Wild about what?

If overspending hasn’t come to define the offseason in the first rendition of the “post-lockout” era, the hyperbole that accompanies big-name signings during the free agency period certainly will.

With a weak free agent pool this summer and only a handful of big names available, the signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter by the Minnesota Wild has sent shockwaves throughout the NHL.

Considered an afterthought by many, the Wild surprised the hockey world by inking both Parise and Suter to identical, enormous 13-year, $98 million deals.

With the vaunted Pittsburgh Penguins and legendary Detroit Red Wings in the mix, many believed Minnesota would simply submit offers with high-dollar values that would be rejected. However, Parise and Suter’s desire to play close to home (Parise hailing from Minnesota and Suter from nearby Wisconsin) trumped the temptation of chasing a Stanley Cup with the Pens or Wings.

Listening to Parise and Suter at the Wild’s press conference introducing their shiny new possessions, the pair said all the right things. They mentioned the desire to finish their careers close to home and to be part of a Minnesota team they feel is on the upswing, with several hyped prospects in their system.

However, having a seemingly envious pipeline of prospects is a great thing on paper, but having that translate to NHL success is a different story altogether. 

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The most interesting fact to make note of is the assertion that the Minnesota Wild are now legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

Parise and Suter certainly see some potential in Minnesota, but they also saw dollar signs, and a lot of them. So while they say the right things about wanting to be part of a perennial contender, at this point are anything but.

When you look up and down the roster, the additions of Parise and Suter vastly improve the Wild’s outlook, but the makings of a Stanley Cup roster aren’t evident.

Sure, the Wild have a few nice pieces in captain Mikko Koivu and grinders Kyle Brodziak and Cal Clutterbuck. But there are multiple question marks too.

Can Pierre-Marc Bouchard stay healthy after two potentially devastating injury-plagued seasons?

Will Devin Setoguchi ever regain the form he had playing alongside Joe Thornton during his sophomore campaign?

Are the Wild really going to masquerade Matt Cullen as a second-line center again?

And most importantly, what version of Dany Heatley is going to show up, the malcontent or the dominant power forward?

Those are all important questions that need to be answered. And if predictions are to be made, the likely answers are: Doubtful, unlikely, they better not, and a cross between malcontent and dominant player.

However, to play devil’s advocate, assume Bouchard does stay healthy, Setoguchi plays close to his 30-30 potential, Cullen is serviceable in the No. 2 center position, and Heatley nets 35 goals and close to a point per game.

Would the Wild then be considered legitimate contenders?

The short answer is no.

Nicklas Backstrom and Josh Harding are capable of holding down the fort until prized netminding prospect Matt Hackett arrives in a few years, but the Achilles’ heel for this Minnesota team is the patchwork defensive corps.

Ryan Suter is a great player. He’s a true No. 1 defenseman in an era devoid of them, but he’s not worth $7.8 million and change. In Minnesota however, he’ll earn every penny skating alongside the likes of Tom Gilbert, Clayton Stoner, Marco Scandella, Justin Falk, Nate Prosser and Jared Spurgeon.

If you’d like to re-read those names and rack your brain trying to recall ever seeing any of them other than Suter and Gilbert before, go for it. And good luck.

The blueline is devoid of depth and skill. Scandella has top-four potential and Falk can be an asset on the penalty kill due to his size and reach, but moving forward, none other than Suter and possibly Gilbert has a place on a contending team.

This is where the Wild’s oft talked about stockpiling of prospects comes into play. Until Mathew Dumba can make an impact – and utilize proper decision making for that matter – the Wild will be searching for a complement to Suter on the back-end.

Jonas Brodin has potential and his measured approach will be welcomed in Minnesota, but he’s years away from refining his game to the point he’ll see major minutes.

Up front, the arrival of Mikael Granlund is anticipated as the Wild need an infusion of young, affordable offensive talent. Ditto for the sizeable Charlie Coyle, who the Wild so deftly plucked from the clutches of Doug Wilson in San Jose.

Yet beyond those four prospects and Hackett, the Wild lack any true game breakers in the system.

Jason Zucker and Brett Bulmer are bangers who will bring a physical edge to the Wild, but that’s more of what they already have in the bottom-six.

Zack Phillips is a player who had success at the junior level, but needs to work on his skating before being able to contribute at the NHL-level.

Additionally, will there even be room for Phillips’ skill set?

He possesses the hands and shot of a top-six forward and the size of a bottom-six forward, but he’s yet to put it all together. He’ll need to find a niche in the AHL and hone his game to be successful.

So moving forward, the Wild have pinned their hopes on a top-six that should shape up as such: Parise, Koivu, Heatley, Setoguchi, Granlund and Coyle, while Suter, Scandella, Brodin and Dumba will lead the back-end.

It may be Harding assuming the reigns between the pipes; it may be Hackett. Perhaps Darcy Kuemper surprises and takes over.

All in all, the Wild could do worse. They’ve at least put themselves in a position to be successful in the future.

Especially if they utilize the $7 million coming off the books in 2013 with the expiring contracts of Bouchard and Cullen shrewdly. Depending on the play of Heatley, he may be resigned for less in 2014, or replaced if he doesn’t get it together.

But while it’s nice to look into the future and think of what could be, realistic expectations need to be made and the focus should be on what is.

And what is, is that the Wild have a middle of the pack team right now with the potential to be much better in the future. If, and only if, their vaunted minor league system doesn’t fail them and their top prospects develop as hoped.

If they don’t, the Wild will be relegated to “video game status,” meaning a team with a few nifty pieces that are fun to play with, but never win anything meaningful.

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