Up next in 10
Host Matthew Zator welcomes Minnesota Wild writer Mariah Stark (Holland) to The Hockey Writers Roundtable to preview the upcoming 2024-25 NHL season.
0:00 Intro
0:51 Forwards - Big Storylines/Burning Questions
7:28 Wild's Defense
12:20 Goaltending - Filip Gustavsson & Marc-Andre Fleury
18:34 How do the Wild stack up in the Central Division?
Quick Fire
21:01 Biggest Storyline/Question Mark
21:29 Breakout Stars
22:02 One Player That Needs to Bounce Back
22:30 Potential X-Factors
22:51 Rookie/Prospect That Could Surprise & Make the Team
22:13 Prospects to Watch
24:17 Who will lead the team in scoring (forwards & defense)?
24:36 Bold Prediction/Hot Take
Follow Mariah's work -
Mariah Stark (Holland) - https://thehockeywriters.com/author/mholland/
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0:00
Hello, everybody
0:02
And welcome into another season preview show in the Hawk Raiders YouTube channel
0:06
And we are up to the Minnesota Wild. And I've got Mariah Stark here
0:10
I covers, has been covering the Wild for as long as I can remember on the site here
0:15
And now she's credentialed with the team going into this season. So that's long time coming
0:21
So Mariah, how's it going? Well, thank you for that. And I'm terrified at the same time
0:28
But it's, oh, this. offseason has blown by and not blown by at the same time
0:33
But I'm excited for it to get started. That's for sure. Yes
0:38
We were talking off before we started recording how much the offseason just drags on
0:43
And it's hard to get going and we're finally getting going here
0:47
So all right, well, let's talk about the Minnesota Wild. And we'll start with their forward group because, I mean, not much changes
0:54
Actually, I'm looking at it, not really any changes. When you're looking at their main group of forwards going to the
0:59
this season. So what do you think about the group? Is it, is it good enough to return to the
1:04
playoffs? Obviously, they have a new head coach for a full season to start now. So he'll get his
1:11
training camp in. He'll get all that systems going. What do you think about the forwards going to
1:15
this season? So I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing that they didn't change. I love our
1:23
grouping. I really do. I'm disappointed. Okay. So we're going to go back to the trade deadline last
1:29
year and i missed doheim and doer those two were like one of the best fourth line combinations
1:37
in my opinion but obviously with the wilds cap situation something had to go and those two did
1:42
but they did add um i don't know if i'm going to say his name right but um yeah
1:49
trennan i'm just going to say last night trennan i don't know how to say his first name i'm
1:54
sorry. And I'm excited about his, like, he's got size, and I'm not super familiar with him, but I started
2:02
watching some of his highlight reels. And I like his defensive game. He's not a super big point
2:08
producer, but the wild needs size. Polino's getting older, as much as I love Moose, he's getting
2:15
older, and he was really the only size they had outside of Du Ham and, honestly, Duer, even though he was
2:20
small. So they need someone to kind of say, you know, back off. Don't mess with our players
2:27
And I'm excited to see what he can bring. Yeah. I mean, I think it's Yakov
2:33
Trenton. I may be saying it wrong too. But I, he is, he was really good for the, for the
2:41
avalanche at the end the season there once it came over from the Predators. It was really good
2:45
with the Predators, too. So I think he could be a really good bottom six guy. But
2:50
yeah that's all it really changed although you know having a full season of kuzendinov who had a
2:56
really good stint when he came over from the khl and you know caprice up we know we all know what he's
3:02
going to bring he's going to score goals and that's what he does uh marco rossi had a you know
3:07
had a great sophomore sophomore sophomore season yes or was that his rookie season
3:12
it well it's it was technically his rookie season because the first season he didn't hit that threshold
3:20
Right, right. It felt like it was his second season. It is his rookie season, it's full season, first season
3:27
He was really good. So, I mean, he's really kind of taken that mantle
3:31
We've talked about in the past of him needing to be that first line center
3:34
I think he has now completely changed into that type of guy that could be that
3:40
And I'm really happy for him because of all the stuff he's going to deal with injury-wise. So that's great
3:45
And then Eric Seneck, of course, we all know how dependable he is
3:49
I think this group is still pretty good on the forward side
3:53
I mean, yes, like you said, maybe it's a bad thing that didn't change anything
3:58
But I don't know. I think they're still pretty good group. Yeah, I love their core
4:04
I do. It's just after last season, it's kind of like. But they did have a ton of injuries
4:11
So it's not fair to completely blame them and getting a new coach
4:15
Like I talked about this. I was on a podcast this weekend. And we kind of talked about how
