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2023 Central Division Preview Series: Minnesota Wild

By Brian Sweet |
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Charlie Stramel is selected by the Minnesota Wild with the 21st overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 28: Charlie Stramel is selected by the Minnesota Wild with the 21st overall pick during round one of the 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bridgestone Arena on June 28, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

We are almost at the conclusion of our Central Division Preview Series as we look at the second-to-last team, the Minnesota Wild. I think we all remember this team as they were the Stars’ first-round opponent in the playoffs last season. I remember when Dallas Stars’ fans were about ready to put out a hit on Matt Dumba for his vicious hit on Joe Pavelski. It got very chippy amongst the fanbases on Twitter.

The Wild are looking to get over losing to the Dallas Stars in six games as they retool for their 2023-24 campaign. They have salary cap limitations to work with the Ryan Suter and Zac Parise buyouts. There will be some familiar faces on the roster while there will be new faces as well. Let’s take a look at how the Minnesota Wild did this offseason and where they might end up in the Central Division.

Minnesota Wild Preview: Key Losses

Sam Steel

Matt Dumba

Ryan Reaves

John Klingberg

Gustav Nyquist

Oskar Sundqvist

Minnesota Wild Preview: Key Signings

Pat Maroon

Filip Gustavsson

Minnesota Wild Preview: Assessment

As I mentioned above, the Wild didn’t have much money to work with this offseason and it hurt them big time. They still have a lot of returning pieces that could provide some valuable offense for them this upcoming season. They also re-signed Gustavsson who is basically their version of Jake Oettinger.

Also, the Stars don’t know if any of their top prospects are going to fill in the missing roster spots. That could give the Wild the element of surprise this season in the Central Division.

Minnesota Wild Preview: 2023-24 prediction 2nd place

I think the Wild are going to be a really dangerous team in the Central this season. They have some really good core pieces such as Kirill Kaprizov A.K.A Russian Jason Robertson and Ryan Hartman. With the re-signing of their possible new franchise goaltender, the Wild have a shot to finish first or even second this year.

I think they will end up in second place due to the Stars creating multiple scoring lines through free-agent signings and not losing many impact players. We are all in for a treat as the Wild and the Stars face off in order to win the Central Division.

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