As each NHL team is eliminated from playoff contention -- either mathematically or by losing in the postseason -- we'll take a look at why its quest for the Stanley Cup fell short in 2017-18, along with three keys to its offseason and a way-too-early prediction for what 2018-19 will hold.
What went wrong
The Minnesota Wild were able to stay afloat despite a flurry of injuries in the regular season. When the injury bug hit in the playoffs, however, it was too much to overcome.
Losing Ryan Suter (second on the team with 45 assists, second in the league by averaging 26:46 minutes per game) before the first-round series against the Winnipeg Jets was damning. Having Zach Parise sidelined after Game 3 with a fractured sternum was just brutal.
This team must be cursed, right? Remember, it was the second playoffs in three years that Parise has missed time to injury. Also, injuries clearly lingered into the playoffs for Nino Niederreiter and Jared Spurgeon.
Devan Dubnyk provided an underrated performance all season, and the Wild welcomed breakout performances from players such as defenseman Matt Dumba and winger Jason Zucker. Eric Staal's renaissance almost catapulted the 33-year-old into the crowded MVP discussion. The Wild were a fast and at times explosive team to watch.
However, depth scoring was a concern all season, and the power play never realized its full potential. Really, we might just need to figure out how to shake the playoff demons from Bruce Boudreau, who has a terrific regular-season record but has now been ousted six times in the first round in his 10 postseason appearances.
Keys to the offseason
1. Lock in Matt Dumba and Jason Zucker.
Both players are restricted free agents, and both of these decisions should be no-brainers for management. In fact, GM Chuck Fletcher has already expressed his affection for Dumba, considering the lengths he went through to protect the young defenseman in the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft. Dumba is 23 and only getting better; plus, his offensive production (fifth on the team with 50 points) was not too shabby.
Zucker, meanwhile, put up a career-high 33 goals and 64 points in a contract year. He has earned this.
2. Address the GM situation.
Fletcher is the league's sixth-longest-tenured GM; he has been on the job since May 2009. But this offseason he finds himself without a contract. Owner Craig Leipold is said to be waiting until the end of the season to address the situation and open dialogue with Fletcher -- or decide to go in a new direction.
The Wild have qualified for the playoffs in each of the past six seasons, but they have not made it to the conference finals or further. Considering the Wild's success facing adversity this past season, we're inclined to think the owner will give Fletcher at least another season. But it's dangerous territory to predict what an NHL owner might do.
3. Continue to get younger.
Minnesota entered the season as one of the oldest teams in the league. That's especially true with the core: Dubnyk, Mikko Koivu, Parise, Staal and Suter are all 30-plus.
As the Wild have enjoyed great regular-season success in the past three seasons, they need to continue bracing for their future: ensuring the end for this core is not abrupt and can be bridged by up-and-comers. Incorporating players such as Jordan Greenway is a start. Let's see what other prospects stand out at camp.
Realistic expectation for 2018-19
Assuming the Wild can stay healthy -- something they can't take for granted -- this team is poised for another successful season. Besides the impending restricted free agencies of Dumba and Zucker, there aren't too many big contract decisions for Fletcher (or another GM) to make. Matt Cullen is an unrestricted free agent and will likely retire (though if he came back on another one-year deal, would anyone complain?).
The Central Division figures to be just as competitive, especially as the team that knocked off the Wild, the Jets, doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon, but if the Wild could cobble together this season considering all of their injury issues, imagine their success if everyone were healthy.
But let's be clear: The window for this group to contend is closing. A playoff berth and 100-point season are not good enough for this fan base.