Fansided

NHL division previews: 2017-18 Central Division

By Nic Hendrickson

WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 4: Blake Wheeler
WINNIPEG, MB - MARCH 4: Blake Wheeler /
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ST. PAUL, MN – SEPTEMBER 23: Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal (12) looks on from the bench in the 3rd period during the preseason game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild on September 23, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN – SEPTEMBER 23: Minnesota Wild center Eric Staal (12) looks on from the bench in the 3rd period during the preseason game between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild on September 23, 2017 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1. (Photo by David Berding/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5th in 2017-18 Central Division – Minnesota Wild

One of the two surprise teams of 2016-17, along with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Wild were a fun story to watch last season. But it is rather unlikely that they continue that type of play into the upcoming season, and a Wild Card spot looks to be their destiny.

While they certainly weren’t operating solely off a lucky season, being the 11th luckiest team in the league (via Hockey Abstract 2017, page 25), they aren’t expected to duplicate their 106-point season, especially with how much some of the other teams in the Central Division improved, like the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars.

However, they have an all-around solid team front to back, and them missing the playoffs is less than likely. The Central Division is undeniably the stronger of the two in the Western Conference, and seeing five teams from the Central would be less than surprising.

With the play of Devan Dubnyk, who is one of the more underrated goaltenders in the NHL, behind a rather sound defensive corps and reliable forwards, this could be a low projection for the Wild this season. Consistency is the key, and if they can hit that, there is every reason to believe they could push the 100-point mark again and move much further up this list than where I currently have them.

If Mikael Granlund, Mikko Koivu can lead the way in the top six scoring, and their bottom six perform close to expectations, the offense should be a top 12 unit in the NHL. And if the defense can suppress shots at an average rate, or slightly better, then Dubnyk can do the rest and the Wild should safely make the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Player to watch in 2017-18: Mikael Granlund. The Wild like to use Granlund against the best competition possible, and with roughly 45.0% of his zone starts coming in the offensive zone, it shows how much they trust him defensively. Granlund could very well be a top three candidate for the Selke in 2017-18.