Using the VUKOTA projection system of Hockey Prospectus, Insider is taking the temperature of key players on every NHL team, continuing with the Minnesota Wild. For a detailed explanation of Prospectus' proprietary GVT value metric, read more here.
Note: Because of the lockout, GVT scores for the 2013 season are prorated from 48 to 82 games.
Summer Skate: Minnesota Wild
Minnesota really went all-in with the model of paying big money to secure a handful of elite talent and pinching pennies to fill the rest of the roster. It even went to great expense by trading two prospects and two solid draft picks to get Jason Pominville at the trade deadline.
This philosophy did help get the Wild back into the postseason, but it also meant letting secondary players due for a raise -- like Cal Clutterbuck, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Devin Setoguchi, Matt Cullen and Tom Gilbert -- walk away this offseason. Matt Cooke is a good replacement, Keith Ballard is not, and the jury is still out on some of the young talent, including the newly acquired Nino Niederreiter.
Trending up: F Kyle Brodziak
Last season: -2.6 GVT | VUKOTA projection: 2.4