SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin made a blanket statement to the 2021-22 team in the days leading up to the season opener: "It's about winning."
His team stepped up to the challenge, amassing 113 points in 53 wins en route to the best regular season in the Wild's 20-year history. Ten Wild players scored 10 or more goals. Kirill Kaprizov followed up an already impressive rookie season as the Calder Trophy winner by becoming the first player in Wild history to have more than 100 points, finishing with 108 (47 goals, 61 assists) through 81 games.
2022-23 Minnesota Wild Season Preview
It's Still About Winning
By
Jessi Pierce
NHL.com Independent Correspondent
Unfortunately, the end result was similar to stories written in the past, as the St. Louis Blues bested the Wild in six games in the Western Conference First Round, leaving Minnesota still chasing a second round of the playoffs as its done since its last appearance in 2015.
"I know everybody's determined this year to do better," said Guerin. "For me, I want to see the determination of the guys that were here last year and the focus and the drive to get better. We need to take another step."
The Wild return the bulk of the same team from the previous year. A few new additions, and the departure of a few other familiars, it's a new year with a similar vibe; It's still about winning.
"There's no expectations on individual players. We don't put numbers on goals or points. We put all emphasis on wins," said coach Dean Evason. "We didn't win in the crucial time and that's the playoffs. That's raised the bar. That's our bar. Our bar is to get to the Stanley Cup and as far as individuals, it'll shake out, right? Some guys are going to have career years; some guys aren't. We're just expecting everyone to compete hard and give ourselves a chance to win."
Projected Lineup
Kirill Kaprizov -- Ryan Hartman -- Mats Zuccarello
Tyson Jost -- Joel Eriksson Ek -- Marcus Foligno
Frederick Gaudreau -- Sam Steel -- Matt Boldy
Brandon Duhaime -- Marco Rossi -- Connor Dewar
Jonas Brodin -- Jared Spurgeon
Alex Goligoski -- Calen Addison
Injured*
Jordan Greenway
Jon Merrill
Opa Offense
It's hard to imagine Kaprizov surpassing his franchise record-setting year. The 25-year-old left wing has nowhere near reached his ceiling of production. He's focused on the now, not what was achieved personally for him last season.
"It was in last year. Now, a new year," said Kaprizov. "Every season I want to be better and better all the time, like team results and myself and my partners or something related."
Added Guerin, "I think he's got more. I think there's more. I really do. I don't think we've seen the most from Kirill. He's a special player."
For a third straight year Kaprizov will line up on the left side of Hartman, with Zuccarello on the right. Together, the team's top line led in point production with 105 goals and 252 points. Hartman had a career-high 65 points (previous best 31) and 34 goals (previous best 19) . Zuccarello a career-best 79 points (previous best 61) and 55 assists (previous best 44).
And they weren't alone. Eriksson Ek, Foligno, Boldy, Guadreau, Merrill and Brodin all had career years. Is that an anomaly, or is it the makeup of the new Minnesota Wild?
"That should be their goal," said Guerin. "You always want to keep getting better. Whether you surpass your point total or your goal total or whatever from the year before, we don't know if that's going to happen. You don't know if that's going to happen as a player, but that's what you aim for. Ryan Hartman got 34 goals last year, I think. He probably wants 35 this year and see what he can do. Whether he gets it, we don't know. The challenge has been issued. Hey, you know what, so many guys had career years, well do it again. We need you to do it again. Let that be the standard for your game because if you do it once, you can do it again."
Dumba, who was named an alternate captain last year, agreed with Guerin's assessment.
"I believe that's our team. That's the makeup of our team," said Dumba, who had seven goals and 20 assists in 57 games. "You got what I expected of those guys. Out of each other. So, for guys to have career years, that's great. But I think we all got more."
On the Blue Line
True to Minnesota form, the Wild continue to have a steadfast blue line. The addition of Middleton at last year's trade deadline, and his subsequent re-signing this offseason, added size to compliment Spurgeon and Brodin's puck movement, along with Dumba's blue line bomb and speed.
Helping fuel the offense, last year's defensemen were quick to jump into the play. That's the plan this year, too.
"It's just executing that and stick-on-puck and get going the other way," said Dumba of the defensive corps focus. "I mean, they can't score if we got the (puck)."
