Where do we finish in the Central this year?

[NHL1674]

I think one big difference is that many teams in our division have at least one true game breaker. Dallas may be unbalanced but they've got some studs up front that can make up for it. The only teams I could see us finishing ahead of are the Jets and Avs. But I'm also a usual Negative Nancy, so take that for what it's worth.

 

[gphr513]

Just watched the Game 7 highlights vs. the Avs with my roommate to get pumped for hockey season. Hopefully all will be right with the world and we at least finish ahead of them

 

[57special]

This is EXACTLY where I'm at. I haven't been this pessimistic in a long while. I think we're in the lottery for the next few years.

Our top players are aging. Age is great for cheeses and wine, not hockey players.

We will not be a bad team. Too much mid level talent. Just a team that won't contend for a Cup, unless something unforeseen happens(i.e. Nino with 40g, Granlund with 65 pts., Parise stays healthy and gets 73 pts.)

 

[Nharris31]

Alright I'm guessing 3rd. Usually when people (National Media) are down the Wild they always seem to proof them wrong. Also Analytics.
Off topic but a lot of people rip on the Wild for being old but this Chicago top 3 defense by age Becuase I'm not sure who the fourth person is.
33-31
29
Also Dallas forwards are kind of old too
Spezza-33
Sharp-34
Hudler-32
Hemsky-33
Eaves-32

I mean this things she be talked about more.

 

[Lapa]

Am I the only one who isn't that high on Nashville?

 

[Wabit]

Am I the only one who isn't that high on Nashville?

I'm high on them, but could see their season go horribly wrong. Not a lot of scoring, and Pekka Rinne is a big question, solid defense. They could come out on the wrong side of a lot of 1g games, the PP might really have to carry the team (Josi and P.K could be deadly).

All of these things (minus the PP) could be said about the Wild too.

 

[Minnesota]

Am I the only one who isn't that high on Nashville?

In my eyes, their only question mark is goaltending.

 

[W75]

Yes. If someone would've said few years ago, that Pekka Rinne is going to be a liability soon, I would've laughed at him.

Now, quite rough a couple of years. And didn't look too promising in the WC either.

 

[57special]

Yup. Is it confidence, or a physical breakdown? He used to be so good.

 

[Wild11MN]

Yeah Rinne's been horrible lately. That's probably their biggest question mark, by far, coming into this season.

 

[gphr513]

I'm probably biased because Subban is probably my favorite player in the league to watch, but I think he'll be great in Nashville.

 

[Minnesota]

I'm probably biased because Subban is probably my favorite player in the league to watch, but I think he'll be great in Nashville.

Yeah, they've got a solid defense. Subban, Josi, Ekholm, Ellis.

Forwards aren't anything to scoff at either.

 

[10coach*]

Voted first and was shocked to see less than 10% to do the same. I guess this Wild group is not any different than any other Minnesotan, incredibly humble despite being great.

 

[Paul Bunyan]

1st. That's the Boudreau way.

God I bloody wish. Would love to hang another banner in the rafters, even if it's only "Central Division Arms Race Champions".

Voted for third.

 

[TaLoN]

Voted first and was shocked to see less than 10% to do the same. I guess this Wild group is not any different than any other Minnesotan, incredibly humble despite being great.

Not sure what evidence there is to support the Wild as a "great" team.

 

[Hall of Faber]

Not sure what evidence there is to support the Wild as a "great" team.

They did have the 2nd best record in NHL for the calendar year of 2015.

 

[Arturia Pendragon]

They did have the 2nd best record in NHL for the calendar year of 2015.

But Yeo isn't our coach anymore .

 

[TaLoN]

They did have the 2nd best record in NHL for the calendar year of 2015.

Yeah, and how did 2016 work out so far?

Great teams aren't great for only half seasons at a time.

Second half of one season great, fail in the playoffs. First half of next season great, fall in second half of season and playoffs.

 

[10coach*]

Not sure what evidence there is to support the Wild as a "great" team.

lol stop now you are just trying too hard to be modest.

 

[TaLoN]

lol stop now you are just trying too hard to be modest.

You're confusing honest with modest. We have nothing to be modest about... we have a solid team that we HOPE can do something, but in order for that to happen, they have to show they are better under the new staff than they were under the old.

 

[Pominville Knows]

Our top players are aging. Age is great for cheeses and wine, not hockey players.

We will not be a bad team. Too much mid level talent. Just a team that won't contend for a Cup, unless something unforeseen happens(i.e. Nino with 40g, Granlund with 65 pts., Parise stays healthy and gets 73 pts.)

I actually think it can be great if Boudreau gets his thing rolling. It will be good to have three scoring lines to spare the aging players bodies through the long grind. The Wild have many players capable of letting loose offensively if the coach is allright with it. Also, i dont think the D is that bad. Certainly not offensively, but also defensively. When it comes to Dubnyk all we can do is hope.

 

[hirawl]

Am I the only one who isn't that high on Nashville?

Nope. I think their D gets way overrated. I'm also starting to have my little doubts about their locker room. Subban, Ribeiro, Johansen, Neal...Good players but that's a lot of potential character issues.

 

[Nharris31]

Nope. I think their D gets way overrated. I'm also starting to have my little doubts about their locker room. Subban, Ribeiro, Johansen, Neal...Good players but that's a lot of potential character issues.

Subban doesn't belong in this conversation. It's really not his fault that people in the Montreal organization are Dinosaurs.

 

[hirawl]

Subban doesn't belong in this conversation. It's really not his fault that people in the Montreal organization are Dinosaurs.

I think he does. That doesn't necessarily mean his character would be somehow flawed. It's just pretty obvious he can be a huge distraction.

 

[Nharris31]

I think he does. That doesn't necessarily mean his character would be somehow flawed. It's just pretty obvious he can be a huge distraction.

I don't see how it's a distraction.