The Minnesota Wild have been a team in flux and that’s not a good thing. The Wild have had successful regular seasons but each has ended with a thud in the playoffs.
For a stretch of seasons, the Chicago Blackhawks were the club’s nemesis in the post 
season but now it is likely anyone will knock them out.
Bruce Boudreau was hired as head coach after Mike Yeo failed in the post season and the story was the same for the Wild and Boudreau not being able to get out of the first round.
July 29 saw the Wild avoid arbitration with Nino Niederreiter when the two sides signed a five-year deal worth $26.25 million total.
“Nino has had a big impact on our club during the last four seasons and we’re very happy to know that will continue in the future,” general manager Chuck Fletcher said in a press release. “He’s grown into his role as one of the offensive leaders of this group, and his shot and net-front presence will continue to play a major role in our team’s success. Nino has a great attitude and personality, and we know our fans will be as happy as we are about this news.”
Minnesota still has work to do with arbitration scheduled this week with Mikael Granlund.
With just over $10 million in cap space they need to sign Granlund and restricted free agent Marcus Folgino.
Boudreau is looking forward to the restricted free agents to be signed in the fold for a few years.
“They’re the glue that’s going to hold us together,” Boudreau said on NHL.com. “All three of those guys had great years last year, so we’re looking forward for them to be part of the Wild organization for a lot of years to come.”
Other restricted free agents have been signed to bargain contracts including Mike Reilly, Zack Mitchell, Zach Palmquist, and Kurtis Gabriel.
“Once we find out what goes on here, then the dominoes will start to fall,” Boudreau said.
The Wild signed goaltender Niklas Svedberg to a one-year deal, two-way deal. Svedberg played in the KHL last season and last iced with the NHL in Boston for the Bruins from 2013 to 2015.
Statistically, the Wild had a good season ranking second in the league at 3.21 goals a game scored and seventh in goals against at 2.51.
The power play was ninth in the league at 21% efficiency and the penalty kill was ranked eighth.
The Wild pushed most of the season and were at or near the top of the Central Division but a late season swoon saw them fold and fall almost to the point of losing a playoff berth as the Chicago Blackhawks, St Louis Blues and Nashville Predators pushed them hard.
In the end, the Blues, with Yeo behind the bench, brushed aside a gassed Wild team in five games.
There was plenty of finger pointing including at Boudreau for his coaching style and inability to escape the first round with his teams.
Boudreau will need to set up his number one goalie, Devan Dubnyk, and ride him to the post season. Boudreau has had a history of sticking his finger in the pot late each season to disturb the rhythm of his goalies.
That needs to stop for the Wild to succeed.
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