In an interview with Sports Headliners on Monday, former NHL player and executive Lou Nanne evaluated the Minnesota Wild and talked about players who have surprised him this season. “This is the best team they’ve ever had,” Nanne said. “They’ve got more depth. They’ve got more skill, and they’re more physical, so all around they’re a better team.”
The Wild are in first place in the Northwest Division and rank fourth among Western Conference teams in points (tied with Anaheim). Nanne said that’s about what he expected before the season started. “If their goaltending stays real consistent the rest of the way, they should be able to hold on to first place in their division and be about fourth in their conference,” the former Minnesota North Stars player and president said.
With the regular season ending April 6, Nanne was asked what fans can watch for to evaluate the team. The Wild aren’t as “good” in goals-against as in the past, he said. The team needs to score more goals than it gives up and the margin between the two can be indicative of how effectively Minnesota is playing, he explained.
Surprises? Nanne said the “best surprise” has been that star forward Marian Gaborik has been “healthy most of the year.” He also mentioned other players including defenseman Brent Burns, and forwards Aaron Voros and James Sheppard.
Nanne said about Burns: “He’s probably been a surprise in the fact that he’s made such a huge jump from last year, not from the playoffs but during the regular season to how he is now. He’s been terrific. A big help offensively to the defensemen.
“And Voros coming up and making the team and doing what he does has been a pleasant surprise, I am sure. He’s given them some physical-ness on the third line and fourth line. He and (Todd) Fedoruk coming in there make the Wild harder to play against.
“And Sheppard has been a great young addition to the hockey team. He looks like he’s going to be an excellent hockey player and have a great career.”
With more than a month to go in the season, Burns already has career highs in goals, assists and points. Voros, acquired from New Jersey last March, has played in 42 games in his first season with the Wild. The 6-3, 205-pound Voros and the 6-2, 240-pound Fedoruk are two physical forwards. Sheppard, the ninth overall pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft, is the Wild’s youngest player at 19 but has shown goal scoring ability in his first season with Minnesota.