The Minnesota Wild are a
professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They play
in the National Hockey League (NHL). In the 2001-2002 season the
Minnesota Wild would get off to a strong start by getting at least 1
point in their first 7 games. However the Wild would come back to earth
and would finish in last place again with a record of 26-35-12-9.
However, along the way their were signs the Wild were improving as 2nd
year speedster Marian Gaborik had a solid season with 30 goals as Andrew
Brunette led the team in scoring with 69 points. With the 2002-2003
season the Wild, in their first ever playoff appearance, make it all the
way to the Western Conference Finals before being swept 4-0 by the
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Previously, the Wild had beaten the heavily
favored and third seeded Colorado Avalanche in the first round in seven
games, coming down from a 3-1 series deficit and winning both Game 6 and
7 in overtime. Andrew Brunette scored the series clincher. In the
Western Conference Semi-finals, the Wild beat the fourth seeded
Vancouver Canucks, again in seven games, and again after being down 3-1
in the series. In the process, the Wild became the first team in playoff
history to capture a seven game series twice after facing elimination
during Game 5. The 2003-2004 season they were coming off a trip to the
Western Conference Finals there was an air of optimism. However as the
season started the Wild were short-handed with Pascal Dupuis and Marian
Gaborik holding out. After struggling in the first month the Wild
finally got their two young stars signed but both struggled to get back
into game shape as the Wild struggled through much of November. In a
deep hole the Wild could not climb back into the playoffs despite
finishing the season strong with wins in 5 of their last 6 games as they
finished last in the competitive Northwest Division with a record of
30-29-20-3. Along the way the Wild began to gear up for the future
trading away several of their older players that were apart of the
franchise from the beginning including Brad Bombardir, and Jim Dowd.