Minnesota Wild
The second NHL franchise to grace the state of Minnesota following the movement of the North Stars to Dallas, the Wild are still a very young franchise. The team has been bounced from the first round six times while playing in the second round in three different seasons including a trip to the Conference Finals in just their third season, resulting in a sweep to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Yet to play in a Stanley Cup Final series, the Wild had their best season as a franchise in 2016-17 with a 49-25-8 record, good for 106 points and second place in the Central Divisionpeting in one of the toughest divisions in hockey against some of the best teams in the league, the Wild will have their work cut out for them each and every year as they look to compete for their first championship.
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators were one of the final two teams competing in the 2017 NHL Playoffs. Appearing in the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, the goal for the Predators from the very start of the season has been the Stanley Cup. Making history with a conference Ffnals appearance is a nice goal to have achieved, but the end-game for every franchise is winning a Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, the team fell just short as the Penguins went on to capture their second title in as many years.
After missing the playoffs in each of the franchise’s first five seasons, the Predators have actually had a solid run from 2003-04 up until the present day. Only missing the playoffs three times since 2003, the Predators have qualified for the postseason 12 times. The team unfortunately lost in the first round in seven of those seasons, though they’ve also played in the second round five times in history, including their Stanley Cup run. Continue reading “In 18 seasons, the Wild have qualified for the playoffs nine times while missing the playoffs nine times”