Minnesota Wild Roundtable: Who do you want the Wild to face in the first round?

The Minnesota Wild have concluded the regular season and are poised to make a playoff run, harkening to their last appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2019. With the Wild currently sitting in the fourth seed in the West Division, they have their pick of opponents in the first round of the playoffs. Who would the Wild be best served facing in the opening round? Our panel of hockey experts weighs in:

John Sanborn, Sports Analyst: “The ideal matchup for the Wild would be the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes have been a formidable opponent for the Wild all season, as the two teams have split their eight meetings, but the Wild has been able to come out on top in the majority of their matchups. Not only is Arizona a familiar adversary, but they are also a team that Minnesota has had success against. This could give the Wild the confidence and momentum they need to make a deep playoff run.”

Joey Reardon, Former NHL Player: “The Wild should be looking to take on the Los Angeles Kings. Although the Wild have not had much success against them this season, the Kings have been one of the worst teams in the league. This could be an opportune time for Minnesota to make a statement against a weaker opponent and get off to a strong start in the playoffs. The Kings lack of experience could also work to the Wild’s advantage.”

Karen Johnson, Hockey Reporter: “I believe the Wild should go for the St. Louis Blues. The Blues have been one of the top teams in the West Division all season, and the Wild have had some difficulty competing with them. This will be a difficult matchup for Minnesota, but it is one that they should be up for. The Wild have the talent and depth to compete with the Blues, and this could be the perfect opportunity for them to prove to the rest of the league that they are a real contender.”

It is clear that the Wild have several viable options when it comes to selecting an opponent in the first round of the playoffs. Each panelist has provided a compelling argument for their choice, and it will be interesting to see which team the Wild ultimately decide to face. No matter who they choose, the Wild have the potential to make a deep run in the playoffs and should be prepared for whatever awaits them.