Bet On NHL Hockey: Wild
The Minnesota Wild will look to take the next step during the 2014-2015 and improve on a 43-27-12 record from last season. By all accounts last year was a success for the Wild – the only thing missing was a deep trip into the playoffs which was interrupted by eventual Cup Champs Chicago in six games.
NHL Predictions
Minnesota Wild
Odds to win the 2015 Stanley Cup: 16/1
Odds to win the 2015 Western Conference: 9/1
Odds to Win the 2014 Central Division: 11/2
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2014-2015 Minnesota Wild Betting Preview:
The Wild resisted temptations for whole-sale changes, opting mostly to stay the course. But the one major addition Thomas Vanek has the potential to make a huge difference for a team that had some issues on the power play last year and struggled at times offensively.
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Minnesota, on paper should be very good up front – a good mix of experience and youth.
Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek are the experience and Mikael Granlund, Erik Haula and Charlie Coyle provide the youth. Up front the Wild should be OK with potential to be top third in the NHL in terms of offense.
The issues that Minnesota has heading into the season in on defense and in between the pipes.
Josh Harding is still experiencing complications with his multiple sclerosis meaning that Niklas Backstrom and 2013-2014 break-out star Darcy Kuemper will be in charge of patrolling Minnesota’s crease – not bad but certainly not that elite duo that teams seem to need to reach the NHL promise land.
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A lack of depth on the blue line could also hamper Minnesota’s chances of getting by the Chicago’s and the St. Louis’s of the Central Division.
The division Minnesota plays in and the tough Western Conference appear to be huge stumbling block for the Wild as we head into the season – not unlike all of the stellar teams in the Conference.
The Wild are going to have to put it all together in order to defeat the gate-keepers of the West but appear to have the lineup to do just that.
FREE Wild NHL Predictions 2014/2015
The Minnesota Wild are a nice team – there is no doubt about that. But their improvements during the offseason were minimal – Thomas Vanek is in – Matt Moulson and Dany Heatley are out.
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While there is a chance that this team finds a different gear and is able to peak at precisely the right time, there is also chance that the Wild stumble and become that mediocre team that we have come to expect.
There is just too much competition for them within their own division and within the Western Conference as a whole for Minnesota to win any sort of crown.
Do I see a playoff spot on the horizon again for Minnesota – yes!
Do I see a Central Division title or a Western Conference Championship – not quite yet. A third place finish in the division is likely here – just like last year!
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