Last season the Wild were leading the Central Division and Western Conference heading into March. A 4-10-2 March left them well back of Chicago and set up the 1st round matchup with St. Louis which of course ended in a disappointing five games.
So fast forward the Wild entered March 2018 on a 5 game winning streak and one of the best records since November and the second most points since Christmas. Rolling right along right?
Well no! The two game road trip saw the Wild yield 4 3rd period goals in Arizona and then get absolutely torched last night in Colorado.
We have seen this all year long with this Wild team. It is very disturbing to see a veteran team just show absolutely no heart in so many of the lopsided losses.
We have talked about the issues the Wild have on more than one occasion but watching the team in these games where things are not going well, some really jump off the page.
The leadership is clearly lacking. No one expects the team to win every game, but to not even have a compete level is unacceptable.
I have said it many times before but watching Mikko Koivu consistently be kicked out of the face-off circle is alarming. The captain of the team refuses to make the necessary adjustments in his own game, so how does he expect his teammates to go above and beyond to help this team achieve collective success.
Last night Ryan Suter took an ill timed slashing penalty with the Wild on the powerplay late in the first with a chance to cut the Avalanche lead in half. Suter has a habit of taking those bad penalties at the worst times.
Suter and Koivu are very talented players and play the game hard, no one can dispute that. But they both play as if they are entitled and that they deserve better since they have achieved such lofty veteran status.
The Wild coaches all gush over both Koivu and Suter and continue to be blinded by the fact that neither one does much to make any of their teammates better.
Leadership will continue to be questioned until someone steps up and calls out the vets and holds them accountable.
A couple winnable home games coming up for the Wild, but at what point does Bruce Boudreau and his staff recognize the real issue here with the Wild is the leadership...or lack there of?
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