Interesting offseason awaits Wild
By Lyle Diekmann
Created 04/21/2008 - 1:33pm
The better team (Colorado) – and by far the better goaltender (Jose Theodore) – won the Colorado/Minnesota Wild playoff series.
Minnesota never scored more than two goals in regulation in any of the six games. That type of offensive output won't get it done, unless you're defense and goaltending are elite.
Now the Wild has some interesting things to decide in the offseason.
Is coach Jacques Lemaire coming back?
Do you extend Marian Gaborik's contract? Or trade him?
Do you keep wingers Pavol Demitra or Brian Rolston?
Is Niklas Backstrom good enough in net to win a Stanley Cup with Minnesota?
All those decisions will probably wait until the coaching situation is settled. Lemaire was non-committal after the 2-1 loss Saturday, but it may take a few weeks for him to think it over.
Although it was a disappointing end to the season, Minnesota has learned a lot about its team.
Mikko Koivu and Brent Burns look like future all-stars. Pierre-Marc Bouchard continues to improve. The goalie tandem of Backstrom and Harding are solid, as is the team's overall defense.
But the team's lack of quality centers and depth at defense need to be addressed.
If improvements don't come quickly, this team is just another good team in an ultra-competitive Western Conference.