit of skill and if they get some solid goaltending and improve their defense a bit they are not going to be an easy team to beat either.

Colorado has a lot of speed and skill up front and those core players are young. If they sure up their blueline they are going to be consistently better.

As tough as it was to make the playoffs this year in the Central, I think it will be tougher the next 2-3 years. And getting out of the divisional playoffs is going to be really difficult.
- Chinaski

Yeah its only going to get scarier. The good thing is Chicago's going to be in salary cap hell soon. I wouldn't be surprised if they start declining a bit. Too much money wrapped up in a couple guys, granted those guys are some of the best playoff players in the world.

Wild Fans, congrats on magical ride over the last three or so months. This is the first team that reminded me a bit of the Oilers who got on a run and made the cup finals.

Glad to see Minnesota has given up its defense of Matt Cooke. He was the Wild's golden boy this time a year ago, a penalty killer so valuable his own unjust suspension gave his team a handicap.

Wild Fans, congrats on magical ride over the last three or so months. This is the first team that reminded me a bit of the Oilers who got on a run and made the cup finals.
- stljam

Thanks Jammer

Ahh its a glorious day! Couldn't be happier. actually the Caps might make me even happier tonight

Good run guys, you played hard till the last second! Best of luck next year

Sucks Chicago beat you guys. Good luck next year. Hopefully we will both make it a little further. Both of our teams just need the swagger and confidence they have.
- cuethenoise

Swagger, confidence and ... talent.

Congrats on a fine season, Wild fans. Incredible second half. Well-coached group, a lot of nice looking young players. Hard to get a hate on for the Wild, they play the game the right way (Matt Cooke excluded, of course).

Lots of respect for your team.

Well, to each his own on this topic, but I just hate that guy, always have. And playing on the Wild doesn't wipe out the memories I have of him pulling a lot of dirty, unnecessary sh!t in this league.

They guy just had zero respect for other players for such a long time. The thing that bothered me most is that he is actually a pretty good player. He's got the skills to be effective without having to cross the line like he does. Some guys play on that edge and cross the line because it's really the only thing that they can bring to the team. I just never understood why he constantly made the dirty stuff a part of his game when it wasn't necessary to keep him in the league. He just seemed to like playing that part.

I do think he's changed his game for the most part but I don't think it's because he suddenly realized that what he was doing was wrong and he gained respect for his fellow players. From what I can see, he was basically told to clean it up or he wasn't going to be in the league anymore. After watching his bullsh!t for about 10 years I don't really care how much he cleans it up. The guy shouldn't be playing and I won't cheer for him because I can't respect the way he has played the game over his career.
- Chinaski

Cooke was reverting last night. Aside from him - the Wild have a pretty solid group. Interesting to watch Yeo mature. He completely out coached Hitch in the 1st. I think your core was just worn out by that series the way the Hawks were after playing the Blues last year. That team has only one goal under Hitch/Backes - physical destruction.

I would really like to see Cooke out of the league. That attempt to take out Hammers leg was deliberate. He is eventually going to do it again and really hurt someone.

Loved the way the Wild maintained their composure and kept it clean (other than Cooke last night) in both rounds. You deserved better than a sweep.

Yeah its only going to get scarier. The good thing is Chicago's going to be in salary cap hell soon. I wouldn't be surprised if they start declining a bit. Too much money wrapped up in a couple guys, granted those guys are some of the best playoff players in the world.
- cuethenoise

Keeping hope alive in the land of the 1st round exits?

Hawks are probably one the deepest systems in hockey with flurry of free agent signings this OS on top of their already deep pool. Panarin, Tero, Baun all look NHL ready or close.

There will be a re-tool no doubt. Losing Sharp will hurt. Add Bickell and you have your chunk of space and the new blood looks faster (Tero), more physical (Baun, Ross, Hartman), and even more skilled (Panarin) than the players they are replacing. And that is just the forwards. Even with the trades of Dalbeck and Clendening they have serious depth at D coming up.... and more probably coming from the pending trades this OS.