4:19
when a new coach comes in there's usually a kind of a win streak that follows because it's like okay
4:25
the coach went who could else go if we don't kick it into gear and i mean it was great and i really
4:31
liked how hinds kind of took control he didn't force his game onto the like his style he kind of
4:38
sat back watched what they did saw the combinations got to know the players and then started
4:43
feeling comfortable with what he wanted to do and i love i loved evison i love and you know this
4:49
I love him. And I was sad to see him go, but sometimes I just got to move on
4:55
And, like, I've talked to a few people. He's a really good coach for, like, the younger groups of kids, or they're up and
5:02
coming where he can get them to the place where they are, where the wild, it's a little bit
5:06
yeah, they have a ton of young guys, but they also have a big veteran corps, who didn't
5:11
necessarily respond to Evison's style as well. So with Heinz, he's able to kind of, he makes changes
5:17
And he, when he gets fed up, it's like, okay. okay, you're doing this even if it's totally horrible, we're going to try it
5:23
That way we can get rid of it. And he wasn't afraid to make those moves. And I liked that
5:27
And the fact that he took the time to get to know the players and kind of let them set the tone really kind of showed that, you know
5:33
he understands the player's side too where it's like, well, we're on the ice, you're not kind of thing
5:39
So it was, I think once he's, like you said, he's got the full offseason to kind of
5:46
kind of create the team the way he wanted. and, I mean, they let Darby Hendrickson go
5:52
Another hit to my heart as a Minnesota, but I understood him having to leave
5:56
and I'm excited to see where he is. I believe he went to Nashville with Brunette
6:00
Yeah. So they're kind of creating their own little Minnesota Wild regime
6:05
in Nashville. But I'm excited to see Jack Capano. Capuano, yeah. I'm horrible with names
6:16
but I'm excited to see what he can bring too. They've added little pieces here and there to not shake the whole roster
6:25
but enough to make it where they just adjustments they needed to make And I definitely think they can make it to the postseason as long as they avoid injuries and stay consistent with their play Yeah I think I think that the key thing
6:40
And I think the biggest thing is that full training camp offseason that, you know
6:46
that Heinz had and he can set his system in motion right away right from the beginning
6:53
of the season rather than having to do in season, which is really tough to do when
6:58
you're trying to win games and you're ready behind the eight ball you've got to win it's it's
7:02
really tough so i i think it's a big thing having that training camp um because i know how it did with
7:08
talk it here in vancouver he had his full full training camp after having such a good end of the season
7:13
so yeah i think it could happen the same way because he's got a good group to work with
7:18
forward wise and you know not every team has a caprice off to lean on and that's huge so there you go
7:26
All right, moving to the defense, which again, didn't see many changes
7:30
Brock Faber is now leading the group. I mean, you're looking at Jared Spurgeon, who is, of course, leading the group too
7:36
I mean, but I think Favors the next wave. What do you think about the defense
7:41
Is it good enough? This season, again, they didn't do anything to upgrade it or downgrade it because they
7:47
didn't remove anyone. Is it still, is it good enough to be in the playoffs
7:53
Again, injuries, but I love Brock. Faber. He is, him and Caprisoff are kind of like
8:02
like Caprisoff used to be way above everybody. Faber's right there. I mean
8:06
I'm the unofficial official, president of his band club. So, but he
8:12
watching him last year, obviously, going against Connor Bedard for the Calder
8:18
I mean, I had some really optimistic hope that he was going to beat
8:23
Badard, but realistically I knew it wasn't going to happen. just, it's badard
8:27
Like, it's, there's just, it happens. But he was phenomenal and just, even when he got his first six games prior to that last season
8:39
it was amazing, watching him just step into the playoffs, like he was a season veteran as a
8:44
defensive defenseman at 40 years old. Like, who is this guy? And he just, he just kept finding ways to step it up and he had
8:55
I think I had what was it 47 points I think he had last season it's like what first full
9:03
season defenseman as a rookie does that yeah I need be okay I'm going to go on a favor rant here but
9:09
so spurgeon gets injured find out later full he'll be out for the full season he needs
9:16
hip and back surgery brodine's been out for off and on all season sometimes at the same time as Spurgeon
9:26
The rest of the defense was solid, but not good enough to be that top
9:32
So he took the top spot over other veteran players, and he was running the defensive
9:37
core, the first power play, and the penalty kill. So sometimes all in one game, plus playing 30 plus minutes a game
9:45
