2012-13 record: 26-19-3 (55 points)
Lost to Chicago in Conference quarterfinals
Captain: Mikko Koivu
A year after handing nearly $200 million to both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Minnesota Wild find themselves with higher expectations and a farm system that hasn't quite lived up to its billing so far. There is still time for the latter to change, but because of the former, time isn't on its side, as without a big splash in free agency this off-season, it will be up to the youth to fill in the blanks this season. Suter played himself into consideration for the Norris Trophy last season, but Parise led the team with 38 points, which isn't going to be enough. Of course, it would help if Mikael Granlund can shake off a rookie slump and players such as Dany Heatley, Jason Pominville, and Mikko Koivu can all play close to their own expectations or better. Defensively, they were great...for the first pairing (Suter and Jonas Brodin). However, none of the other four projected defensemen on the other two pairings inspire confidence, and that could spell trouble for the Wild. The best hope here is that Matt Dumba can make the jump from Red Deer to the NHL and take one of those spots. Goaltending will once again fall to the duo of Nicklas Backstrom and Josh Harding, and the hope here is that both will be healthy. If not, Darcy Kuemper can step in as an emergency call-up.
Prospects: Dumba is a favorite to make the roster of all the prospects the Wild have. Brett Bulmer is another possibility to make the roster at some point in the season, and Kuemper is not far away if either Backstrom or Harding go down to injury.
Prediction: 3rd in the Central Division
Raised expectations are nothing new for a Wild team that play in a hockey mad state. However, the heat has never been higher than it is now, and the time for just making the playoffs is no longer there, as the Minnesota fans expect nothing less than a Stanley Cup.
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