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Minnesota Wild 2011-2012 Season Preview

Shea Matthews weighs in with his 2011-2012 Minnesota Wild Season Gambling Picks and NHL Preview, plus he provides the lastest NHL odds, Wild future lines, and Stanley Cup predictions…

Bet On NHL Hockey Minnesota Wild Season Preview

The Minnesota Wild recognized a need for change and General Manager Chuck Fletcher accomplished just that this offseason with the acquisition of players that should help cure Minnesota’s Achilles heel, the offense.

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MINNESOTA WILD
Odds to Win the Northwest Division: +2500
Odds to Win the Stanley Cup: 70/1
Last season: 39-35-8, 86 points (3rd place Northwest, 12th place Western)
Additions: Dany Heatley, RW; Darroll Powe, C/W; Devin Setoguchi, RW; Mike Lundin, D
Departures: Martin Havlat, RW; Andrew Brunette, LW; Brent Burns, D; Antti Miettinen, RW; Cam Barker, D; John Madden, C; Jose Theodore, G; Chuck Kobasew, RW
Youngsters to Keep an Eye On: Casey Wellman, C; Colton Gillies, LW; Marco Scandella, D; Justin Falk, D; Tyler Cuma, D; Mikael Granlund, C; Charlie Coyle, C

Along the way, the Wild bid a necessary goodbye to fan favorites Andrew Brunette, Brett Burns and even Martin Havlat. Mike Yeo has replaced Todd Richards as coach in Minnesota. A change of culture will coincide with the different direction that the team is headed in. Will the bold moves translate into some much needed success for the franchise? The 2011-2012 season will tell!

Minnesota’s offense needed an overhaul and that’s exactly what it got this offseason. In are Dany Heatley, Devin Setoguchi and Darroll Powe thanks to a couple of major deals that the Wild made with the San Jose Sharks. Out at forward are Martin Havlat, Andrew Brunette, John Madden and Chuck Kobasew just to name a few. Hopes are that the new players, among others will be able to ignite a Wild offense that has been traditionally weak and ranked 26th last season with just 203 goals (2.48 per game). Heatley has scored 50 goals in a season multiple times and Setoguchi has not scored less than 20 in his last three seasons. Charlie Coyle was also brought over from San Jose and acts as a Young Player to Keep an Eye On. He is a highly touted prospect that lit up the University ranks and is expected to step in and compete for a roster spot this year. These players join the talented Mikko Koivu and Cal Clutterbuck to form what should be a decent Top 6 forwards group. Depth however is an issue. [ad-4437448]

Defensively is where the Wild have been traditionally strong and deep. It is the reason that GM Chuck Fletcher felt that he could afford to deal Brett Burns. Hopes are that some younger talent will step up and take the place of their departed All-Star D-man. Marco Scandella, Justin Falk and Tyler Cuma are youngsters that will get every chance to make the roster as the Wild attempt to reshape their Blue Line as well.

Niklas Backstrom will continue to backstop the Minnesota Wild this season and there is no reason to think that he won’t provide typically solid goaltending. The defense took a hit with the loss of Burns but Backstrom has been very solid during his career in Minnesota. It is safe to say that goaltending won’t be the problem for Minnesota.

Betting Prediction: The Minnesota Wild needed to change the culture around the locker room and with their offseason acquisitions appear to have done just that. Will it be enough to take Minnesota over the hump and graduate the team into the elusive Western Conference playoffs? Likely not – this team is still a year or two away from seriously competing for the playoffs. Dany Heatley is certainly no savior!

Fearless Forecast: The Minnesota Wild finish 3rd in the Northwest but out of the Playoffs

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By DaveB

Dave B has been a Fantasy Football writer for us for 10 years. A couch potato wannabe, Dave’s insights have been read by 10’s of people for years. He hope’s for world peace + global relaxation. Enjoy and remember only smoke things that are completely natural.