First, the link: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7156022/2026/03/30/wild-slump-kaprizov-boldy-hughes-faber-playoffs/

.A sample:
More than results, coach John Hynes is looking under the hood on how his team is playing, and feeling, before the playoffs.

“I think it’s important that guys are feeling good about their game or executing at a high level,” Hynes said. “It’s not always going to be perfect, but I think being tight defensively, responsible in that area, I think the execution level with the PP to set our game up where we can be the team that’s going to be able to control territory. And then I think it comes into individual players too as well. Their skating, their competitiveness, truly understanding their role and what their strengths individually bring to the collective team, and then really putting that same game on the ice night in and night out.”

How many Wild players are truly feeling good about their game right now? It’s probably a short list. It has been a challenge to integrate all the new players from the trade deadline into the lineup. Hynes has wanted to see how McCarron, Nick Foligno and Bobby Brink fit, so there’s been some experimentation with the lineup, which will continue in the final few weeks. You’ve seen Sturm and rookie Danila Yurov get scratched, for example, but they’ll be back in.

“It’s sweet going into the playoffs on a 12-game heater, but the clock resets either way,” Sturm said. “But you don’t want to go into the playoffs having a weird feeling in your stomach because maybe the PK, the power play, hasn’t been good, or the D-zone hasn’t been good. You want everything to be in a good place.”

20 comments

  1. What’s going on is the normal story for MNsports. Nothing new under the sun

  3. There is concern, but hope. Sturm, as always, has some great insight. Dude is so smart. Decent quotes from Hynes, Faber, and Guerin as well.

    The Wild need their big dogs barking instead of yipping. The depth is great but the top end talent has been pretty spotty lately. It feels like it has been a long time since the whole team showed up to play, and the W’s have been on the backs of 1-2 lines and stellar goaltending. When the goaltending has been merely average…or below…the offense hasn’t been enough to get them back in it.

  5. Even reading through this I don’t see any freaking out or setting anything on fire. Everyone is pretty measured and just wants to get everyone playing consistently and getting hot at the right time. Which I think is what most everyone understands. We want them to be at their best and we know they are a great team.

  6. I’m not worried at this point, if both gus and wally start playing really bad I will be though.

  7. The stars look tired. Hynes rides them into the ground during games. Especially since the Wild are locked into C3 seeding, there is no point in having Faber/Hughes play 28+ min per game right now. Get the reps in but get to the playoffs healthy and refreshed.

  8. how does everyone here feel about cassidy?

    his firing was very puzzling to me. the knights are riding HORRIBLE PDO and terrible goaltending (like .890). they were defensively solid and dominating metrics, just not getting the bounces and saves they needed.

  9. As good a year as Kap is having, it’s still not as good as his monster year. Was hoping to see him get to that level again. But if he can be a playoff beast, who cares

  10. I don’t think home ice is going to be the make it break factor in beating the Stars but it’s so disappointing to watch this team always play for overtime and routinely back into the playoffs every year. Outside of guys competing for jobs in the lineup or are young and have something to prove it’s just been game after game of sloppy play and poor execution.

    Kap looks he’s just going through the motions. Boldy is trying to do too much and is gripping his stick into dust. Zucc flat out looks tired. Quinn does a lot but has started to play selfish hockey causing a lot of blue line turnovers. These guys should be ramping up and finding another gear right now not looking for gas and answers.

  11. You know what would happen if the Wild went 6-1-1 in the last games, got home advantage, just to get bounced in 5 games? FIRE THE COACH, THIS TEAM SUCKS! SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE OTHER GUYS CAUSE HUGHES DIDN”T DO SHIT! *cause I bet you that will happen*

    You know what would happen if the Wild went 2-4-2 in the last games, but won the first round anyway? OMFG IT FINALLY HAPPENED LIFE IS GOOD SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENED TO MINNESOTA! *Which I hope is the end result, cause I actually like nice things*

    Nothing, absolutely nothing matters until the playoffs start. I get wanting to play with some momentum, but this team has zero reason to panic, overreact, or do anything because other than Utah winning every game and the Wild losing every game, they won’t really move from their spot. We’re so used to them spending 20 seconds to the end of the season to clinch, it feels weird having a couple weeks to not worry about anything until late April.

    The Wild are going to be judged by what happens in round 1. That hasn’t changed for over a decade.

  12. Minnesota fans are so emotionally damaged and Russo is the perfect writer for the market. Negativity galore, everything is an omen of bad things to come, if they don’t get out of this it’s over etc etc 

    Cmon fellas and fellettes we can be vulnerable, we can approach the playoffs with confidence and hope, this is the best team we’ve ever had. Put your heart on your sleeve and be happy and excited without timidness 

  13. Too much pressure for points and fighting to get to OT. Sustained pressure throughout the game has been a big challenge. Show up early and lose it towards the end of the first.

  14. They’re playing like their true selves. They went on a magical run in November, December, and January. But now they are playing like they did back in October when they won a whole two games the entire month.

  15. Fatigue has to be a major factor especially after the Olympics. This week of rest is good but then it’s another hectic stretch of games. I don’t think it’s on Hynes but he should consider limiting ice for some guys and rotating in the scratched players. We know the team can turn it up when it’s time

  16. It feels like Groundhog Day, seen this late season slump turn into a 3-1 first round exit too many times. Would love to see them prove me wrong, but I’m not gonna hold my breath.

  17. Just retreating back to the Minnesota norm, making sure we don’t actually get our hopes up before the inevitable first round loss.

  19. if everyone knows quinn is playing crazy minutes and they don’t like it and have talked to him, then why does he keep playing crazy minutes? like I know it’s because he wants to but also what do you need your coach to punish you before you listen? quinn is a grown man don’t want to think he’s some uncoachable selfish player but brother get off the damn ice, you will get all the 4 minute shifts you want in the playoffs

  20. They need to decrease ice time of Hughes and Faber. 97 is either hurting or fatigued,Boldy looks tired. They need to practice sniping because they seem to have trouble hitting the corners where gramma keeps the cookies. No panic need to rest and amp up for the playoffs it’s a grind.

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