JA is a great drafter but he blew his best picks and system depth to try to claw out of the 1st round and compete for a cup. Whether SL just isn't a destination or Stilman will not budget for free agents you aren't replacing those lost picks the way the Hawks have the last few off seasons...

And Toews and Kane are 26 years old.

Congrats on a fine season, Wild fans. Incredible second half. Well-coached group, a lot of nice looking young players. Hard to get a hate on for the Wild, they play the game the right way (Matt Cooke excluded, of course).

Lots of respect for your team.
- MartiniMan

Thanks MM! Much respect for you guys!

Thanks MM! Much respect for you guys!
- MnGump

You guys will need to re sign Zucker this OS but you have space and Fletcher can obviously draft. The big question in my mind will be Dubnyk. He was looking pretty awful the last few games. If you can sign him for something reasonable and he plays closer to what we saw the last few months the Wild will be in the discussion for top of the West next year.

Food for thought

2013 Bobrovsky
Vezina winner
38 games played
.932 sv pct
2.00 GAA
21-11-6
Next contract that summer: 2 years, $11.25 mil

2015 Dubnyk (with MIN only)
Vezina finalist
39 games played
.936 sv pct
1.78 GAA
27-9-2
Next contract that summer: ?

Food for thought

2013 Bobrovsky
Vezina winner
38 games played
.932 sv pct
2.00 GAA
21-11-6
Next contract that summer: 2 years, $11.25 mil

2015 Dubnyk (with MIN only)
Vezina finalist
39 games played
.936 sv pct
1.78 GAA
27-9-2
Next contract that summer: ?
- FourFeathers773

Watching replay of entire game, not that I'm enjoying it, but I didn't get to see whole game live.

Watching replay of entire game, not that I'm enjoying it, but I didn't get to see whole game live.
- MnGump

The last few minutes were the most exciting. Wild really surged, it's unfortunate for you guys it didn't happen earlier in the game

Glad to see Minnesota has given up its defense of Matt Cooke. He was the Wild's golden boy this time a year ago, a penalty killer so valuable his own unjust suspension gave his team a handicap.
- Footer52

I think of someone on the Hawks like that and it's Carcillo. Has the potential to be a valuable asset to the team, but just too many dumb/bonehead plays, and untimely hits. Can't get "the rat" out of his head long enough to make some plays.

I hope we don't see the Wild next year, one of these times the outcome will be different. Teams win when big players make big plays... unfortunately for the Preds and Wild, the Hawks have more big players and all are performing.

I think your core was just worn out by that series the way the Hawks were after playing the Blues last year. That team has only one goal under Hitch/Backes - physical destruction.
- tredbrta

It's certainly possible but actually I think the Wild were more mentally drained against the Blackhawks than physically. And that mental drain was due to Chicago's play.

I think they were looking at this series and really believed they had a legitimate chance to win. I think they put a lot of pressure on themselves to do it and it had them playing way too tight. I think in their minds they knew how good Chicago was and thought they had to generate more chances to be able to win because they know they need significantly more opportunities to score goals than the Blackhawks do. It got them taking chances they do not normally take and trying to play a game they are not good enough to play yet.

When it comes down to it, I think they just didn't trust the system enough to generate the offensive chances it would take to win. They took some high risk chances and the Blackhawks took advantage of several of those.

Yeo sounded very disappointed in his pressers and he dropped a few hints that lead me to believe that he doesn't think they played the way the coaching staff wanted them to.

But that's just the feeling I got watching this series. It didn't look like the same team I had been watching since the end of January. They looked like a team that was working hard kind of without a plan and then getting frustrated that it wasn't working.

I think of someone on the Hawks like that and it's Carcillo. Has the potential to be a valuable asset to the team, but just too many dumb/bonehead plays, and untimely hits. Can't get "the rat" out of his head long enough to make some plays.

