2005 MINNESOTA WILD PREVIEW

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2005-06 Minnesota Wild preview

(MySportsbook.com) - Instead of biting at the chance to take advantage of the NHL's enormous pool of free agents this past summer, the Minnesota Wild opted instead to keep with their own philosophy.

Young players + development = success later.

The Wild let several key veterans go since we last saw NHL hockey, namely Andrew Brunette, Richard Park and Antti Laaksonen. They did make some veteran additions, like Andrei Nazarov, Todd White, Brian Rolston and Daniel Tjarnqvist, but none of those would be considered impact moves.

Instead, GM Doug Risebrough is leaving the keys to the store to his youngsters. Marian Gaborik has been part of the Wild franchise since the beginning, and he is expected to anchor the near and distant future.

Other players like Mikko Koivu, Rickard Wallin and Kyle Wanvig will be looked upon to step in immediately and make an impact.

There may be some growing pains with such a young club, but a more immediate concern for the Wild is how they will adapt to the new NHL rules geared toward offense. We all know that head coach Jacques Lemaire is basically the father of the neutral zone trap, which the new rules are geared to prevent. Will Lemaire adapt to the changes and preach a more offensive philosophy? Or will he find some loopholes so his club can still think defense first?

FORWARDS - Gaborik was a disappointment in 03-04, tallying a mere 18 goals and 22 assists in 65 games. He was coming off two straight 30-goal campaigns. The 23-year-old is one of the league's toughest forwards to defend, and he should flourish with the clutching, grabbing and hooking now outlawed. The Wild need this kid to be great in order for their youth-based plan to work.

Rolston and White give Minnesota an experienced one-two punch down the middle. Rolston has blazing speed and hopes to get back to level of 2002-03, when he tallied 27 goals and 32 assists. Rolston is especially dangerous as a penalty killer, totaling 16 shorthanded goals in the last three NHL seasons. White, meanwhile, was a career minor leaguer before finding a home in Ottawa. He potted 20 and 25 goals, respectively, for the Senators in 01-02 and 02-03, before injuries limited him in 03-04. The diminutive centerman can especially boost a horrid Wild power play, as he tallied eight goals and 15 assists with the man advantage in 02-03.

Alexander Daigle, a former No. 1 overall pick, has found a home in St. Paul. With a reputation as one of the biggest busts in NHL history as a burden, Daigle led the Wild in scoring with 51 points (20g, 31a) in 03-04.

Wes Walz returns for his fifth season with the Wild. He has done all the club has asked of him from the third line, shining as a defensive center. He has also contributed some offense, averaging 29 points over his four campaigns with the club.

Koivu will make his debut with the Wild, after shining for Houston in the AHL last season. He tallied 20 goals and 28 assists in 67 games for the Aeros. Patrick O' Sullivan could also make a splash this season after a terrific junior career for the Mississauga Ice Dogs (OHL). Last season for the Ice Dogs he recorded 31 goals and 59 assists in 57 games.

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DEFENSE - The Minnesota blueline is lacking starpower, but it's a unit that plays well together. Nick Schultz, Willie Mitchell and Filip Kuba are a very solid top-three. Schultz has two and a half seasons with the Wild under his belt, and posted six goals, 10 assists and a plus-12 rating in 03-04.

Mitchell and Kuba, meanwhile, are both bangers standing at 6-3, 205 pounds. Kuba can also pile up points, as he has 28 goals and 86 assists in 310 career games.

Overall, the Wild have a lot of depth on defense, making up for the lack of a true anchor. Also in the fold are the 220-pound Alex Henry and the newly acquired Tjarnqvist, Scott Ferguson and Joey Tetarenko.

GOALTENDING - Manny Fernandez and Dwayne Roloson have shared the netminding duties for the Wild for three seasons, and both have showed full-time starter's ability.

Roloson went 19-18-11 with a 1.88 goals-against average and .933 save percentage in 48 appearances (46 starts). Roloson has earned more starts in each of the last two campaigns, and received an All-Star Game berth in 03-04.

Fernandez's star has fallen a bit, especially in 03-04 when he went 11-14-9 with a 2.49 GAA.

While one of these netminders may garner more of the workload, don't expect either to hog the crease. Lemaire will probably just ride the hot hand as he has done in the past.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - Putting so much pressure on youngsters to produce may pay off in a few years, but the Wild are ultimately sacrificing this coming season. The club is comfortable with its goaltenders and defensive depth, but it still remains to be seen where the goals will come from. Gaborik is going to be a star and Rolston and White are dependable vets. Lemaire has a track record of making the most with what he has got, so don't be surprised if the Wild have more success than the hockey world is expecting.

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