The Wild are playing the long game – Minnesota Wild

Just like in Rome, a Stanley Cup winning team is not built in a day. The playoffs of the last few seasons show a team that is developing into a true force of nature. The Minnesota Wild are in a building state leading up to the Stanley Cup, and fans need to stick with the team throughout the process.

In an era where hockey has evolved toward speed and skill, the Wild are at the forefront of swinging the pendulum back toward big, physical play. This year especially, the Wild have been a team to be feared.

But being a trendsetter is hard. It takes time before the rest of the league recognizes and follows suit. The Wild are often penalized because they aren’t afraid to complete their checks and drop the gloves when needed. They have a reputation for making referees call a tighter game, and that can be a tough pill to swallow.

It is imperative that the Wild commit to their style of play. The team is built to be physical and score rough, greasy goals. Sure, pretty paint is nice and worth highlighting, but it’s not a priority. Sticking to his hockey brand despite the challenges along the way will lead to good results in the following seasons.

You can be sure Bill Guerin has a plan and he’s not afraid to play the long game. Over the past few seasons, Guerin has made decisions at the trade deadline and in the offseason that were initially questioned. He’s known for bold news and isn’t afraid to go inside.

Trade Cam Talbot for Filip Gustavsson? A trade to bring Marcus Johansson back to Minnesota? Both trades were widely staked. Now see how they did. Gustavsson has played his way into one of the best goalkeepers in the league. Johansson has become Matt Boldys wingman on the ice. Guerin saw the potential and took the leap because he wasn’t afraid to play the long game.

It can be hard to see progress from last year to this year. The unfortunate absence of Joel Eriksson Ek has affected the whole look of the club. Eriksson Ek works as a supporter for the entire Wild team. Not only is he an effective pest around the net, but he also plays a huge role on both the power play and penalty kill. Without him, special teams have struggled. Fans can’t use the eye test for this because the team isn’t complete.

The difference between the 2022 and 2023 playoffs is consistency. Last year, the Wild completely fell apart when the playoffs started. Suddenly, a big physical club seemed more interested in running than checking. Kirill Kaprizov did everything he could to carry the team, but hockey is a team sport. Even a superstar can’t play the game alone.

This year is a different story. It was a struggle without Eriksson Eki, but the team maintained its physical style of play. Despite the adversities, they have remained close to their identity. They’ve played through referees making questionable calls, struggles at the starting spot and special teams on life support. Through it all, they’ve maintained their physical style of play, and that’s truly remarkable.

The Wild is a team first team, which is important when players need to commit to a certain style. Several players have commented that they were immediately accepted into the locker room and that Minnesota feels like home to them. They have mentioned that they finally have a team that believes in them. When players feel like they are part of a team, they are even more likely to buy into the system that team runs. The Wild make it no secret that their game is hard and physical. Prospective players know exactly what is expected of them, and in the long run, this will help the team find players that fit their style of play well.

It can be challenging for fans to be patient because they are not aware of the long-term vision for the Wild. Minnesota sports fans are some of the most impatient in the league. Fans must be willing to commit alongside the players. It may take several years, but one thing is certain: the Minnesota Wild are becoming a Cup-winning team.