Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
When the Minnesota Wild snagged the two biggest free agents off the market in the summer of 2012, they instantly became one of the more talked about teams in the league. And that talk came with expectations. The Wild failed to meet those expectations as they were eliminated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Heading into the new season, though, it could be a different story. The Wild have a top line that has the potential to be among the most potent units in the league. Unlike last season, they have a summer and a training camp to adjust to each other. With three of the best players on the planet coming together on that unit, it’s going to be a great one.
It’s a trio led by Zach Parise. Parise had a solid first year in Minnesota, but it wasn’t among his best seasons in his career. With a season to adjust to his new surroundings in Minnesota, we should Parise return to his 30-goal scoring ways and provide excellent two-way play.
He’ll do so next to Mikko Koivu in the middle. Koivu is coming off of a fine season, in which he managed to remain healthy and appear in all 48 games. He continues to be one of the more underrated centers in the game, and should thrive in between Parise and Jason Pominville.
It’s Pominville that makes up the final third of this group. Coming over at the trade deadline, Pominville was excellent before a concussion limited him down the stretch and to only two games in the postseason. He had nine points in 10 regular season games with the Wild, including four goals.
When you combine the three, the Wild not only have one of the best top lines in the league, but also one of the most underrated. This trio is going to be a tough matchup for any opposing forward unit and blue line. With a training camp to adjust to each other, and a summer to get healthy, this is going to be a fun unit to watch heading into the new season.
