Games like last night are going to happen over the course of an 82 game season, but they may be more likely to occur for a team that is built like the Wild. They have gotten production from up and down the lineup all season but when things don't quite click with a roster built this way the results are not always going to be favorable.
Yes, the Wild have some top end talent with Kaprizov and Fiala, however neither is filling the net with any kind of regularity and to be quite honest, both have been rather pedestrian thus far through the first 15 games of the season.
Fact is the Wild are 10-5-0 and have not gotten the production from either of their top scorers, that they had envisioned before the season began.
Kaprizov is the more notable here in the fact that the star winger was rewarded with a five year $9M per season contract after playing in just 55 games in the NHL. Yes he dazzled in most of those contests and looked to be the real deal and the chip in which the Wild will build around.
There is no reason at to believe that is not the case as Kaprizov has World Class talent and things are going to click for him for sure. However he does need some support in the form of a bona fide playmaking center to really tap his true potential.
Joel Eriksson Ek started the season with Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello and then Freddy Gaudreau was inserted between the two. The results have been the same and last night Ryan Hartman got the call toncenter the Wild top line in the third period and the results were more of the same.
Kaprizov was far better last season partly because he was a hawk on the puck in all three zones on the ice. We have not seen that from him this season as of yet.
It was interesting the comment that Sharks head coach, Bob Boughner, made about his talented winger Timo Meier, who has been lighting up the scoreboard despite missing five games due to COVID-19. Meter who scored a goal and added an assist last night now has 14 points through 10 games played this season. Boughner said that Meier has bought into the defensive side of the game and the harder he works there the less time he has to play in the D zone.
The same can be said about the Kaprizov and Fiala which in turn will provide offensive opportunities for the Wild's top scorers.
So is it time for GM, Bill Guerin, to be looking to make a move to add a playmaker to his roster?
We know Marco Rossi is the heir apparent and that the Wild would really prefer that he hone his skills for at least this season in Iowa. So the best option at this juncture is via the trade market.
Let's keep things in perspective of course, last night was one loss, however the Wild have higher aspirations for down the road this season, and to be honest this team is still does not have the makeup of a team that can win in a playoff series.
Tough games ahead so good wakeup call last night, or sign of things to come?