Minnesota Wild

Who is The Leader of This Wild Group?
March 20, 2017, 10:22 AM ET [21 Comments]
Dan Wallace
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The first five game losing streak in Bruce Boudreau's 10 year NHL head coaching history.

What is wrong with the Wild?

They were a team that had been pretty machine-like for 3/4 of the season, but the bump in the road could not come at a worse time.

I wrote many times last season and early in this season that the team lacks leadership, and the players that wear the letters should be stripped of those letters.

It is in no way an indictment of either Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise, or Ryan Suter, as they are all leaders in their own way, but not leaders of men.

There is a huge difference in being a leader and leading by example. The truly great teams have leaders that are judged by wins and losses and not by numbers.

I believe that the Wild have some very capable players in that room that can step up, but their is a disconnect between the old guard that prevents that from occurring.

No one can question the heart that captain Mikko Koivu brings to the table every night, but is he really a leader? Does he instill the confidence in his team that he will go above and beyond to get his team over the hump?

Zach Parise plays with the heart of a lion barreling into the corners with reckless abandon and gives 100% effort every shift, but does that make him a leader?

Ryan Suter plays in every situation and logs heavy minutes and plays way bigger than his size, but how does that translate to the team as far as leadership goes?

There is not that one player or group of players that hold each other accountable. No single guy that says come on boys, jump on my back because we are going to do this no matter what.

The team has performed very well tis season mainly due to the fact that the younger players have taken the next step forward in their progression. Mikael Granlund, Nino Neiderrieter, Jason Zucker, Charlie Coyle, and Erik Haula have all stepped up this season easing the pressure off of Koivu, Parise, and Jason Pominville.

That is the reason for the surge up the standings, but now that the games begin to have more meaning it takes leadership to take the team over the top. Talent only goes so far as we are quickly finding out first hand with the Wild.

I look to Scott Stevens as a key factor with this team as they look to get out of this funk. He is one of the greatest leaders in the history of the game. He has done some great work with the Wild defense, but the biggest thing he could do is to show them how to lead.

It is time for the players to step up and slam the door shut and do their own soul searching, because they most certainly have the talent to win.