I hope we don't see the Wild next year, one of these times the outcome will be different. Teams win when big players make big plays... unfortunately for the Preds and Wild, the Hawks have more big players and all are performing.
- HawksHype

That's why Carcillo hardly plays. He doesn't fit in this system when he is out of control. He was warned reportedly. Doubt he will be back.

Some like to call Shaw comparable as well and that is an absolute fallacy. He plays hard and can be on the edge but he is no cheap shot. Usually comes from people who don't watch him much.

It's certainly possible but actually I think the Wild were more mentally drained against the Blackhawks than physically. And that mental drain was due to Chicago's play.

I think they were looking at this series and really believed they had a legitimate chance to win. I think they put a lot of pressure on themselves to do it and it had them playing way too tight. I think in their minds they knew how good Chicago was and thought they had to generate more chances to be able to win because they know they need significantly more opportunities to score goals than the Blackhawks do. It got them taking chances they do not normally take and trying to play a game they are not good enough to play yet.

When it comes down to it, I think they just didn't trust the system enough to generate the offensive chances it would take to win. They took some high risk chances and the Blackhawks took advantage of several of those.

Yeo sounded very disappointed in his pressers and he dropped a few hints that lead me to believe that he doesn't think they played the way the coaching staff wanted them to.

But that's just the feeling I got watching this series. It didn't look like the same team I had been watching since the end of January. They looked like a team that was working hard kind of without a plan and then getting frustrated that it wasn't working.
- Chinaski

Probably a combination of the 2. I really believe Suter was hurt. He doesn't usually get rattled.

Man, I wasn't prepared for this season to come to such an abrupt end like that.

I was beyond livid last night, and pretty sour waking up (the 9 gallons of beer may have played a role in that) but I still think this team is capable of advancing further than the 2nd round. 1C is a glaring hole and will likely not be filled anytime soon, so until then they continue to role Granlund out there. I would have liked to seen Nino establish himself as more of a primary goal scorer this season and into the playoffs, but that never came about. I think he'd fit in well on that top line, replacing Pomminville who I absolutely despise after this season. He is so soft with the puck and on the boards, but his shooting has always made up for that. Now he suddenly can't hit the broad side of a barn most nights. So frustrating to see him playing top minutes and powerplay.
I give all the credit to the Blackhawks and coach Q, I don't think there's a team in the league that can beat them when they play like they did for the majority of this series. Having said that, the big money guys and so called leaders of this team were nowhere to be found. Koivu and Suter have proven that they are not reliable playoff performers, look at the numbers, it's shocking. And yet they are supposedly the best options this team has to put on the ice.
We all know Vanek is just not very good anymore and will be tough to watch for another 2 seasons. Coyle at times looks like the promising power forward he was hyped up to be, then he disappears and plays as if he is Spurgeon's size. He can be so strong with the puck, but finishing he cannot.
I think the Dubnyk we saw in the postseason is more in line with the type of goalie he will be moving forward. I'm okay with him being the guy, so long as he isn't being paid a ton. For him to be successful this team has to play their game to a "T" otherwise he shows his true colors... a good, not great netminder

Sadly, in order to advance, this team is going to have to rely on another WC team to knock the Hawks out of the playoffs, and who knows what a series with the Ducks would be like

Man, I wasn't prepared for this season to come to such an abrupt end like that.

I was beyond livid last night, and pretty sour waking up (the 9 gallons of beer may have played a role in that) but I still think this team is capable of advancing further than the 2nd round. 1C is a glaring hole and will likely not be filled anytime soon, so until then they continue to role Granlund out there. I would have liked to seen Nino establish himself as more of a primary goal scorer this season and into the playoffs, but that never came about. I think he'd fit in well on that top line, replacing Pomminville who I absolutely despise after this season. He is so soft with the puck and on the boards, but his shooting has always made up for that. Now he suddenly can't hit the broad side of a barn most nights. So frustrating to see him playing top minutes and powerplay.
I give all the credit to the Blackhawks and coach Q, I don't think there's a team in the league that can beat them when they play like they did for the majority of this series. Having said that, the big money guys and so called leaders of this team were nowhere to be found. Koivu and Suter have proven that they are not reliable playoff performers, look at the numbers, it's shocking. And yet they are supposedly the best options this team has to put on the ice.
We all know Vanek is just not very good anymore and will be tough to watch for another 2 seasons. Coyle at times looks like the promising power forward he was hyped up to be, then he disappears and plays as if he is Spurgeon's size. He can be so strong with the puck, but finishing he cannot.
I think the Dubnyk we saw in the postseason is more in line with the type of goalie he will be moving forward. I'm okay with him being the guy, so long as he isn't being paid a ton. For him to be successful this team has to play their game to a "T" otherwise he shows his true colors... a good, not great netminder