This guy was like the Energizer Bunny and couldn't stop. And thankfully, the wild kind of realized, okay, if we keep going at this rate, we're going to
9:52
burn this poor kid out. Yeah. like lessen his responsibilities a little bit and put it on some of the like middleton is great
9:58
i love his personality he's kind of up and down as a defenseman but he is solid like defensively
10:07
galagosky and maryl i'd rather not discuss that they're they're they're up and down and
10:18
Galagoski obviously is almost 40 years old, so he's getting towards the end of the career
10:23
I'm pretty sure the Wilde did not re-sign him. So he's either off to another team or he's done
10:30
Merrill, on the other hand, I know has longer on his contract. I don't know how long. But, and I'm blanking on our other deals
10:38
But, yeah, I think they're really good, solid defensively. I mean, having Spurgeon and Brodine is one thing, but having
10:48
favor as well plus middleton you've got a great top four the final two it's kind of up in the air they
10:56
do have some guys that could maybe crack the lineup possibly but it's kind of where they're at the
11:03
point where it's like well do we keep them down or do we move them up yeah yeah i just i love favor
11:10
yeah i i i've said it before too i i love favor i wanted him wanted them to get on the canucks
11:18
to acquire him from the Kings way back when. And then they traded him to the wild
11:23
And I'm like, all right. I guess that dream's dead. But, yeah, favor's been, I mean, he's been phenomenal, like you said
11:31
He's been probably, I thought he deserved the Calder. But the thing is, Bedard
11:40
I mean, that's just how, unfortunately, it's just that's how it was going to be
11:45
If Badard had a good season, he was going to win it. And he had a good season
11:50
Rightfully so. Yeah. And favor deserved the votes he did get and, you know, nomination, which, I mean
11:56
he had just had a phenomenal season. 47 points for a guy that I never really thought had that much offense in his game
12:02
I thought he was no good defensive defenseman. He's going to get maybe 20, 30 points, but not closing in on 50
12:09
That's just really, I mean, he's now a better defenseman. I thought he was going to be
12:15
You're going to love my bold prediction at the end. All right
12:18
Well, let's, before we get there, let's talk about goaltending. Again, this is a same tandem repeating
12:26
Mark Andre Fleury returning again. He doesn't want to retire, apparently. He is going to be backing up Gustafsson, who had this not that good of a season from his first one
12:37
And then you've got Jesper Walshdad still waiting in the wings there
12:41
He had his season debut wasn't that good. That first game was horrible
12:46
But then they're really good. Didn't he get a shut out in his last start
12:51
Yeah. So, I mean, he's rebounded from that. What do you think about this three-headed
12:56
Is it a three-headed monster this season? Or is it going to be mostly Gustafin Flurry
13:02
So okay This is a long one I love Flurry I really do i don think there a person on this earth that doesn like him but i was on the side of okay it time to retire and move on the wild
13:18
need to move and it's not so much that he's not a great player because he is i mean being 40
13:24
and playing at the level he is i would love to even have a fraction of that talent but
13:31
it's you got to make room for other guys yeah i understand keeping him and the fact that he's a
13:37
great person to learn from and after gustafsson last season i can see why they kept him yeah but then i also
13:46
saw the trade rumors and assumed gustavson was going to be long gone at this point and i love gustavson
13:52
too but and i i can't remember what article i read but he did say he struggled a lot mentally off and on
13:58
that's what the big part of the game was. He just couldn't keep a consistent mindset
14:04
So this offseason, he's been really working hard. And I just read an article from the Russo
14:09
and I think Joe Smith might have helped on it, but about what this goalie situation is going to be
14:16
and that they're thinking Flurry can have 40 games. I'm just like, um, 40 for a 40-year-old, okay
14:25
It hasn't been done a lot, but it's been done. and I'm kind of nervous because Flurry, what was it, two seasons ago when we had Talbot still, was like, well, I would rather just play the second half of stuff that all the time
14:41
Like I like my rest days. But, and like I said, this is just complex
14:48
I don't know. Obviously, I'm excited for Walstead. And they're planning on giving him some games from what I've read
14:56
they're going to try this three goalie tandem, I guess. I really don't know what to expect
15:02
I guess Flurry is technically the starter. And then Gustafson and Walsett are going to kind of
15:08
if Gustafsson bounces back, I think it flips and Flurry kind of back up
15:14
But it's just like, and the other thing is the cap space
15:18
Yeah. When they bring Walsdid up, they're going to have $500,000 in cap. We were playing it tight before
15:26
