In both their games so far this season, it’s been quite clear that half the reason the Minnesota Wild are being dominated is the pace at which their rivals work.
The Colorado Avalanche, despite their youth being flagged as a reason they’d fail this year, showed that youthful pace and exuberance is key to success these days.
The boat-anchor contracts, though, that hang heavy around the neck of the Minnesota Wild limit their options. You can’t move on from Ryan Suter or Zach Parise and neither player is going to get quicker as they age.