Positive Numbers: Wild (Last Week: -2). Ho. Lee. Shit. Holy fucking shit.
I really didn't think the Mild would get both Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Fuck, I thought there was a less-than-5% chance they'd land Suter and maybe, maybe, a 10% chance on Parise. And honestly, I'd be OK if neither of them came here. This organization has been bad for so long they've got a bumper crop of prospects: Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Jonas Brodin, etc. The future is bright.
And I guess both Parise and Suter saw that as well and decided to get in front of the rocket before it hits paydirt, if that image makes any sense. They now get to lead and mold what could be, in an ideal world, a Stanley Cup contender for the next decade.
I think getting to play on a team with such potential was a deciding factor. What appears to be the main factor for taking their talents to Hidden Beach is that they really, really wanted to play together. I didn't know they were so close. That would filter out most of the known contenders: Parise's previous team, New Jersey; Suter's previous team, Nashville; Pittsburgh and Chicago. The only other team that allegedly had enough cap space to go after both is Detroit, and apparently Parise and Suter thought they were on the downslope. Well, they are now that they decided to come here!
Let's be honest: They have to reach the playoffs next year. Injuries could happen like they did last year, but do you know what? Even I will no longer accept that, even if that's beyond the Wild's control. Furthermore, for as long as those two free agent acquisitions are in Minnesota, they have to, have to win at least on Stanley Cup.
But in some ways the franchise has already won. Not since Brett Favre, or maybe even George Mikan, that someone of such stature, let alone two, willingly came here. What also is different is that the Minnesota Wild, and Minnesota, are now Public Enemy No. 1. The team is now the Miami Heat of the NHL, even if the comparisons aren't totally parallel. So what the hell, why not embrace the role of villain? Because being the center of attention, and a sudden contender for a championship, are two things that this state is not used to. Let's just see how that feels for, oh, the next 13 years?
#-1: Twins (Last Week: -1). A second consecutive 4-3 week. I'm actually surprised that the Twinks won a game against the Texas Rangers on Friday. Losses to Texas Saturday and Detroit to Thursday hurt. This team is worst in the American League, and so the outlook on a salary dump is a foregone conclusion. Francisco Liriano will be the most prominent Twin to be traded, but he shouldn't be the last.
They finish in Texas Sunday night. They then have the All-Star break (well, not Joe Mauer), and then they have a rare two-day break after the All-Star Game. They resume play Friday, when they host Oakland for a three-game series.
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