The Wild and the neverending search for offense.

SAINT PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Wild looked like one of the teams to beat in the early part of the 2011-12 campaign but as they have in recent   years fell short of a playoffs spot and, like the fans, have to look forward to the upcoming 2012 NHL Entry Draft like the rest of us. The Wild have the seventh overall pick and should be in a good position to add to a roster in dire need of offense.
Last season the Wild ranked dead last in offense but ranked 13^th in defense, 27^th on the power play, and 15^th on the penalty kill. The Wild have long been known for its defensive minded teams but for whatever reason have fallen short on the offensive side of the ice.
Be it team philosophy, or just plain lack of talent, the Wild have to improve on last season’s poor offensive outing. The Wild had only two players, Dany Heatley (24) and Kyle Brodziak (22) who had over 20 goals.   Only four other players had over 10 goals. Most of the points came from right wingers and centers with Heatley, a left winger, being the exception to the rule.
In the pipeline, Mikael Grandlund, Charlie Coyle, Jason Zucker, Johan Larsson, and Zack Phillips wait in the wings. Most of the players listed will get a long look come training camp with a least two of them making the roster.  
One defense the team is solid but could use could use a bruiser on the backline. That said, the Wild have three UFA’s that need to be resigned along with one RFA. Other than Jonas Brodin the Wild have a need for another future blue chip prospect on the back end.
That said look for Minnesota to go for offense early and often come draft day.   The Wild could go for centers Radek Faksa and Brendan Gaunce, left winger Teuvo Teravainen, and right winger Sebastian Collberg.   If left winger is more of a priority then Teravainen could be the pick despite being only 5’ 11”, but he is not the only smallish player left on the board.   Collberg is the same height and could be the more dynamic scorer but right wingers are not as big an area of need as on left.   Teravainen did dominate as a junior before being promoted to SM-Liiga,
The wild might not worry about size as much as skill and realistically they probably won’t make a bad pick regardless of who is left on the board.   With that said, expect the following announcement come draft day.
“With the seventh overall pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota Wild select, from the Finish Elite League, Teuvo Teravainen.”
To learn more about Teuvo Teravainen click here .
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at Lewis.Bleiman@prohockeynews.com