And I like all three of them when they're on. They're fantastic
15:31
Each one individually is great. And obviously, Wollstead only had a handful of games
15:38
And his first game, the Dallas game, that was just unfair. Yeah, his team did not show up
15:44
They're just like, oh, new goalie, we're going to just see what he can do. And just no defense, nothing
15:49
That was just, I felt so bad for him in that game. I'm like
15:54
you guys really just don't want him to play for you, do you? But then they gave him some other times, and he's a phenomenal, and once he got comfortable
16:03
and seeing what the defense, like how their systems work and everything, he's going to fit right in
16:09
I just don't, I'm not comfortable with Flurry and 40 games. Anyway, I'm curious to see what happens
16:19
I really am, and I mean, I guess they can always trade Gustafson later if they really want to
16:25
but that leaves no one. I mean, they need another goalie with Walshead
16:32
And I know they drafted somebody, but we know the draft. It's typically a ways until they actually play
16:38
So, yeah, I'm not exactly sure what to think. I did, I thought I saw, though
16:44
that after this season, Flurry is retiring. I think his farewell, hurrah
16:50
and the wild, I love them, I love them, but do not re-signate
16:55
No, yeah. Unless he takes him all the way to the cup, we're done
17:00
Yeah. I love Flurry, too. I think he's one of those guys that he seems to be like
17:07
he doesn't want to retire, but he's got to retire eventually. I understand wanting to play, but at some point
17:15
your body's just got to be like thought. Yeah. So we'll see
17:19
I want to see Walshead as the starter of this team eventually
17:23
and he probably will be. spoiler alert he's now the number two prospect on my goal tending prospect list rankings wise he has usurped wolf because i
17:33
didn't i'm kind of iffy on wolf now after his season last year but again the guy in front of
17:40
the team in front of it wasn't that good but waltsted i think has now i'm just thinking he just
17:46
has a bit more higher upside now and i want to see him as a full time but again i mean maybe he's
17:51
not ready to be that yet. And he, again, he's only been in the
17:55
HL, what, two seasons now? So. Yeah, about that. Yeah. So really, it may be a little too soon
18:03
But he has a lot of upside. I'm really excited to see him. He's got a great personality, too
18:10
Listening to his interviews, oh, he's just so, just calm, level-headed and just confident
18:20
I guess I shouldn't say spoiler. alert because it's already out by the time people are wondering
18:24
watching this. It'll be out on the side. So it won't be. But yeah, it's going to be interesting to see how they kind of juggle those three
18:32
goaltenders this year. All right. Let's talk about the division because this division is really tough
18:38
And you're adding national predators who've added Stephen Stamco's and Jonathan Marciusoe to that team
18:45
And there were pretty good before. So the wild obviously didn't make
18:51
the playoffs are they and where are they in this division right now because like i say there's
18:59
so many good teams that are just going to they may have to fight for a wild card spot they're
19:03
going to be making the playoffs that's what we talked about this weekend we're on the podcast we're like
19:08
well they've got the avalanche the stars the jets and the predators they're kind of probably
19:13
are on the same level as the blues yeah and i mean that's typical that's what it's been for the last
19:18
few years outside of the Predators, I guess, but it always seems like it comes down to the blues
19:25
Yeah. Always something like the Blues or the Stars. But, I mean, I personally think they're going to be fighting for a wildcard spot
19:33
Optimistic me is like oh they make it in Realistic Yeah it going to be tough because I mean you got all the teams that made it in the postseason last year and granted some of them didn do the greatest but i mean avalanche won
19:48
the cup two seasons ago yeah three now right will be three yeah because i was like it was the night
19:58
the golden nights and florida yeah i'm just like oh my god it seems like it's i'm just blind
20:04
the team I'm kind of curious about is the Jets. Like I'm not quite sure because the wild always play them really hard and really physical
20:14
They have a vendetta against Capriza, just going to say. They've injured him twice
20:20
But it's going to be a battle and they have to be ready for that and they have to win the games
20:25
They have to win. They can't just be, oh, we're going to just slough off against this team
20:29
It's got to be every single game has to be a battle if they want to make it in
20:33
Yeah. 100% and that that's I think every division really you're looking at all these division they all
20:39
are going to be tough I mean the playoffs I mean there's going to be some new teams in the playoffs this
20:43
here again and some aren't going to make it that made it last season so it is going to be
20:48
an interesting one to watch that's for sure all right let's get to our quick fire around these