Sadly, in order to advance, this team is going to have to rely on another WC team to knock the Hawks out of the playoffs, and who knows what a series with the Ducks would be like
- SotaPopinski

Feeling your pain Sota but conversely disagree with at least part of your take. Koivu and Suter not the major problems on this squad. Personally I still believe Yeo is the main issue. Unable to adjust in times of adversity whether in game or between games. We've witnessed on more than one occasion the bipolar-like highs and lows of this team. You never saw this kind of up and down type of play when Lemaire was at the helm and he never had close to this level of talent to work with.

My personal belief is that this club will never be a true "cup contender" with Yeo as skipper. JMO though...

Feeling your pain Sota but conversely disagree with at least part of your take. Koivu and Suter not the major problems on this squad. Personally I still believe Yeo is the main issue. Unable to adjust in times of adversity whether in game or between games. We've witnessed on more than one occasion the bipolar-like highs and lows of this team. You never saw this kind of up and down type of play when Lemaire was at the helm and he never had close to this level of talent to work with.

My personal belief is that this club will never be a true "cup contender" with Yeo as skipper. JMO though...
- MnGump

Koivu and Suter have consistently disappeared in the playoffs throughout their careers, no matter who their coach was. Koivu was invisible throughout most of this postseason, Suter made some glaring mistakes that your #1 dman cannot make.
I see the on ice performance being more of a concern than the on bench performance.
Having said that, you know full well my feelings on Yeo and I wouldn't shed a single tear if he were to leave. Just don't see a coaching change after 3 straight playoff appearances, 2 of which making it to the 2nd round.

Congrats Minny fans on a great season ... While a sweep was not expected , this series was much closer in reality .... You guys are just a few horses short again , which is perplexing after the first two series against us should of revealed to upper management that you needed to take a few chances and get some game breakers on your team . I like your coach , I like your scheme , its proven to work at least in the regular season , and was good enough to bounce the blues out ( Thank You ) so I dunno . Dubnyk was okay but you may want to rethink about keeping him long term . He let some softies in for sure this series which really didn't help your goal scoring problem . But thats it right there ... Goal Scoring ... You need more of it ... Game breakers ... Same story every year with you guys
...Your really close but .........

Cheers

Congrats Minny fans on a great season ... While a sweep was not expected , this series was much closer in reality .... You guys are just a few horses short again , which is perplexing after the first two series against us should of revealed to upper management that you needed to take a few chances and get some game breakers on your team . I like your coach , I like your scheme , its proven to work at least in the regular season , and was good enough to bounce the blues out ( Thank You ) so I dunno . Dubnyk was okay but you may want to rethink about keeping him long term . He let some softies in for sure this series which really didn't help your goal scoring problem . But thats it right there ... Goal Scoring ... You need more of it ... Game breakers ... Same story every year with you guys
...Your really close but .........

Cheers
- HurriKane

Thanks HK. With how close the series was with the Hawks last year, our FO was hoping that the experience would help with the growth of our youngsters. On top of that Vanek was added to bring in more goal scoring. It was a gamble that now looks like it will not be paying off. I credit Fletcher for at least going out and trying to improve this roster- so many times you see GM's go the patience route and miss their window of opportunity- it just seems that many of his moves have come up short and now they find themselves inching closer and closer to the cap and also with few draft picks at their disposal.