Adding to the mix of offensive capability will be Addison. The 22-year-old had four points in 15 games with the Wild last season, and is a power play specialist who will be an asset as the quarterback on the team's top unit this year.
"I think that's my biggest strength of my game is working the power play and having the puck on my stick and creating space for guys around me," Addison said. "Credit to the guys I'm with. It's pretty easy to make plays with guys like Kirill and (Hartman) and (Eriksson Ek), (Rossi) and the list goes on this team. It's a crazy offensive team and skilled team. Anytime you get to be out there, you just gotta take advantage of it."
In the Crease
Fleury gets to start from Day 1 with this Minnesota Wild team. Brought in from Chicago at the trade deadline last year, Fleury wasted no time stepping in to the winner's circle, splitting 50-50 with Cam Talbot before taking the reins in the Wild's first round exit.
In 11 regular season games, Fleury was 9-2-0 with a 2.74 goals-against average and .910 save percentage. This year, Fleury is the clear-cut No. 1 who will be getting the lion's share of game starts. At 37-years-old, Fleury admits that while his age might appear to be a discouraging factor, he would play every day if he could, and he's ready for whatever workload the team expects of him.
"Around the league, I don't think you see anyone playing 70 games anymore," said Fleury, who enters his 19th NHL season and is third all-time in wins (520). "So I think it's common to have both guys play. With injuries and stuff like that, we never know what can happen. For me, it's just one game. Coach tell me to go, I'll be ready and so on. I don't need to look too far ahead for a number."
Backing him up will be Gustavsson, acquired in a 1-for-1 trade with the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Cam Talbot.
Gustavsson is a fairly untested goalie. He was 5-12-1 with a 3.55 GAA and .892 save percentage in 18 NHL games (16 starts) last season, and was 11-6-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save percentage in 20 AHL games. The 24-year-old is 10-13-3 with a 3.12 GAA and .905 save percentage in a total of 27 NHL games.
And Gustavsson is ready to do more with Minnesota this year.
"It's a big year for me," Gustavsson said. "(It's the) last year of my contract, good opportunity here in Minnesota with a good team that can win a lot of games, so for me it's a super important year."
Taking the Next Step
With the loss of Kevin Fiala, who was traded to the Los Angeles Kings this summer in exchange for defenseman Brock Faber and the No. 19 pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft -- Liam Ohgren -- there leaves a big opportunity for forwards to leave their mark. With Fiala leaves 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists), but with players like Jost, Rossi and Boldy chomping at the bit, you can bet collectively those points will be made up for.
Jost, who was acquired last season in exchange for Nico Sturm in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche, was buried on the third and fourth line for most of the season. At 24 years old with a knack for speed, expect Jost to show his prowess and assert himself as a top-six forward, especially in the early season absence of Greenway.
"I know now that it's an opportunity to showcase my skill and what I can do," said Jost.
Fiala's former linemate, Boldy, already took a big step in his rookie season last year. The Massachusetts native had 15 goals and 39 points and was a large part of why his line with Fiala and Gaudreau was so successful. His vision and general hockey I.Q., along with glimmering passes, are just a few of the shining aspects of his game and you can expect to see that expand with more minutes this year.
And then there's Rossi. The 2020 ninth overall pick for Minnesota, he spent last year leading the Iowa Wild in assists (35), tied for first in points (53), and was fourth in goals (18) in 63 regular-season games. Rossi entered this year's training camp with confidence and comfort. Through several preseason games, he not only showcased his ability, but he looked like a seamless fit amongst NHL regulars. His will be a huge asset as one of the team's top centers, and will help elevate the Wild's power play.
"I'm more ready," said Rossi. "I have more experience from last year. Last year, everything was new for me. And this year, I'm coming in and know what's going to expect me. And I just try to prove everyone that I belong here."
The Last Word
"We're expecting our guys to compete to win, that's it," reiterated Evason. "Some guys are going to have great years, some guys maybe aren't, some guys are right in the middle. We just want guys to compete their butts off and we'll see where we sit at the end of the year as far as points and goals and all that kind of stuff. Obviously, you have to score goals to have a chance to win hockey games, but we're very happy with the group that we have."
The Minnesota Wild start the 2022-23 regular season on Thursday, October 13 when they host the New York Rangers at 7:00 p.m. Get your tickets now at
ticketmaster.com
.