20:53
are just quick one or two sentence answers so we can go through this pretty quick here
20:59
first what's the biggest storyline or question mark going to to this season for the wild
21:07
Goaltending. Yeah. I think that's all I could say is goaltending. I was going to say that
21:13
We went through that. We went through that, yeah. I was going to say their consistency
21:18
but I mean, that's kind of every team. Yeah. Goaltending and refer to the conversation
21:23
We just had about the goaltending, why that is. All right. One or two breakout stars
21:31
I wanted to say favor, but he kind of already broke out yeah what more can he do 60 points 50 points
21:39
just wait uh i think leam olgren yeah i i mean i was going to say rossi who's
21:48
but i mean i can't i guess i could say who's nadina because he technically hasn't i mean he
21:54
played but he hasn't shown any so those two i guess i would say yeah there those are two good ones
22:00
there for sure all right someone that needs to bounce back there's probably a few candidates on this one i've got two johansen and gustavson yeah
22:10
yeah johansen jonson was okay i mean i he was put in a lot of situation i think he was maybe
22:18
had to do too much maybe he would he should have been lower in the lineup yeah yeah yeah so we'll see
22:26
we'll see where he kind of fits in this year all right uh x factor this season this could be a player
22:31
or it could be a situation. I'll say Brock Faber. Definitely an X factor
22:39
That's for sure. There was an X factor last season. I think he could be in that again
22:44
Yeah. All right. Let's talk some rookies prospects. I mean, there are actually some candidates here
22:50
A rookie or prospect that could surprise make the team out of training camp. I'm going to say Riley Hight
22:57
I like that one. I think he could definitely. again, a guy that DeWild got way too late
23:04
They shouldn't have got him there. He should have been drafted way sooner
23:08
But they've gotten a few of those guys lately. All right. Prospects that everyone should be watching outside of it
23:15
someone that could make the team. Dave Booyam. I love, oh my gosh, you know this
23:21
I loved him. I was watching the draft at work. I was at my work and we added on the TV
23:28
And I'm like, what are the wild doing? Why are they trading? Why has nobody picked Booiam yet
23:33
I watched him play in person at the NCHC tournament, and I was just blown away
23:37
And then all of a sudden they announced it. And I looked at my coworker. I'm like, they just said booium, didn't they
23:41
And he's like, yes. I'm like, yes. I am so for this
23:47
I am so excited. This is probably the most I've been excited since Caprisoff was drafted
23:51
Yeah. And again, I don't know how the wild got him where they got him
23:56
I'm okay with that. That's great. It's really great. Yeah, I'm really happy
24:02
I think he's going to end up, like, looking at a future top pairing of Faber and Boeem
24:08
because that's a really good pairing. That's going to be fun to watch
24:14
All right. This wasn't probably an easy one, but who leads the team in scoring
24:20
Gee, I wonder. There's so many options. Capriza. Yeah. Period. And defense
24:29
It's probably an easy one, too. Frock Faber. Yeah, I see. I second that too
24:35
All right, now I'll get to your bold prediction, hot take for this season
24:40
I have two and they both involve the players I just mentioned. I have Caprisoff getting 60 goals, hitting 120 or more points
24:48
And Faber, I have getting 20 goals and 60 points. Fabers maybe isn't quite as bold, but that's still a lot for a defense thing
24:56
The 20 goals is a bold part, I think. that's a big one i i don't see him as much of a goal score so yeah 20 goals would be pretty
25:03
crazy although queen hughes all of a sudden turns into a goal score now i don't know i didn't
25:09
think he would be able to do get almost 20 goals so i pass is too much these guys they they're
25:15
passing because just go to shoot get some goals that's how you get the norse trophy that's how
25:21
that's how hughes did so got to score all right well thanks maria for coming on talking the
25:27
Minnesota wild because again another interesting season they've got their exciting players they got
25:32
I mean they could have a team that could make the playoffs they're not a bad team they got good players
25:37
in every position so we'll see we'll see how that all does it's all injuries injuries turn their
25:45
head again you don't know and that's what happened last season so we'll have to wait and hopefully
25:50
everything goes right and the wild have a good season but make sure check on everything at the
25:54
hockey darts.com we got the substack we got all that fun stuff over there. Make sure you're checking out all throughout the season and Mariah's work as
26:01
she's going to be there covering the team for the first time. So you've got some more inside looks
26:06
So make sure you're checking out everything there. But until our next preview, we'll see you next time
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