Bill Guerin is working to make the Wild a better more competitive team this off-season. He was very vocal stating the Wild are not fast enough and lack the skill necessary to compete when the games mean the most.

Guerin also was critical of the Wild goaltending saying that if he said any different, he would be lying. That refreshing approach is great to hear, but making the changes to an aging roster is not exactly that easy to accomplish.

Guerin also acknowledged something we have talked about here quite often over thw years and that is a much needed change in the Wild culture. There is a fine line between winning and losing and much of it has to do with how hard players go to battle for each other regardless of there seniority or lack there of.

I heard an interesting comment from former Blackhawk turned TV analyst, Patrick Sharp, when he told how the Hawks referred to Brandon Saad as "man-child" in their room due to him playing far beyond his years. We all know how that ended up with the ultimate prize.

Mikko Koivu has been quite a player and leader by example for a very long time and there are still some that would like to see the captain brought back for one more season, albeit at a greatly reduced price I am not in that camp by any stretch as the Wild need to turn that page and see the next generation of Wild players take their place as the leaders that will take this team back to respectability.

Guerinbjas his hands full in trying to make over a roster that has Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon and Mats Zuccarello all locked up for significant dollars for the next four seasons and beyond.

Guerin inherited a difficult cap situation with Suter, Parise, and the freshly signed Zuccarello, but he compounded the issue with his seven year deal to Spurgeon which kicks in this coming season. Spurgeon is outstanding and as underrated as a player can be in the NHL. He plays in every situation and former Wild head coach used to refer to Spurgeon as the team barometer. Quite the compliment and well deserved I may add.

That said the contract extension was and is for far too long for a team that already had it's proverbial hands tied with current contracts.

This off-season Guerin will have some cap room with which to work with Koivu and Alex Galchenyuk off the books, however he is going to have to work out new deals with restricted free agents, Luke Kunin and Jordan Greenway and also work on a contract for Carson Soucy who is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Jonas Brodin and more importantly Kevin Fiala are entering the final years of their deals and will command long term extensions before they hit free agency.

Throw in the expansion draft scenario and this will be an off-season like no other we have seen.

Eric Staal is also entering the final year of his contract as is Marcus Foligno. Foligno Moreno than Staal is likely to be offered a new deal and quite honestly may very well be the Wild's next captain.

I'm not sure that is the best solution as to me Luke Kunin possesses the qualities needed to be the captain and eventually should be the one to wear the "C". I'm not sure that happens immediately but should be the move that is eventually made to turn the page fully with this team.

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