Wild Season Preview: Added Gustavsson to handle Fleury’s workload

The 2022-23 NHL season begins on October 7th. With training camps opening soon, NHL.com takes a look at the three keys, the inside scoop on roster matters, and the prospective lineup for each of the 32 teams. Today the Minnesota Wild.

Coaches: Dean Evason (fourth season)

Last season: 53-22-7, runner-up in Central Division; lost to St. Louis Blues in the first round of the Western Conference

3 KEYS

1. Encore for mids

Ryan Hartman, Joel Ericsson Ek and Frederick Gaudreau will be three of the four centers starting the season, but will they repeat last season’s success? Hartman had 65 points (previous NHL high, 31), Eriksson Ek had 49 points (previous high, 30), and Gaudreau had 44 points (previous high, 10).

The Wild returns Rookie Marco Rossi a chance to play and work your way up the lineup. But they don’t have much depth beyond the first four Sam Stahl was signed in free agency.

2. Fleury’s workload

Marc Andre Fleury signed a two-year contract on July 7 after going 9-2-0 in 11 regular-season games with 2.74 clean sheet averages and .910 save percentages after being acquired on March 21 in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks . The 37-year-old is entering his 19th NHL season and is third all-time with 520 wins. He played 56 games last season, but how much will his workload be this season?

fuse Philip Gustavssonwhich was adopted by the Ottawa Senators for the goalie Cam Talbot on July 12 was 5-12-1 with a 3.55 GAA and .892 save percentage in 18 games (16 starts) last season. The 24-year-old has played 27 NHL games but could be pushing for more playing time.

3. Replace Fiala

After that, the savages could not agree on a contract Kevin Fiala, they traded the forward to the Los Angeles Kings on June 29. Fiala was second with the Wild with a career-high NHL 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) in 82 games. The only other player with more points was Kirill Kapritsov (108; 47 goals, 61 assists).

Mats Zucarello had 79 points, which was an NHL career high. His previous high score was 61 in 2015-16 with the New York Rangers. But to be successful, the wilds will likely need the bottom six to rank up offensively.

Video: Top 10 Kirill Kaprizov Plays from 2021-22 Season

roster overview

make the cut

Jordan Greenway required off-season surgery for an upper body injury and the striker could miss the start of the season. If so, Steel, who signed a one-year deal on Aug. 30, is likely to be included in the lineup. Steel had 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 68 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season, and the 24-year-old has 65 points (24 goals, 41 assists) in 197 regular-season games.

at the defender, Jon Merrill (Arm surgery) could miss the start of the season Kalen Addison (four points in 15 games with the Wild last season) would probably start the season with the Wild. Minnesota also signed the 31-year veteran Andrei Sustr (one-year two-way deal) on July 13; Last season, he had six points (one goal, five assists) in 38 games with the Ducks and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The most interesting addition

The Wild haven’t added many players this off-season but will have a new backup goalie in Gustavsson. Despite having limited NHL experience (10-13-3, 3.12 GAA, .905 save percentage), Gustavsson was 11-6-1 with a 2.50 GAA and .915 save in 20 AHL games last season percentage He should see an increase in his tally when playing in front of a Wild defense, which ranked 16th in goals conceded per game (3.04) last season. Senators placed 22nd (3.22).

Biggest potential surprise

Now is the time for Rossi, who played most of last season in the AHL, where he had 53 points (18 goals, 35 assists) in 63 games, leading Iowa in assists and taking first place in points. The 20-year-old played two games with the Wilds but could be the answer to their center woes now that he’s healthy. 9 pick in the 2020 NHL draft, Rossi missed most of the 2020-21 season after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-November and myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) in January.

Ready to break through

Addison had two goals and two assists last season, averaging 13:47 ice time per game, including 1:31 on the power play. But with more consistent playing time, he could be a key defender moving forward.

fantasy sleeper

Rossi, C (not drawn on average in Fantasy) — After a solid season in the AHL, Rossi is a fantasy rookie sleeper with a chance to earn a more permanent role with the Wild this season — potentially with contact with a high-scoring wing in Kaprizov or Matt Boldy. – Anna Dua

PLANNED PLACEMENT

Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello

Jordan Greenway — Joel Eriksson Ek — Markus Foligno

Matt Boldy – Frederick Gaudreau – Tyson Jost

Brandon Duhaime –Marco Rossi– Connor Dewar

Jacob Middleton — Jared Spurgeon

Jonas Brodin — Matt Dumba

Alex Goligosky – Calen Addison

Marc Andre Fleury

Philip Gustavsson

Hurt: Jon Merrill