Expansion Report Card
Grading the Minnesota Wild
by WildVikings of Wild.com

Wednesday December 11, 2002

With the Minnesota Wild still near the top of the Western Conference after almost 30 games in just their third season, I am still hearing people ponder the age old question of how they got there. To truly answer that question we must look at how the Wild have developed their rising talent. Hopefully after reading this report you will have a better understanding of how the Wild got here.

The Market: *****
Just as in any business, the market in which an organization operates is a very important factor in accomplishing your goals. In terms of a franchise in the National Hockey League, Minnesota offers a unique market for its team. The fans, having grown up with hockey rinks scattered across the state, are very hockey knowledgable and because of this the Wild gained a significant advantage over a more southern market. People already understood the development process involved with expansion, and rather than trying to force development the Wild could mature at a more sustainable pace.

The loss of the North Stars in the early 90s also has created what I would consider a hungry market. The sellout streak, the sale of merchandise, and overall excitement in the arena on a daily basis bodes well for this upstart franchise.

A hungry, hockey sauve market should be the envy of many recent expansion clubs.

Expansion Draft 2000: ****
After Minnesota named Doug Risebrough as the General Manager, and hired head coach Jacques Lemaire the stage was set to pick some players. The two teams were allowed to select 26 players from the existing NHL Franchises.

Of the 26 players selected via the expansion draft, only 14 of those players ever suited up for a game in a Wild jersey. Over the past three years those players have combined to play 1,137 games. They have scored 115 goals, 245 assists for 360 points. Comparatively, the Columbus Blue Jackets have had 11 players combine for 1,233 games with 151 goals, 212 assists and 363 points.

As of right now the Wild have only 4 players remaining on their team that they claimed during the expansion draft. Filip Kuba, Ladislav Benysek, Darby Hendrickson, and Jim Dowd. But alot of the talent we acquired in the expansion draft is still reaping us rewards.

From the list of players acquired in expansion, the Wild have assembled a core group of guys. For Chris Tererri the Wild picked up Brad Bombardir from the New Jersey Devils. For Curtis Leschyshyn, a player about to obtain free agency was dealt at the deadline in the first season for 2001(Chris Heid?) and 2002(?) draft picks. Sean O'Donnell was moved to New Jersey for Willie Mitchell and future considerations. Joe Juneau was moved to Phoenix for Swedish Elite League prospect Rickard Wallin who is playing his first year in North American this year with the Houston Aeros.

One pitfall we avoided was the immediate loss of talent due to free agency. The Columbus Blue Jackets, for example, lost NHL veteran Mathieu Schneider, and Dallas Drake to free agency before they even recieved a uniform. They have also lost Dwayne Roloson to the Minnesota Wild after they had played Rollie in the AHL for 2000-01. Comparatively the Wild's general manager, Doug Risebrough, did whatever he could to prevent the loss of talent in the system and in the long run he put us ahead of the competition.

Given the talent available to select from the Wild did a remarkable job at building the backbone of this franchise. Directly or indirectly Kuba, Mitchell, Bombardir, and Benysek all came out of the draft and remain on the Wild blueline. Columbus's selections may have outscored the Wild, but when you compare the Wild's -72 lifetime goal differential alongside Columbus's -138 you begin to see the method to the madness.

Draft and Develop: *****
One of the most crucial aspects to building a franchise is being successful at the draft table. In their three entry drafts, the Wild have selected 25 players. Of those players 9 of them have already suited up for at least one game, and 5 of them currently remain on the active roster.

In fact, Wild draft picks account for 508 man games, 102 goals with 130 assists for 232 points. When compared to the 222 games played by Columbus prospects you begin to see a seperation in the two organizations. Of course many more prospects will still develop on both teams, but the fact that Minnesota currently has at least one player from each draft year currently on their roster speaks volumes. From 2000 we have Gaborik, Schultz, and Sekeras while Sushinsky and Bartos made brief appearances before returning to Europe. From 2001's draft class the Wild have Stephane Veilleux, and of course Pierre-Marc Bouchard from 2002 rounds out the three years.

Although a guy like Pascal Dupuis was not drafted by the Wild he also joins the young group of players developing here. Waiver wire pickup Andrei Zyuzin at the age of 24 is also being given a chance to revitalize his young career under the guidance of perhaps the best teacher of the sport, Jacques Lemaire.

Free Agent Signings & Additional Trades: ****
Another way to get talent on your franchise is to sign free agents. As the New York Rangers seem to prove on an annual basis, simply acquiring a talented player is not enough. You must acquire the right player for your team, there must be a fit.

The 2001 pickup of Andrew Brunette is a prime example of a good fit. Brunette, a talented playmaker, came in here and jelled with Jim Dowd and 2nd year star Marian Gaboirk. The line combined to be one of the leagues more effective lines in the entire league. Of all 2001 UFA signed on the year, Andrew Brunette was the most productive, outscoring all other 2001 free agents.

Then during the 2002 entry draft Minnesota picked up Cliff Ronning from Los Angeles at the bargain basement price of a 4th round draft pick. Ronnings presence in the lockerroom cant be overstated, and the offensive options his presence provides us with is undeniably crucial to the success of the club.

Risebrough and the Wild have followed a strategy and theme right from the start, the strong hockey market provided him the opportunity to build through development, a luxury not experienced by most expansion teams.

WildViking is a regular poster on the Wild.com message board. He was kind enough to allow us permission to reprint his article on our site. We thank him for allowing us to share his work with Wild fans. GO WILD!