With hockey-savvy fans (who get plenty of championship-quality play from their other hockey fixes at the high school and college levels) filling the seats to capacity (and beyond) on a nightly basis, and a magical run to the Western Conference Finals already under their belt to keep what few naysayers there are at bay, they should continue to let their heavily-scouted and carefully chosen draft picks develop at the high minor and NHL-level, while sprinkling in the odd low-on-price-but-big-on-character (if not offensive upside) free agent.

The new CBA should result in more parity across the NHL, which means the Wild will be that much closer to a playoff spot than they were when last we saw the NHL game. Promising youngsters like Mikko Koivu, Stephane Veilleux, Kyle Wanvig, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Brent Burns, Christoph Brandner, Josh Harding, Rickard Wallin, Patrick O’Sullivan, A.J. Thelen, Danny Irmen, and the recently drafted Benoit Pouliot all have a full season of, well, seasoning which has brought the upper echelon of them right up to NHL proficiency- at least on a level that will make them competitive to earn a job with the big club.

Obviously there is both more room to add free agents and more free agents to be added than ever before. But Wild fans have waited patiently this far, what’s another year or two if the payoff is a team that can compete for a championship every year instead of just competing for the playoffs most of the time?

This is not to say that the Wild should not go out and sign a replacement for Andrew Brunette. A mentor for young Gaborik (perhaps his countryman Pavol Demitra?) would seem to be a great idea. But there is no reason for them to spend for the most-expensive players at this point.

COUNTERPOINT
by Chris Thompson
When the Minnesota Wild came into existence, general manager Doug Risebrough preached patience with the team. Instead of spending big bucks on free agents to build around like the Columbus Blue Jackets did, Risebrough wanted to develop most of his talent from within. It’s a solid philosophy that has resulted in a one magical run to the Western Conference Finals, and a better record since the franchise began than Columbus.

We Wild fans have patiently waited for youngsters like Gaborik, Bouchard, Burns and others to develop. Coach Lemaire has been masterful at bringing along young players. But now, after a lost season, it is time for Minnesota to reward its fans with a marquee free agent signing or two.

Going into the lockout, Minnesota’s fiscal responsibility made it the exception to the rule of economic hardship in the NHL. Now, in the post-lockout era, Minnesota can still remain a fiscally responsible team, yet add a Marquee name like Scott Niedermayer to the stable. Contracts are down. If there was ever a time to pounce, it’s now. Niedermayer is one of the best defensemen in the NHL. He can play on both ends of the ice. He played in coach Lemaire’s system in New Jersey, so he knows the Wild system. He won a Stanley Cups in 1995, 2000, and 2003, so he brings playoff experience to a young Wild roster. And, in 2004, he won his first Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman, which means he brings massive amounts of skill to a defense that could use an infusion of talent.

The Wild will never be among the league’s top spenders, but right now they have the opportunity to bring in the player selected as the league’s best defender the last time there was an NHL season, for a very reasonable sum of money. It’s also an opportunity to show Wild fans that the team is serious about not just being decent and having a shot at the playoffs, but wants to be great and win a Stanley Cup. Despite all the rule changes for this year, defense still wins titles. Look at each team that has won a Cup recently…they’ve all had a solid, blue chip defenseman to carry the load in the playoffs. Niedermayer can be that man for the Wild. Let’s bring him in and bring a title to Minnesota.