Dan Wallace: Pre-season Wild Focus On Special Teams

Wasn't Wild's penalty kill perfect through 4 games last year in the pre-season?

Pre-season stats; special team stats particularly, mean absolutely nothing as far as what things will be like in the regular season. Good or bad.

I have Minnesota finishing 4th in the Central behind STL 1, Col 2, DAL 3.

Shady, it's good to see you back. Ya got a little silent there at the end of the year.

I see this season going just about like last season, with the Avs #1 (just soooo much talent on that roster), then the Wild and Blues slugging it out for the #2 spot. If I could say 2A and 2B, that's how I would go. But something tells me that the Blues will end up #2 and the Wild #3. I have a bit of a problem with everyone looking at a pretty big slide from the Wild this season because of the loss of Fialalalala (not going to get to type much anymore). Fiala wasn't leading the Wild on a nightly basis until Boldy was on board. And watching this pre-season, Boldy appears to be even stronger on the puck than last year. I really think Boldy is the type of player that lifts up the play of guys who skate with him. Made Fiala go from good to very good. And Gaudreau from an afterthought to a decent role player. I really believe Boldy was the catalyst of that line last year.

I know that opening night lineups are generally nowhere near what they will be throughout the season, but here is what I would like to see to start the season (even though I know it's not going to happen). These is until injured players are back, though I wouldn't have a problem with Greenway being traded away once he is back.

Kaprizov/Hartman/Zuccarello
Steel/Rossi/Boldy
Foligno/Eriksson-Ek/Gaudreau
Duhaime/Jost/Dewar

With Gaudreau centering the 4th line when Greenway comes back, with Evason playing the hot hand/matchup game with the 4 players for the 4th line.

Middleton/Spurgeon
Brodin/Dumba
Gologoski/Sustr (yes, I still think Addison's defensive warts outweigh his PP potential)

Almost forgot to add, GUMP, did you see Stalock is back playing? I bet you were overcome with joy!

Thanks Gusrichards! No one has yelled at me yet for predicting Dallas to finish ahead of the Wild but It's early yet.

I must say that Dean Evason should have been coach of the year last season, Talk about getting to most out of that group.

I didn't think Evason would even be considered last year. A COTY should generally be able to fix their special teams during the season. That didn't happen. But here's hoping that the Wild have a better season than last year and that it's the start of several dominant season going forward.