The defeatism shown by some here is relentless, and unsupportable. Wild are not “Mild”. If anything they have gone overboard an acquiring toughness. I’d rather that they get “milder”, and more skilled.
I don't think it's defeatism; fans are getting tired of the one and done and the paper tiger that Minnesota presents during the regular season. The fact that they got stomped by St. Louis last year when they had half of their defense out was really a strong indication of the team Minnesota presents. Even more so, a lot of fans were making the excuse that Fiala disappeared in the playoffs was a good reason why to trade him.
Finally, Minnesota brought in Middleton and Fleury to help bolster their team and they did pretty much nothing to help.
A lot of fans were concerned about the career years that a lot of Minnesota players were having and what would happen if they regressed back to their normal play and what that would do to the team? We're seeing that now.
Minnesota Mild isn't about their play on the ice; it's about how the team presents itself to the league. I think last year was one of the best chances Minnesota had to make a run and a lot of fans were excited as the team gained the most points in team history. There was a lot to be excited about, similar to the Vikings this year, but when you really boil down the analytics there were some concerns about how they were winning. Minnesota in most of their history has never been seen as a legitimate Cup Contender. They've been seen as a dark horse or a team that could win a series - maybe two - at best. But for most of Minnesota's history, they've been seen as a mediocre team or a regular season darling. They are mild at best; not great, not bad. Just a meh team and this year is a really good indication.
You want a nightmare? How about next year. Let’s say that Zuccarello finally shows his age and is either injured or unproductive, Foligno and Hartman continue to fade, Greenway is still hanging around like a bad smell, Faber and Rossi turn out to not be ready for the NHL, and Yurov signs a 2-3 year KHL deal. Gaudreau signs elsewhere for more money. JEE Gets injured. Team starts to tune out Dean.
Now that would be a trashy team.
You want a nightmare? This team is treading water, they don't make the playoffs but don't get a high enough draft pick. Foligno, Hartman walk and Zuccarello is signed back to a 3 year 5 million contract and then he fades hard the following season. When the cap penalties are off, Minnesota signs a bunch of free agents because none of their prospects have done anything except be borderline NHLers. Rossi is good in the AHL, but mediocre in the NHL. Yurov stays, Ohgren is a middle 6 guy like Johan Larsson. Meanwhile Chicago gets Fantilli and curb stomps Minnesota every time they meet. Minnesota is never good enough or bad enough and then Kaprizov leaves.
I think some fans saw these next three years as time to retool the team and cast dead weight or dying weight off the team. When the cap hits come off in two years, Minnesota would have a fully stocked and bulging prospect group to trade or use to fill in holes and then they would really go at it. With Wallstedt at goal and guys like Khusnutdinov, Yurov and a few top picks in the 23 and 24 draft, Minnesota would be led by a guy like Kaprizov, Spurgeon and JEE.
