30 in 30: Minnesota Wild

The 2012/13 campaign was one of change for the Minnesota Wild. They altered their uniforms and brought in several fresh faces, with Zach Parise and Ryan Suter joining the franchise in blockbuster deals.

Minnesota had to work right until the last game of the regular season to make the eighth playoff seed their own in 2012. The Blackhawks eliminated them in the first round inside just five games. Despite the poor playoff campaign, making the post-season was a big step in the right direction for an ever-improving team.

Can the Wild repeat their achievements and make the playoffs this time around? I firmly believe so.

They have a lot of young talent, including Finn Mikael Granlund, who I predict to have a big year after struggling in his rookie year last term. Nino Neiderreiter is also one to watch after joining from the Islanders in the off-season.

There is a nice blend of youth and experience on the Wild roster. Jason Pominville made an instant impact after joining late last season and he is going to be a great leader both on and off the ice.

A noticeable and key addition is that of Matt Cooke, the 34-year-old Canadian. He brings almost 1000 NHL appearances of experience whilst playing for very successful outfits along the way. Not only does he bring a lot of physicality but he also scores points and knows how to win when it matters most. He is the player the Wild lacked last year and I think he will be a massive addition to the roster.

I am predicting a very good season for the Minnesota Wild. If the likes of Dany Heatley, Zach Parise and Jason Pominville fire on all cylinders, these guys could be unstoppable at times. However, I think they are one, maybe two seasons away from going deep into the playoffs.

Prediction: Fourth in Central Division, eliminated in conference semi-finals.